The Other Side Of Eurore by Swanky Retreats

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SWELLEGANT STAYS The indefinable sense of style that makes us swoon: swanky, swell & elegant.

Grande Real Villa Italia Cascais, Portugal Grande Real Villa Italia in Cascais is steps from the water. Elegant and bespoke, the arrival experience is first rate while remaining inviting, as only the Portuguese can manage to do. Be welcomed in Portugal, everywhere you go, but come to Cascais and be a part of the community known as the Beverly Hills of Portugal. This place is definitely not Los Angeles, it has its own fabulous place in the spotlight, but with the personality it embodies there's no reason to doubt the similarity. Cascais oozes swank and Grande Real Villa Italia sits directly across from the water, delivering unobstructed views of the Atlantic Ocean as brilliantly as it serves up everything from tea to dinner…in high style. This hotel takes every detail seriously and pays attention to the guest experience in an unobtrusive fashion. A prime example is that the potentially mundane meal of breakfast is an elegant affair, enveloped in the casual elegance travelers come to expect from a beachside hotel. The meal is offered in Navegantes Restaurant, a somewhat formal dining room, adorned with modern furnishings and light fixtures. There is an arrangement of sumptuous breakfast foods of both Portuguese and international origin placed on glossy black stone counters. Being

seated amidst the eye-catching décor and appealing arrangement of charcuterie, fresh fruit, pastries and freshly squeezed juices is captivating enough, but the pool is just outside the glass doors and looks more tempting than the bevy of epicurean choices, but priorities will win out. If you’re an early riser, have a look at the pool and Atlantic Ocean from the balcony at sunrise...that sight alone will have you carefully weigh your options, but think the first step is to satiate your hunger with some of this delectable food.

Explore Grande Real Villa Italia in depth. After breakfast, book yourself into the spa – Real Spa Therapy is down a set of dimly lit stairs with a cascade of water ushering you into the treatment sanctuary. A sense of well-being and time standing still simultaneously wash over you upon entering.

Take advantage of the spa by spending a day in treatments, sipping tea and lounging in the therapy pool which is filled with seawater, making full use of its therapeutic properties. The spa also uses native Portuguese ingredients in its treatments, ensuring you’ll be immersed in the country without ever leaving the hotel. After pampering yourself, you may want to

save touring Cascais for another day and simply head back to your plush suite, slip on a robe and slippers and sit on your balcony. Watch the sea do its thing or enjoy a bottle of Portuguese wine while the sun slips away for the night.

You’re in the right place at Grande Villa Real. Soak it all in and enjoy this part of the country. There’s always tomorrow to tour the center of town, walk to Boca do Inferno (Hells Mouth) and see why the name is very suitable, even if seemingly contradictory in this tranquil enclave just west of Lisbon. Enjoy dinner and drinks back at the hotel at La Terraza Restaurant & Bar and Belvedere Ristorante unwind in the lobby or out by the pool. You are a welcome guest in Portugal, especially at Grande Real Villa Italia. www.granderealvillaitalia.realhotelsgroup.com