Farol Design Hotel travel tips and stories. Vacations ideas, cruises, spa and resorts

If you want a cool place to chill in the sun, Farol Design Hotel is the right destination. The hotel is sited above the rocks and views stretch for miles across the water to the Setubal peninsular, while sailing boats and cargo ships zip in and out of Lisbon. Sophisticated contemporary interiors are all around you. A wall of glass and ocean views in the dining room, a beautiful art deco mirror in reception. Stone floors give way to shiny boards, chrome spider lamps hang over groovy armchairs.

Breakfast is served on a splendid deck with huge views out to sea. You’ll find yourself tasting iced strawberry juice or freshly-squeezed OJ, ham croissants and smoked salmon sandwiches. Cake stands offer six levels of irresistible pastries: pain au chocolat, apple pancakes, French croissants, chocolate muffins. However, if you prefer traditional taste head down to Porto Santa Maria. You’ll find good traditional Portuguese cooking or a pizza.

There are standard rooms and designer rooms. Most of them have sea views and terraces. The rest have inland views, four with balconies. None are small, all come in similar design: white walls, crisp cotton, red linen bedcovers, blond wood furniture and chrome lamps above the bed. You get satellite TVs, air-con, mini-bars and fluffy bathrobes. Black and white bathrooms are identical to those in the fancier rooms, with hydro-massage tubs. Designer rooms are nicely over-the-top and come with an overdose of colour.

The town of Cascais is on your doorstep. There’s a contemporary art collection, a daily fish market, plenty of pretty churches and houses, a Wednesday fair and even a Sunday bullfight if that’s your thing. Next door to the hotel is a park with a mansion-museum and the Cultural Centre; just beyond is the marina where you can jet ski, scuba dive, fish, parasail, windsurf, surf and kite surf.

Location: Farol Design Hotel is located in Cascais, Portugal, 5 minutes from the town’s rail station. It’s 30km from Lisbon airport, and a 20-minute drive from central Lisbon. When to go: May and June are perhaps the best times, with sunny weather and fewer crowds; bear in mind that the sea is pretty chilly until mid June, but then again the hotel rates are lower.