Praia do Sal Resort & SPA

The spa and indoor pool were highlights, though the water felt a bit cold. It could be warmer in winter. We stayed two nights for our second anniversary, and the room was nice, with a kitchen. There was a cake, a sweet message, and tasty cookies waiting for us when we arrived. Such a lovely touch.

The outdoor pool was a real highlight, especially the views. The studio rooms were comfortable and convenient, and the staff were lovely. They handled several requests kindly and efficiently. There aren’t many food places or tourist souvenir shops nearby. If you don’t mind paying a fair Uber fare into the main city, that’s easy enough to work around. A very good place to stay.

The hardest part of this stay was losing my daughter’s teddy bear, “Olaf.” He had been with her through pain, trauma, and more than 13 years of memories. We spoke to the hotel team, but they couldn’t find him, and it didn’t feel like they understood how much this meant to us. The manager even suggested Olaf might never have been with us. That was deeply upsetting. Shame on you, Miguel Fernandes. This Christmas will always be the one when we lost Olaf. Our hearts are broken. RIP Olaf, you were loved and are missed, and can never be replaced. There were other problems too. Several spa items were broken, including jets, showers, and the cycling machine, which felt negligent and frustrating. The TV didn’t work during our stay despite repeated requests to get it fixed. The master bathroom was so small you had to sit on the toilet to close the door, and there was nowhere for towels or bathrobes, so we left them on the floor. They were only replaced sporadically. Daily cleaning was welcome, but housekeeping was heavy handed and threw away things that shouldn’t have been discarded. We were invited to Christmas dinner for over €260 for two adults and two children. The menu disappointed us. Spaghetti bolognese for children on Christmas Day in Portugal felt uninspired, and we declined. Other diners looked just as unimpressed from what we could see. With Portuguese cuisine so rich and exciting, the focus on an Italian restaurant is hard to understand. The apartment seemed very good when we arrived. There was no outdoor furniture, but at Christmas that was understandable.

We visited in winter, but still got to enjoy some sunny moments and lovely sea views. The hotel is beautiful, with both rooms and apartments for a more comfortable stay. I hope they repair some of the gym equipment. Otherwise, it was just right for our stay near Lisbon.