Intrigued by the promise of a superior 5 star hotel in Portugal, my wife and I stayed four nights at the Grande Real Villa Italia Hotel and Spa from September 30 to October 4, 2008. We were not disappointed!

If you are wondering, as we were, why a hotel in Cascais, Portugal would have the name Grande Real Villa Italia Hotel and Spa, the story is simple: the Grande Real Villa Italia Hotel and Spa is located on the grounds of the residence of the last Italian King -- King Umberto II -- who lived in Cascais during his exile from Italy (1946 until his death in 1983).

Only a year and a half old, the Grande Real Villa Italia Hotel and Spa is fitting of royalty. And, in fact, has in its short 18 month existance played host to European royalty, the jet set, and normal folks like us, who just wanted a superior property to end our Portugal vacation. Hidden on a side street across from the Atlantic Ocean at the edge of the historic center of Cascais, the Grande Real Villa Italia Hotel and Spa has an unassuming entry, but once you actually enter the hotel, you know that you are in for a special experience. Marble and tile are everywhere. The staff greet you with smiles on their face and, once they have learned your name, greet you by name. Everything is first class at the Grande Real Villa Italia Hotel and Spa.

We booked and stayed in a land view junior suite (room 506). We used the hotel's website to book the room. The junior suite was huge (56 square meters or just over 600 square feet) with a large bedroom (with a very comfortable king size bed), separate living room, and large marbled washroom. The large wrap around balcony -- with views of the city, Cascais Bay and the Atlantic Ocean -- was a pleasant surprise, since ours was a land view room. Our room rate was 330 euro a night (excellent buffet style breakfast included in the price).

The Grande Real Villa Italia Hotel and Spa has a total of 124 finely appointed rooms, of which 3 are classified as Penthouses, 10 as Suites and 9 as junior suites. The hotel has wireless internet throughout the complex, a business center with four internet connected computers and a Xerox copier/fax/printer (located next door to the billiards room -- 9 ball anyone?). There are two exterior swimming pools: one a large adult pool and the second a small children's pool. There are plenty of lounge chairs around the adult pool, and the hotel terrace overlooks the pool area, giving a wonderful view of the Atlantic Ocean. The hotel also has a kid´s club, although we did not see anyone who appeared to be under the age of 25 (except staff) during our four night visit.

There are two restaurants (I pause to note that upon check in, my wife and I were hungry and so we decided to try the hotel's highly acclaimed Restaurante Belvedere. Unfortunately, I was wearing knee high shorts, and apparently the restaurant has a dress code, so the "Maitre D" insisted that I change into long pants before we could be seated. Since our luggage had not, as yet, been delivered to our room, we decided to walk the ten minutes it takes to get to the old town center, where we had a quick lunch at one of the many cafes in town). Breakfast is served in the downstairs restaurant, and it is an excellent buffet style breakfast, including a large number of food items and drinks. The buffet even includes champagne and Grey Goose vodka, in case you like to start your day off with a Bloody Mary or champagne and orange juice. If your room rate does not include breakfast, the buffet cost is apparently an extra 25 euro per person.

On our third day at the hotel, we indulged in the "Real Spa Marine", an experience not to be missed. While costly -- 85 euro for a 50 minute sport massage for me and 40 euro for my wife to use the "area de relaxamento" -- which included the salt water roman baths, Turkish style hamman and dry sauna (note: the roman baths, hamman and sauna were included with my massage at no extra charge). A few hours at the Real Spa Marine really should part of your stay at the Grande Real Villa Italia Hotel and Spa. For, as my mother would always say, "it´s good to see how the other half live!"

Pros:

1. Clean, modern, well appointed hotel, with staff that appear genuinely interested in ensuring your stay is a wonderful experience.

2. Beautiful marble and tile work throughout.

3. A real 5 star experience.

4. Large rooms, with all the amenities you could ask for, including large feather pillows, huge soft bath towels, fruit in room, and turn down service.

5. Very comfortable king size bed in our junior suite.

6. LCD flat screen televisions in bedroom and living room (with 12 English channels).

7. Excellent service and food (albeit overpriced) at the Terrace Cafe overlooking the swimming pools and Atlantic Ocean.

8. Within walking distance to everything in Cascais.

9. Our taxi took 45 minutes from downtown Lisboa ("Lisbon"). The fare was 32 euros. We have been told (and Tripadvisor Forums on Cascais seems to support) that it is a 30 minute taxi ride from Lisboa Airport to the hotel.

10. Approximately 20 minutes by car (a 17 euro taxi ride) or a one hour and ten minute bus ride (3.55 euro on bus 403) to the historic town of Sintra (you should visit the Palace of Pena and the Moorish Castle).

11. Better variety and quality of restaurants in the Cascais/Estoril area than elsewhere in Portugal.

Cons:

1. Price. You will pay for the experience of being at one of Portugal's best hotels (if not the best hotel!).

2. Trousers are mandatory for Restaurante Belvedere (where the 5 course dinner is 80 euro per person and the 7 course dinner is 100 euro per person).

Conclusion:

I cannot say enough good things about the Grande Real Villa Italia Hotel and Spa. After two weeks of staying at other ordinary Portuguese hotels (see my other hotel reviews from our Portugal trip), the Grande Real Villa Italia Hotel and Spa changed my outlook on Portugal. True, an experience like the Grande Real Villa Italia Hotel and Spa comes at a premium price, but when one considers the alternative, it is a price well worth spending.

The city of Cascais is a much better location to stay than downtown Lisboa. The Grande Real Villa Italia Hotel and Spa is an added bonus. Whether traveling to Portugal for pleasure or business, if your budget allows (and perhaps even if your budget does not allow), you should ensure a couple nights at the Grande Real Villa Italia Hotel and Spa. My wife and I give the Grande Real Villa Italia Hotel and Spa a perfect 10 out of 10! Go ahead, treat yourself. You know that you deserve it!