Estoril Eden Hotel

The outside of this hotel isn't particularly charming: it's a tower concrete block of the sort built in resort towns in the '70s and '80s. Judging by appearances, it doesn't seem to have been refurbished since then, either: while the lobby's marble floors are classic, their topped with '80-style club seating in heavy burgundy, gold, and dark brown, plus brass lamps and honey-tone wood coffee tables. Dining spaces are also old-fashioned, but the Garden Patio Restaurant has a lovely outdoor terrace with pretty vistas of the sea and surrounding houses. Most who come here are couples and young families looking for a beach holiday on a budget, and that's exactly what they'll find here. 

Located in a parish of Cascais, a beautiful resort town outside of Lisbon, Estoril Eden Hotel is located close to one of the area's great beaches, which is only about a nine-minute walk from the property (another beach nearby is about a five-minute drive). It's also close to restaurants, bars, and shopping in town, with a few options right behind the hotel. Cascais' center is only a 15-minute walk from the property via the promenade. 

It's a two-minute walk to the train station from the hotel. Catching a train into Lisbon proper takes between 30 and 40 minutes. However, to access some sights, it's easier to have a car handy. The most westward point in Europe is about 30 minutes away by car. The town of Sintra, where a fauna-diverse mountain is topped with both ersatz castles and Moorish ruins, is about 23 minutes away by car. Boca do Inferno, a beautiful seaside overlook not at all like the mouth of hell, is about 12 minutes by car. 

Lisbon airport is only about 30 minutes by car or an hour and a half by train. 

The hotel's 162 rooms are large and air-conditioned, but plainly decorated with hints of the '80s in the wooden furniture, generic modern art, and dark-green carpet. Room have small kitchenettes with microwaves, hobs, and toasters, and furnished balconies. Suites have the added bonus of living rooms. Ask for a room on higher floors for great views of the ocean, as well as a reduction in the loud noise from the road. Bathrooms, in contrast to the rooms, run small. They come fitted with beautiful local-looking blue-and-white tiles and showers or shower/tub combos. They're stocked with free toiletries and old hose-style hairdryers.  

Kitchenettes make quick, basic meals in the room easy, though most guests head to the restaurant for the well-reviewed free buffet continental breakfasts. Other meals at the Garden Patio Restaurant also receive positive feedback, with dishes focusing on local cuisine. A variety of board options are available, but guests should be aware that half-board packages don't include drinks. Outside, there's a bar serving drinks and snacks next to the large, well-maintained pool. 

Although the good-sized outdoor lap pool is listed on the hotel's website as open all year, some past guests have reported it being drained in later winter months. The indoor wellness area has a tiny gym, sauna, and hot tub. There's also an indoor pool, which is billed as heated, but several guests report it being too cold to swim in during winter months. 

Wi-Fi is free throughout the property, and parking is available for a daily fee.