Palácio Estoril Hotel, Golf & Wellness ★★★★★

I’m not sure quite what got into him, but I think it must have had something to do with the racing track in Estoril. ‘Darling, there’s even a spa’, he said as he showed me the website. ‘Yes darling,’ I replied, ‘and I see there’s a golf course as well’. This makes the Palacio Estoril, on the Atlantic coast of Portugal near Lisbon, the ideal choice for a romantic getaway.

When we arrived, we were taken aback by the magnificent and slightly imposing building that is the hotel. Since the 1930s, the Palacio Estoril has been welcoming the international elite and European royalty, as well as English and German spies during the Second World War. This is also where Her Majesty’s Secret Service was filmed. With James Bond on the list of former guests, we were absolutely convinced. We had come to a truly grand establishment, the palace of our childhood dreams.

And who wouldn’t feel the same in front of such splendour? You will find an immaculate white façade surrounded by beautifully green gardens, against a backdrop of the deep blue sea and sky. You can still sense that this establishment is a refuge for VIPs. We followed in the footsteps of princes and princesses and walked into the very 1930s lobby, before exploring the charming hotel lounges, with their marble floors and impressive chandeliers. Here, it seems, the key words are splendour and intimacy.

We were shown up to our bedroom where we found the same glorious atmosphere and decoration. It was spacious, and retained its former interior design: a classic style with heavy curtains, a silky headboard, fine furniture and a marble bathroom with Molton Brown cosmetics. Of course, all contemporary fittings have been incorporated into this romantic old-world scene.

Keen to dive into the palace lifestyle, we made our way to the gorgeous hotel swimming pool and pool house for an afternoon of sun and relaxation. That evening, we booked into the hotel’s Grill Four Seasons restaurant, and enjoyed an excellent meal in an elegant and sophisticated setting.

Still, coming to the Palacio Estoril also means taking full advantage of its privileged location in the golden triangle of Estoril-Cascais-Sintra. Five minutes away lies the magnificent Tamariz beach and promenade, where you can sit outside a restaurant or bar and watch the world go by, and the Estoril Golf Course is only five minutes away. This was, unsurprisingly, where my husband went while I enjoyed the endless virtues of the Banyan Tree Spa, one of the most luxurious spa groups in the world.

And the Estoril racing track? Well, I managed to persuade my husband to spend a day in Lisbon instead, just thirty minutes away by train!