The hotel sits between the ocean and a stretch of pine trees on the road out towards Guincho. It's small, and the whole property, spa included, was recently renovated. Every room comes with spa access. Most have a sea view, and many have a balcony or terrace.

A typical day goes like this. A yoga class in the morning, which one past guest credits to an instructor named Diana. Then breakfast with the sea in front of you. The rest of the day is shaped by your programme. If you're on a set programme, treatments are spread across your stay. If you booked room-only, you pick from the à la carte menu. That menu is split into Medical Senses, Body Senses, Dietetic Senses, Serenity Senses and Aesthetic Senses, so you can mix clinical consultations, massages, nutrition advice, relaxation treatments and facials.

The clinic is what sets this apart from a regular spa hotel. Programmes draw on preventive, integrative and regenerative medicine, with separate tracks for detox and weight loss and for anti-ageing and longevity. One guest who came for pre-Christmas treatments called it one of the best longevity clinics on the coast. The water circuit is free for every guest, whether or not you book treatments. It includes the heated indoor pool, hammam, sauna, ice fountain, sensory showers, an outdoor saltwater pool, a jacuzzi and the gym, which a guest described as having the latest equipment.

For dinner, the hotel restaurant Sea Senses looks out over the ocean and serves Portuguese seafood dishes alongside Mediterranean food. Some of the best seafood restaurants in the area are close by on the Guincho side. Cascais town is about a 45-minute walk, a short bike ride, or a quick bus or taxi trip.

There's golf too. The hotel runs Stay & Play golf packages at Oitavos Dunes and Quinta da Marinha, plus a Golf Passport option. Guests who come in winter say the hotel is a great spot for watching Atlantic storms. Those who come in autumn often get a week of warm sun.

The staff come up in almost every review. Guests mention a welcome card with sparkling wine and strawberries in the room, and staff helping out when a guest had a problem back home. Several reviewers named team members they wanted to thank, including the hotel's director.

What's included

- Accommodation in your chosen room or suite - Breakfast daily - Access to the Spa Water Circuit (indoor heated pool, hammam, sauna, ice fountain, sensory showers) - Outdoor saltwater pool and jacuzzi - Fitness area - Free bicycles - Parking - Welcome card with sparkling wine and strawberries - Programme treatments and classes (when you book a wellness programme)

What's not included

- Flights and airport transfers - Travel insurance - À la carte spa, clinic and beauty treatments not in your programme - Lunch and dinner unless part of your package - Personal training (unless part of your programme) - Golf green fees (unless on a golf package) - Taxis and excursions - Personal expenses

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