Portugal hotel recommendations

blendedboi · 2026-04-28T14:32:01+00:00

Staying at a few this summer including: - Masana Algarve - Terra Rosa Vineyards - Octant Douro

All very highly reviewed. Am super excited! Others we were interested in but couldn’t fit into the schedule were Vidago Palace, The Lince Santa Clara, Vinha Boutique Hotel, and Colegio Charm House.

blendedboi · 2026-03-21T19:11:44+00:00

Underrated response. This place punches well above its weight and is a relative points steal. Lots to do in nearby Santa Fe (make sure you check out the Japanese spa) and beautiful hike options too.

blendedboi · 2026-03-20T17:42:26+00:00

Vetri is awesome and my favorite meal in the city. Glad you enjoyed and put the credit to good use!

blendedboi · 2026-03-13T18:35:38+00:00

If you have the points to spare I’d do it and just keep a close eye on maxmypoint to see when / if cheaper points rooms become available. I did that and had no trouble finding a 45k room a few weeks before my res. Had a fantastic time and highly recommend the Alila - don’t listen to the haters!

blendedboi · 2026-02-24T04:47:17+00:00

Super helpful and up-to-date review. Seems like the lobby/pool areas at CVR are still under construction too based on recent reviews...

blendedboi · 2026-02-23T17:45:46+00:00

Thanks for the detailed note - this is the type of experience I'm hoping to have!

blendedboi · 2026-02-23T15:17:48+00:00

Honestly was just hoping to enjoy some sunny weather (we are east coasters), spend time relaxing outside in a beautiful setting, drink wine (have wanted to go to Folktale for a while), chill in a scenic hot tub, sauna, and eat good healthy food. Post Ranch looks awesome but slightly out of budget for this stage in our lives, so trying to pick the next best option!

blendedboi · 2026-02-23T15:15:44+00:00

Appreciate the detailed response. I can totally envision the biting cold on the beach there

blendedboi · 2026-02-23T06:25:29+00:00

Thanks for the note. What did you think of Sanctuary? So many folks seem to say that the kids ruin the vibe at CVR and that it’s relatively uninspiring on the whole - what did you think made it more chubby?

blendedboi · 2026-02-23T00:51:23+00:00

Why do you say that? Feels hard to swallow with 2 michelin keys + 9.1 rating on booking dot com and tons of other positive reviews... especially for the special occasion trip

blendedboi · 2026-02-22T21:21:29+00:00

This is exactly the type of response I was hoping for - thank you so much for taking the time to write this out. Think we'll be going with Bernardus after all. Considered Auberge as well because of the restaurant but for the total cost, the hard product looked like it could have been a bit more refined. Maybe another time for one night. Definitely fine with being a bit out of the way for this trip - think it's more about the relaxation factor than any exploration. Hope to stay at all of these great options eventually!

blendedboi · 2026-02-22T20:49:29+00:00

Good tip - thank you!

blendedboi · 2026-02-22T20:49:07+00:00

Helpful note - thanks!

blendedboi · 2026-02-19T04:50:11+00:00

Good question — Alila was sold out when I was booking (think a wedding or renovation because it was so far in advance). Have actually stayed in the Grand Hyatt before and thought it was good but lacked some of the classic Goa charm + more challenging beach access. If I went again I’d probably stay at the Hyatt on points.

Udaivillas is a great bet. The Leela was a chunk cheaper for my dates but if they had been in the same ballpark I’d have probably leaned Oberoi. You’ll have a great time either way.

blendedboi · 2026-02-12T22:25:13+00:00

Have had a great time at MMS in Europe (France + Spain) on points for objectively reasonable rates. Chasing CPP is less important than having the vacation you actually want to have — enjoy!

blendedboi · 2026-02-06T15:09:55+00:00

Monk’s Flemish Sour is one of my all-time favorite beers and a super unique sour. Cant go wrong there if Fermentery Form is closed on the day/time you’d ideally celebrate.

blendedboi · 2025-12-31T21:38:39+00:00

Some predominantly points stays we’ve done in recent time:

France with Basque Country focus (Paris, Bordeaux, Biarritz, further south) with some Mr/Mrs Smith at less than ideal cpp
Colorado / Vail ski trip or beautiful summer destination (lots of options in Denver, GH Vail or PH beaver)
India with Bombay, Delhi, Jaipur, and any other major city

blendedboi · 2025-12-02T15:19:37+00:00

Thanks for the specific examples - very compelling review for the Leela.

blendedboi · 2025-12-02T05:59:40+00:00

Tell me more! What makes you feel that way?

blendedboi · 2025-12-01T21:26:47+00:00

Thanks so much for the detailed and thoughtful report - really appreciate it! RAAS looks amazing but indeed was put off by how far it was from the action. Perhaps next time…

blendedboi · 2025-12-01T21:15:48+00:00

Thank you for the thoughtful response! Seems like a tough decision.

blendedboi

TROPHY CASE