Europe in the springtime puts on a sensational show for the smallest of crowds.
02.01.2024 - 13:31 / forbes.com
There are two things that nearly everyone gets wrong about the Algarve. One is that it begins and ends with the beach. The second is that it’s only worth visiting in the summer.
Both of these ideas are incorrect.
While my Portuguese friends might disagree, winter in the southernmost region of continental Portugal can be genuinely nice. Sure, it rains sometimes, and the sunsets (beautiful as they are) are earlier than ideal. Only the bravest will swim. But many afternoons see temperatures near 70°F—an alfresco lunch might require a sweater, not a jacket—and a softer, slanted light. The crowds are gone. The fireplaces get fired up. The hearty food starts to make sense. (How people enjoy lunching on steaming pots of seafood rice during their summer beach days is beyond me.)
And as for life—and luxury—beyond the cliffs and the waves and the sand, it’s easy to find if you look. There’s a growing interest in gastronomy. Quality wines are being produced. Artisanal crafts live on. And virtually all the best boutique hotels in the region are inland.
A case in point is the recently rebranded Octant Vila Monte (formerly Vila Monte Farm House), a 22-acre property that’s a short drive from the artsy city of Olhão. The hotel project was originally developed by Miguel Guedes de Sousa, who is part of the Amorim family (the wealthiest in Portugal) and went on to oversee the fashionable JNcQUOI group of restaurants and, soon, hotels.
The interiors were the work of Vera Iachia, who collaborated with Andy Warhol and, later, Jacques Granges, who became known in Portugal for his “Comporta cabana” style of relaxed, woven-straw luxury. The most recent renovations and expansions preserved her bohemian, beach-chic vision, from the lime-washed walls and terra-cotta floors to the wicker chairs and macrame wall hangings.
It also updated the 55 rooms, suites and new collection of distinctive suites, a separate adults-only swimming pool, an outdoor chef’s table beside the kitchen garden, a 3,500-square-foot villa (with a famous Hollywood star in residence during my recent stay), and the transformation of an older block of 26 rooms around the orangerie into a family-friendly section. Further plans for 2024 include a full-size spa, summer sunset barbecues beside the pool, a new kids’ area and a tree house. For 2025, they’re aiming to add new rooms with plunge pools.
The renovations are coming along with the Octant rebrand for a subgroup of eight of the top-tier hotels run by Portugal’s Discovery Hotel Management, part of an investment fund that acquires unloved hotels (of recent vintage, not grand old palaces) around the country and brings them back to life. Or, as public relations manager Ana Stilwell says, “DHM buys distressed
Europe in the springtime puts on a sensational show for the smallest of crowds.
If you’re an American traveler, you’ve likely done this sort of calendar math, spotting where all the paid holidays fall this year and figuring out how to combine them with your own limited paid time off (PTO).
London, Rome, Tokyo, Cancún and Las Vegas, some of the most visited destinations in 2023, are still among the top places travelers are searching to go to this year, according to the travel sites Kayak and Hopper.
The passport you hold is a powerful tool when it comes to effortlessly visiting countries around the world.And some passports provide far more access than others, according to the Henley Passport Index.The just-released 2024 index shows that for the first time in 19 years of producing the ranking, six countries are tied for the top spot of having the most powerful passports.The countries leading the ranking are France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Singapore, and Spain—meaning citizens from all of these countries are able to visit 194 destinations around the world either visa-free or by obtaining a visa-on-arrival.The Henley Passport Index is the only ranking of its kind and is developed based on exclusive data from the International Air Transport Authority (IATA). The index compares 199 different passports and 227 different travel destinations.While Japan and Singapore have made it into the number one slot for the past five years running, according to CNN, the European countries that are now also ranked number one on the list is a new development.
With Valentines Day just around the corner, rediscover romance with the finest wellness retreats to suit the preferences of any couple. Whether you’re an adventurous, outgoing fitness duo or partners looking for a more holistic experience, Health and Fitness Travel, the wellness holidays specialists has amassed a variety of wellbeing breaks to rekindle that deep, intimate connection with your significant other. From setting out together to discover the vast landscapes and rich culture of Qatar, to exhilarating fitness breaks in the UK, or whisking your partner away to Italy for a romantic and revitalising mindfulness retreat, there is truly something to suit every couple.
Four European countries now have the world’s most powerful passports.
It’s fashionable, if lazy, shorthand to call Portugal’s Azores the Hawaii of the Atlantic. That’s not wrong—the nine islands have gorgeous rainforests, black lava beaches and wildflowers aplenty—but the description leaves a lot out. The archipelago is still in the relatively early stages of international discovery, but still with the potential to keep its brand of nature tourism sustainable.
Five destinations in Europe are among the top ten sustainable places to travel to in 2024, according to Lonely Planet.
Visit Portugal celebrated the New Year launching a new campaign that was presented in Lisbon. #It’s not tourism. It’s futourism, is the motto for this campaign that sets 12 New Year’s resolutions for the tourist of the future.
TAP Air Portugal is celebrating the new year with a new flight sale offering trips to Europe and beyond starting as low as $379 round-trip.
Defining the true essence of the luxury travel experience can be challenging for both travel providers and travel advisors.
Following a pilot boutique at Montréal Trudeau Airport in Canada, travel retailer Aer Rianta International (ARI) has opened another luxury vintage fashion and accessories store at Lisbon Airport called Preloved – Fashion in Full Circle.