SANA Sesimbra Hotel

Attracting vacationers -- mainly Portuguese -- seeking a sunny beachside locale, the SANA Sesimbra Hotel offers a conveniently situated base by the beach, plus features catering to both leisure tourists and business travelers. Contemporary interiors are a bit boring and dated, yet clean. The lobby is bright and airy thanks to a facade of windows. There's patterned mosaic tiling on the floor and an array of black pleather sofas for seating. The rooftop bar is equally sunlit, with panoramic windows overlooking surrounding rooftops and the sea. Round wooden tables are paired with crayon-colored chairs for a playful effect, while the hotel's restaurant also adds a touch of color to an abundance of wood with a blue and white cubic accent wall. Overall, it's a solid choice for a beach vacation, offering plenty of rooftop terraces and sundecks lined with loungers in which to soak up the sun.

The hotel is situated across the street from the California Beach in the village of Sesimbra, on Lisbon's Setúbal Peninsula. There are plenty of restaurants and bars in the area, as well as shops and services like banks. The nearby Nature Park of Arrábida, with mountains, cliffs, bat caves, and a convent, is about a 10-minute drive away, as is the Sesimbra Castle. Other area attractions include the Cape Espichel Lighthouse (30-minute drive), São Filipe Castle (40-minute drive), and the Palmela Castle (45-minute drive). Lisbon is about an hour's drive away, while Setúbal can be reached in 40 minutes. There's no train station in town and a car is advised to get around, but travelers can also arrive from Lisbon by bus.

Clean, contemporary rooms are pleasantly appointed, mixing black-and-white stripes with charcoal accent walls, purple curtains, and blond wood furniture. Some rooms open onto private furnished balconies with lovely sea views, a perk that's worth the upgrade as other units have lackluster views over neighboring buildings. All rooms have striped armchairs and desks. Other standard amenities include flat-screen TVs, minibars, electronic safes, air-conditioning, and free Wi-Fi. Suites have separate living rooms as well as extras like Nespresso machines. Bathrooms are covered in sleek gray tile and equipped with shower/tub combos as well as bidets, magnifying mirrors, and wall-mounted hairdryers. Individual toiletries are provided.

The hotel's heated rooftop pool features a retractable cover that's open during the summers. It's surrounded by a wooden deck lined with padded loungers. Other wellness features include a small fitness room equipped with a handful of machines, a sauna, and a Turkish bath. There's also a hot tub on an outdoor terrace as well as several sundecks with loungers for soaking up the sun and scenic sea views.

The hotel's Espadarte Restaurant specializes in seafood as well as serving Portuguese and international fare in a pleasant dining room or out on the terrace. A buffet breakfast is served here in the mornings and included in rates. The rooftop Caravela Bar offers a bright and airy setting to enjoy a drink, plus there's an outdoor terrace with beautiful views over the beach, sea, and the town's terra-cotta rooftops. Room service is available 24 hours. Five meeting rooms can accommodate up to 140 people. Wi-Fi is free throughout. On-site parking is available for a fee.