THE ULTIMATE FAMILY HOLIDAY
Known for sun, sand and childfriendly hospitality, Portugal does family holidays better than most, and its riviera is the ideal place to be – 20 minutes from the buzz of the capital with the beach and ocean at your feet.
WHY IT’S SPECIAL
It has that magic something for everyone. In Estoril there is the old casino, where James Bond author Ian Fleming played the tables during the war, along with the many spies who chose this neutral country as a base (it later became the inspiration for Fleming’s
Casino Royale). In Cascais there are beaches plus seafood restaurants such as Porto Santa Maria and ice-cream shops like Santini that have been there forever. In Guincho, a little bit further along the coast, the big waves which crash onto the magnificent sandy beach attract the surfers. All this is within easy reach of the colourful, cultural charms of Sintra, and the buzzing nightlife of Lisbon – good if you have teenagers in tow. Alternatively, stay closer to home, visiting the Boca do Inferno (Hell’s Mouth), a chasm in the cliffs pounded by the ocean, or head to Cabo da Roca, mainland Europe’s most westerly point.
YOU’LL NEVER FORGET Sitting in the historical town square of Cascais, a bica (espresso) in hand, watching the fisherman bring in their catch of the day.
EXPERT TIPS
Let your children stay up and go out with you; they are always welcome in Portuguese restaurants.
HOW TO DO IT
Lisbon is served by British Airways (ba. com); easyJet (easyjet.com); and Ryanair (ryanair.com). Hire a car and head out to Cascais where Martinhal has a hotel that is brilliantly well-equipped for children, with a vast playground of zip wires, swimming pools, trampolines and more. Or opt for the hills and base yourself in Sintra, 20 minutes inland at the lovely Penha Longa, which has a great kids’ club. If your children are older then stay in Cascais or Estoril near the train station to give them some independence and a way of getting around. The Intercontinental and the Hotel Palacio both do just that.