Hotel Areias do Seixo

Areisas Do Seixo Charm Hotel & Residence is an eco-friendly romantic getaway that attracts mostly couples. It's set on a large property filled with open green spaces, a path to the beach, permaculture gardens, and a greenhouse along with hanging pod chairs, wooden benches, and carved wooden chairs. Interior decor combines stone, wood, and glass in stone floors and walls; wooden tables, artistic pieces, seating, and platforms; and floor-to-ceiling windows that provide natural indoor lighting. Guests will find messages of love and poetry throughout the place, such as on chalkboard panels or doors. The lobby is relaxed and has a fun vibe, thanks to displays of bikes for rent and wooden swings hanging from the ceiling. The bar and restaurant have a rustic look, with a suspended fireplace in the bar area, colorful chairs pulled up to wooden tables, and a hanging glass chandelier. The hotel is eco-friendly and has developed permaculture gardens on the grounds. The restaurant uses ingredients from the on-site garden and greenhouse and there are even chickens and compost heaps on-site. The property generates much of it power with a photovoltaic system, and they use recycled water and geothermal heating. Though it’s a rustic, luxury hotel, Areias Do Seixo still has techie features such as a personal app with a virtual concierge to plan out guest stays.

This hotel has a secluded location in the small town of Mexilhoeira, about an hour from Lisbon. The hotel is surrounded by fields, farmland, and some houses. Though it’s not directly on the beach, it’s only a five-minute walk or so down a private path to the coast. Santa Cruz, a small city with things to see and do, is an eight-minute drive from the property. Santa Rita isn’t too far either at a six-minute drive. It’s a 50-minute drive to Lisbon Portela Airport. 

The hotel has both rooms and villas for rent, all of which are large and romantic. Gray stone walls and floors provide a naturalistic backdrop for wooden furniture including lamps and bed canopies made of tree branches, wooden headboards, and carved wooden chairs and benches. The look veers away from rustic into modern in places, with elegant modish armchairs, chandeliers, and chic fireplaces -- some suspended from the ceiling, others in glass encasements that attach to dining room tables. Though the rooms have free Wi-Fi, they lack other amenities typical of five-pearl hotels, including air-conditioning and TVs, following a tranquil, eco-friendly ethos. Minibars and tea- and coffee-making facilities are also absent, though platters full of healthy snacks are offered. The rooms have lovely, large patios, some of which are enclosed and feature small patches of grass and benches; others have large wooden patios with bean bags for lounging and steps that lead down to the fields and beach. Town houses and villas also feature small pools, and fully equipped kitchens. Villas and town homes allow for children, but they have strict restrictions on adult supervision.

Bathrooms have an open floor plan (no doors to toilets or showers). Like the rooms, they differ a bit in style. Some rooms have jetted tubs in front of floor-to-ceiling windows. Others have walls made of round smooth rocks and rainfall showerheads with open showers next to deep stone tubs, and some even have leafy trees in the bathrooms. Robes, hairdryers, and large Damana toiletries are provided. 

Areias Do Seixo Charm Hotel & Residences has a slew of astounding features, most of which take advantage of the beautiful outdoors. The highlight of the hotel is the spa, which offers baths, saunas, and massages. It also has a lovely infinity pool with great views of the property’s permaculture gardens. The restaurant and bar source ingredients grown on-site, but be prepared for pricey meals and drinks. Breakfast is included in room rates, and stays open late to accommodate late-risers. 

Other features include a cinema room with DVDs, an outdoor fire pit, and a greenhouse. Throughout the week, events and activities are hosted by the hotel, such as free yoga classes, dinner by the lake, mussel harvesting, tea in the garden, and tours of the greenhouse. The property can host weddings and small events as well.

Though the hotel has free Wi-Fi, there aren't any business services. Surprisingly, there's no gym. There’s a small shop to buy trinkets, some of which are homemade. On-site parking is available at no cost. Bikes can be rented to explore the area, and the hotel can set up airport transfers upon request (for a fee).