Hotel Albatroz, Cascais, Estremadura, Portugal - Explore & Book

"Cascais is a fishing village, once patronised by Portuguese royalty and exiled European kings, now firmly established as Lisbon’s summer playground. Grand buildings rise along the beachfront, none more appealing than Hotel Albatroz. Step inside to a lost world of 1950s Riviera chic. Porters swoop upon your luggage; an ocean of marble leads to a wall of glass, beyond which a cliff-top pool glistens in enclosed gardens. The buildings wrap around an inner court: waves lap below, palms soar above, a terraced bar juts out to sea, restaurant windows give huge views down the Estoril coast. Rooms are no less alluring. Some overlook the pool, some the sea, some the beach, some all three. Take your pick from old-fashioned splendour, airy contemporary interiors, or the clipped English elegance of the next-door palace. This is a complete destination for couples, friends and families: you're in the middle of mazy streets with smart shops waiting to lighten your wallet, the beach and watersports are below. Glitzy Estoril is a short promenade away; sublime World Heritage Sintra with its Pena Palace lies in the hills behind; along the Atlantic coast is Cabo da Roca, Europe's westernmost point. Highs Not only is this the smartest place to stay in town, but the hotel's position on a rocky headland between 2 golden beaches is matchlessThe facilities are regal: a stunning clifftop pool and recently revamped pool terrace, a panoramic bar and restaurant, twice-daily housekeeping and embossed bedlinensElegant bedrooms, many with ocean views and balconiesCharming old school serviceThe train station is a short stroll away, and Lisbon a 40-minute ride Lows It’s expensive, especially in the restaurant and during peak season, but worth itLight sleepers may be aware of revellers on the beach in high seasonSome bathrooms don't have space for washbags/not much room to hang clothesRooms look a little tired, but they are soon to be renovated" - Tom Bell