Why We Rebooked Our Summer Trip for Portugal
This summer was supposed to be about Switzerland. I had the flights booked. I had the hotels lined up. I had a vision of crisp mountain air and train rides where everyone sips sparkling water and gazes out at the Alps in polite silence. But then we got back from Hawaii.
Hawaii was the kind of trip that reminded us what we actually love when we travel. Surfing. Bare feet. Long days that start slow and end with salt on your skin. My husband discovered a deep, previously untapped love of riding waves. I remembered how nice it is to do Pilates and then eat pancakes. Our six-year-old just liked that he could sprint barefoot without anyone telling him to stop.
That’s when I realized our summer needed a different kind of rhythm.
I started looking at Portugal.
I’ve only been to Porto before, back in my twenties on a trip with friends. We wandered the streets, drank port in the afternoon, and pretended to be the kind of people who journal. I loved it. But this time was different. This time I had a child, a husband, and the not-so-small desire to feel relaxed by day three.
I considered Lisbon, of course. It’s beautiful and tiled and full of energy. There are incredible restaurants and design-forward boutique hotels, and I’m sure I’ll stay there on another trip. I also looked at Cascais, which has a more beachy, slow-it-down vibe. Then I got completely swept up in the fantasy of Comporta. Sublime Comporta is exactly how I want to feel in August. It’s all cork trees, linen, wildflowers, and open-air everything. Naturally, it was booked.
I considered the Douro Valley, which is breathtaking. Six Senses Douro Valley is basically what happens when wellness and elegance get married and move into a vineyard. But this trip wasn’t about wine and spa menus. It was about movement, sun, and letting a six-year-old run wild in a place that actually welcomes children instead of merely tolerating them.
I circled back to Martinhal Sagres, a resort I’ve wanted to visit since Sebbie was a baby. Everyone who goes says the same thing. You actually relax. They have childcare. Swim lessons. Surf lessons. A restaurant with floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook a playground. A proper espresso bar. It’s not a detox retreat or a scene. It’s real-life vacation energy, built for families who want to feel good and eat well without negotiating over whether or not there’s a kids’ menu.
So that’s what we’re doing. We’re flying into Lisbon, picking up a mini convertible (with a booster seat, don’t worry anyone), and driving straight to the beach. No repacking, no reshuffling. Just sunscreen, sandals, and an open road. Switzerland is still on our list. It’s a place we love and will absolutely return to, but this summer, Portugal felt right.
We wanted slow mornings and ocean air. We wanted surfboards and Pilates mats. We wanted sunshine and sand and that feeling of being barefoot, literally and metaphorically.
And we wanted pancakes.
Hotels to check out for Portugal:
Sublime Comporta – Comporta
Image credits: All hotel photos courtesy of the respective properties via Fora Travel media library.
Earthy, elegant, and effortlessly chic. This is where cork trees meet curated minimalism, and the pool looks like it was designed for barefoot philosophers. Mornings start with homemade yogurt and local honey, and nights end under string lights with chilled vinho verde. There are bikes, beach bags, and the kind of silence you can only get from pine forest air. Ideal for couples, friend getaways, or families who eat grilled fish and fall asleep early.
Six Senses Douro Valley – Douro Valley
Image credits: All hotel photos courtesy of the respective properties via Fora Travel media library.
Everything here is about feeling good, from the spa to the sleep program to the biodynamic garden where your lunch is probably growing. The hotel is built into a restored 19th-century manor house with river views from nearly every angle. Wellness here is not a concept, it’s a way of life, from wine tastings to forest bathing. Come with someone who loves a cold plunge as much as a good cheese plate.
Martinhal Sagres – Sagres, Algarve
Image credits: All hotel photos courtesy of the respective properties via Fora Travel media library.
Possibly the most stylish family-friendly hotel in Europe. Designed by parents who understand that luxury and children do not have to cancel each other out. Think espresso overlooking the ocean while your child runs barefoot across a lawn. Every detail is thoughtful, from the restaurant with views of the playground to the surf lessons, swim lessons, and sports academies. It’s the kind of place where no one judges your 5 p.m. wine order and everyone sleeps well.
Palácio Príncipe Real – Lisbon
A dream of a Lisbon townhouse with high ceilings, a hidden garden, and a rooftop pool just big enough to feel like a secret. The breakfasts are slow and beautiful. The rooms feel like stepping into an art collector’s home in a good way. Central but tucked away, it’s ideal for couples or solo travelers who want to feel local and a little spoiled.
The Oitavos – Cascais
A contemporary escape on the edge of the Atlantic. The architecture is sleek, the spa is serious, and the ocean air is a mood stabilizer all on its own. Rooms are large, light-filled, and unfussy, with big terraces for morning coffee or yoga mats if that’s your vibe. Just far enough from Lisbon to feel like a true escape but close enough for a dinner reservation in the city.
Areias do Seixo – Santa Cruz, north of Lisbon
Bohemian luxury done right. Wood-burning stoves, hanging egg chairs, candlelit dinners, and fireplaces in the bathrooms. It’s sustainable and soulful and you’re encouraged to wander barefoot. No two rooms are the same, but all of them feel like a soft reset. A perfect place to disappear for a few days and come back to yourself.
Vila Monte Farm House – Eastern Algarve
Quiet luxury surrounded by citrus trees and terracotta paths. This farmhouse-turned-hotel feels like stepping into a whitewashed dreamscape, with hammocks in the gardens and breakfast served in a space that smells faintly of jasmine. The decor is rustic chic with just enough polish, and the vibe is slow and warm. Great for families, couples, or anyone who wants to see a less touristy side of the Algarve without giving up good design.