Located within an easy drive from Faro, in the middle of the beautiful Alentejo region and being one of Portugal’s best kept secrets, we think this one is a winner if you crave laid-back luxury – and it’s ideal for couples and families alike. There’s the option to simply relax by the pool, enjoy a treatment in the spa and being a Relais & Chateaux property, you know that the food and wine is going to be exquisite! If you’re looking for something more active, there is so much to do, from simply exploring the estate to horse-riding, archery, paintball, karting, hot air ballooning, quad-biking and tons of absorbing activities, designing and making things.  This charming, rural location pretty much guarantees a break from the noises and duties of everyday life back home.

Virtuoso travellers receive:

A luxury hotel on a grand scale; you just know everything you want will be taken care of in sumptuous style. Conrad Algarve is situated in Quinta do Lago, a breathtaking resort close to the idyllic Ria Formosa Nature Park and Atlantic coastline. The spa is excellent and so is the choice of sustenance, which includes a Michelin-starred restaurant right here – Gusto by Heinz Beck – among the six eateries and bars. Activities on offer range from the gentle, such as olive oil-tasting and clam picking, to the exhilarating sea-spray of private catamarans.

Virtuoso travellers receive:

There’s no shortage of things to do here, all in an environment of five-star decadence. The pools, private beach and gardens are beautiful, and the wellness and beauty facilities exceptional. There’s also plenty to explore nearby in terms of history and culture, but if you just want to idle your holiday days between holding a tennis racquet one moment and a cocktail the next then no worries; you deserve it. And kids of all ages won’t see you for (chalk) dust because they’ll be enjoying themselves in the crèche, kids’ park or sport-filled teens’ club. Two Michelin-starred restaurants make every evening a gastronomic indulgence.

Virtuoso travellers receive:

With rooms for just 57 guests on an old-established wine estate, this hotel is in a UNESCO World Heritage-listed corner of the country 77 miles’ drive from Oporto. If you know your vino then you won’t be in a hurry to leave, as there’s a glorious wine library of 350 vintages to sample, with deli delights to pick at and dinners based around brilliant food-and-wine pairings. Meanwhile, for a different kind of body temple, the spa with indoor pool and treatment rooms is superb. Cycling, kayaking, hiking, helicopter tours and ceramics decorating are all on offer; but back to the wine… the wine-and-dine Douro River cruises are a unique feature.

Virtuoso travellers receive:

An understated boutique retreat, blending into the beautiful surroundings of the unspoilt Atlantic coastline. And, since it picked up a Condé Nast Traveler Reader’s Award in 2021, independently verified as well up to expectations. This lovely place has a particular air of authenticity, clear in the three-bedroom pool villas inspired by the architectural lines of Comporta’s traditional bungalows. They’re built for slow-living relaxation. Seasonal dishes with the best natural ingredients are how you’ll eat here, with vegetables from the garden used in inspired, simple cooking. The 40m pool is solar-heated, while two rustic, barn-like buildings house Oryza Spa and Mar D’Arrozal restaurant.

The stunning Grand House will give you, in its own words, a taste of ‘Authenticity, Simplicity and Soul’ in Vila Real de Santo António, the most easterly town on the Algarve. There are 30 sun-drenched rooms and suites, all of which have decor that pays homage to the natural richness of the surroundings. You’re transported to an opulent yet unpretentious way of life, boasting a prime waterfront position that’s well away from the hoi-polloi. In fact, if the tranquillity of bird-watching is your thing, you’re going to love the location at the mouth of the river Guadiana and the natural wetland reserves around it.