Fodor's Expert Review Quinta da Marinha Resort

Just 30-minutes' drive fom Lisbon airport, this plush resort on the Lisbon coast enjoys a plum location in scenic countryside. There's excellent golfing on the doorstep at the world-renowned Quinta da Marinha 18-hole course-famed for its gorgeous views and challenging holes. Gorgeous beaches are close at hand, and the resort itself has indoor and outdoor pools, good on-site restaurants and a shuttle service to the famous MonteMar seafood restaurant. Set in beautiful grounds and surrounded by the sounds of chirruping birds, the hotel is perfect for a chilled break just a short hop from the big city.

If your schedule is flexible, try to avoid the summer crush by visiting in late June or early September, when the weather is good but there's plenty of room by the lovely outdoor pool.

room

The spacious rooms at Quinta da Marinha Resort all have balconies with dramatic views, some overlooking the pool and gardens, others looking out over the golf course, and all framed by the Serra da Sintra mountain range. Rooms each have mini-bar, flat-screen TV and air conditioning. The resort also has spacious 1-bedroom and 2-bedroom villas, each kitted out with living rooms (complete with cozy fireplace) a kitchenette and a large terrace for outdoor dining.

YOU SHOULD KNOW It's quite a way to the nearest supermarket, so bring snacks and drinks if you don't fancy stumping up mini-bar prices.

bathroom

Bathrooms are simple in design but polished and sparkling clean, most have tubs with overhead showers, some have shower cubicles. Robes, slippers, and hairdryers are provided, and there are good quality amenities from Plantation.

lobby

The hotel was given a major revamp in 2014, when the lobby was comprehensively overhauled. It's now a bright and open space with plenty of natural light, and neutral grey tones. The reception desk is a well-oiled machine, with friendly, efficient staff, and there are several sofas for lounging as well as a display of fitness wear available to buy.
The walls are hung with wine-focused paintings from the late Portuguese artist Ana Safer.

pool

On a sunny day, the resort's large outdoor pool is the place to be. With a poolside bar and loungers set by a stream next to the golf course, it's a wonderfully relaxing place to be. A smaller, shallower pool provides an opportunity for kids to splash around safely. On cooler days, or for more serious swimming, the heated indoor pool beckons, and has hydro massage jets for easing tense muscles.

spa

The Ritual Spa on the hotel's lower floor has an Oriental theme to the decor, and provides body and beauty treatments as well as manicures and pedicures. Next to the pool, there are heated loungers, a sauna, Sensations showers, Turkish bath and Vichy room.

gym

The gym is on the small side, but has a reasonable amount of cardio-focused equipment.

YOU SHOULD KNOW The gym is separated from the pool and the hotel's public areas by a glass wall, so be prepared for other guests to watch you work out.

dining

Dining is a strong suit at Quinta da Marinha, not least because the hotel runs shuttle services to MonteMar, the famous seafood restaurant overlooking the windswept Guincho beach. Under the same management as the hotel, the restaurant is a 5-10 minute drive (or a fairly long walk) from the hotel. On site, the Five Pines restaurant serves an international buffet (and is the setting for generous buffet breakfasts), while the formal dining restaurant Rocca serves Portuguese fare. The Trent Jones bar (named for the designer of the golf course) is a relaxed spot with kid-friendly meals and a nice terrace for outdoor drinking and dining.

drinking

The Trent Jones bar serves an impressive array of cocktails, and the terrace is a lovely place to be at sunset, when the sun dips over the mountains. After dark, there's regular piano music in the lounge, while drinks on the terrace are sound tracked by the calls of birds, insects and other nocturnal nature sounds.