Praia D'El Rey Marriott Golf & Beach Resort ★★★★★

Portugal’s Silver Coast may not be as well-known as the Algarve, but for some there is no comparison; it has all the joys of the dramatic Atlantic coastline, lovely scenery and famous year-round sunshine, but without the packed beaches. And all this only one hour from Lisbon. The resort is set on a beautiful sandy beach where you can walk for miles, and it is in an area of protected natural landscape with stunning sea views. We had picked up a car in Lisbon so we could explore the area of Obidos as well as enjoying the hotel.

We arrived at a long low building with pretty wrought-iron balconies on the upper level and a long, elegant stone balcony sweeping across the whole width of the building. At ground level, slim pillars line cool colonnades where you can stroll or sit on the café terrace and admire the sea view. Only a pretty flower-shaped pool separated it from the beach and the gentle Atlantic waves. Behind was an undulating golf course, the green dotted here and there with splashes of golden gorse, and to the sides was a lovingly tended garden with banks of colourful flowers and shrubs.

Our room on the second floor, with French windows leading to a private balcony, had a fabulous sea view. Inside, a king-size bed, state-of-the art TV and facilities made us feel at home but with more luxury! Armchairs, a coffee table and a good large workspace meant this was a real living room for relaxing, not just for sleeping. We sat on that balcony in the evening watching some of the loveliest orange, pink and soft purple sunsets I have ever seen. But what really made our stay unforgettable was the attitude of the staff. They were genuinely friendly, helpful and polite when needed, but didn’t crowd us with too much attention.

We did explore, but we hardly needed to go out in the evenings because the choice of restaurants, all top quality, was brilliant, and there were many bars for relaxing after a day in the bracing fresh air for an early evening sundowner or a chat about the day’s events. The joy of discovery is alive and well, and we know where we will head for on our next Portugal trip: the Praia D’El Rey Marriott Golf & Beach Resort.