Suffering from excessive Christmas consumption? New Year resolutions struggling to bed themselves in? Why not start 2009 as you mean to go on and enjoy a break at one of these beautiful places in Portugal. Each can provide therapies or treatments to cure your Christmas excess and set you up for a sparkling year ahead. And although Portugal may not occur as a winter or spring destination it has so much to recommend it. The climate is clear and cool, the countryside is stunning and best of all you won’t be drowning in hordes of fellow tourists!
Total Luxury with Onsite Spa Room and Treatments
Ideal for a group of family or friends looking to unwind together, the villa de Herdade has 7 luxurious ensuite bedrooms and is set in beautiful rolling grounds in Portugal’s Alentejo region. The weather is usually cool and clear during the early months of the year which makes this perfect for meandering walks and relaxing by the open fires. Most importantly there is also a spa room onsite – liaise with the owners to book facials, massages and body scrubs – or if you wanted to continue the Christmas excess you could even have a chocolate wrap! Other facilities onsite include a beautiful pool area plus there is babysitting, maid service and even chefs available to guarantee all your time there is spent on R&R rather than chores.
Total Luxury with Onsite Spa Room and Treatments
Ideal for a group of family or friends looking to unwind together, the villa de Herdade has 7 luxurious ensuite bedrooms and is set in beautiful rolling grounds in Portugal’s Alentejo region. The weather is usually cool and clear during the early months of the year which makes this perfect for meandering walks and relaxing by the open fires. Most importantly there is also a spa room onsite – liaise with the owners to book facials, massages and body scrubs – or if you wanted to continue the Christmas excess you could even have a chocolate wrap! Other facilities onsite include a beautiful pool area plus there is babysitting, maid service and even chefs available to guarantee all your time there is spent on R&R rather than chores.As a special offer, the owners are running a weekend only deal from January until March. They invite you to stay on Friday and Saturday night with late check out on Sunday. They will organize a traditional Portuguese dinner at the property for either the Saturday or Sunday night, a breakfast hamper and even (pausing the detox for a minute) a wine tasting at a local vineyard (the closest vineyards have both won gold medals in Brussels for the wines in their class this year). This deal is available based on full occupancy (5 couples) and costs only €200 per person. Nearest airport – Lisbon (flights available from £125 per adult return)*. For further info, see: http://www.oneoffplaces.co.uk/Europe/Portugal/Central-Portugal/Herdade-dos-Alfanges.aspx
Clear nights, calm days and views to die for
For more intimate trip why not take yourself over to Luminoso. Named after the evocative light and low pollution levels found in the area that allow wonderful star-spotting at night, this 2 bedroom cottage is nestled within the Alentejo countryside and has been built in a traditional Alentejo style. It has 2 bathrooms (one ensuite) and 2 terraces – both of which offer wonderful views across the Portuguese countryside. Life here is rustic and slow-paced – enjoy exploring it on foot, by car or even on horseback before coming back to relax with local food by the open fire. The nearby (but not too close!) owners are delighted to arrange photography courses, or more pertinently you can also sign up for a course in kinesiology – the alternative therapy of using 'Muscle Testing' to detect and correct imbalances in the body before addressing the underlying causes of disease or malfunction. Perfect for letting you know where you may be going wrong, and what to look for in the future! Nearest airport – Lisbon (flights available from £125 per adult return)*. Visit: http://www.oneoffplaces.co.uk/Europe/Portugal/Alentejo/Luminoso.aspx
Privacy, seclusion and never-ending walking trails
Finally, enjoy fantastic views and total privacy in 4 acres of grounds in this beautiful restored
cottage near to Monchique. The cottage itself has 3 bedrooms, and a wonderful garden with wildflowers and a variety of trees. The surrounding area is crisscrossed with paths for walking, while the mountains nearby offer more views and even perhaps eagles soaring overhead to accompany you on your explorations. The owners will happily arrange for a masseuse to visit the house as a part of your detox regime – while the famous spa at Caldas de Monchique is only 20 minutes away and offers a full range of treatments and entertainments. There is horse-riding and mountain biking also available for more active visitors – and being only 40 minutes from the coast guarantees you many surf-tossed beaches and cliff top paths; ideal for blowing away the cobwebs and clearing your way for the push into 2009! Nearest airport – Faro (flights available from £75 per adult return)*. Visit: http://www.oneoffplaces.co.uk/Europe/Portugal/Algarve/Quinta-da-Relva.aspxNotes for editors:
One Off Places specialises in individual and characterful holiday rentals worldwide and has a wide selection of properties catering for all different tastes, group sizes and location specifications. Its website offers users the chance to enquire about their chosen property directly with the owner. For further information about One Off Places, please visit http://www.oneoffplaces.co.uk/ or contact Olly Symonds on Olly@oneoffplaces.co.uk or tel: 01494 881196. Images available on request.
*All flight prices are estimates, researched from carriers or sites such as Expedia.com, and should be used for guidance only.
