FOUR SEASONS LISBON

There are some places in the world that really have to be seen to be believed – Lisbon is one of them. Before I arrived in Lisbon I had exceedingly high expectations. I had heard nothing but rave reviews from fellow travellers and with Lisbon placed on many ‘must visit’ lists for 2014, I knew there was no better time to visit than before mass tourism arrives. Fortunately Lisbon has so far coped well with the influx of tourists – but the numbers of tourists venturing from afar to see and experience the capital of Portugal is only set to increase, so be sure to set your sights on Lisbon sooner rather than later.

The Four Seasons Ritz Hotel Lisbon

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For my final nights in Lisbon, I would be staying at the highly acclaimed Four Seasons Ritz Hotel Lisbon. This hotel is among one of the favourites for travellers to the city, and after experiencing the hotel first hand it’s not hard to see why. I have visited many Four Seasons properties throughout my travels, but this would have to be one of the most proactive in ensuring guests see, do, eat, drink, smell, and experience all their city has to offer. My best guess is that it comes from the Portuguese pride – here they are proud of their city and proud to show you what’s on offer – what’s more, they’ll make sure you don’t leave the city until you’ve had the most memorable experience possible.

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The Four Seasons experience

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During my stay at the Four Seasons Lisbon I was rather spoiled and got to experience the ‘full package’. I checked-in to my Deluxe Suite and soon after made my way to the heated indoor pool, sauna and steam room. After a little relaxation I made my way to the top floor of the hotel to see the hotel’s iconic rooftop fitness area. The rooftop had sweeping views across the city and as if they couldn’t have been more creative, the Four Seasons Lisbon have even placed a full circuit running track on the rooftop of the hotel.

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Shortly after returning back to my room there was a knock on the door and my special welcome platter had arrived – complimentary Port (this is Portugal!) and three pastels – the local delicacy. This small custard filled tarts are absolutely to die for – the only problem will be stopping yourself from eating copious amounts of them whilst in Lisbon! For the best pastel, be sure to visit Pastéis de Belem at some point during your stay – or read on to find out how to best experience all of Lisbon in a half-day tour.

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My next treat to get the full experience of the Four Seasons Lisbon was to make my way back down to the spa for a signature treatment, the Portuguese retreat treatment. The treatment began with a foot cleansing, something I warmly welcomed after travelling for the past 3 months. It was then time to be scrubbed head to toe in crushed almonds, soaked and rinsed, and finally experience a full body rose oil massage to leave me feeling refreshed and revitalised in my mind, body and soul.

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After an interrupted night of rest (the bed linens are some of the best I have ever encountered), it was time to take to the streets for my final day in Lisbon, but not without stopping at the buffet breakfast first. As an avid fan of a good breakfast buffet (I’m not afraid to admit I will judge a hotel solely on their breakfast buffet if I deem it either fantastic or miserable), I was incredibly impressed by this one.

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The breakfast buffet was absolutely packed with hot dishes, healthy yoghurts and fruits, hearty granola, and of course some very special sweet treats. The staff were also a highlight of the breakfast buffet – with no attention to detail spared. Just seconds after your plate was empty it had been cleared, there were a number of offers for tea, coffee or juice, and they were attentive to ensure everything was okay.

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The Four Seasons concierge had then arranged a special day for me – a half-day tour of the city in the most authentic and unique way; via sidecar. I would strongly recommend this for anyone visiting Lisbon whether you are staying at the Four Seasons Lisbon or elsewhere, as it was a very unique way to see the city and provided a sound overview of all the must see sites and attractions.

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My final experience at the hotel was to dine for lunch at the Sushi Bar. This is popular among hotel guests and outside guests alike, as it has some of Lisbon’s best fresh sushi and a killer dessert buffet! Be sure to book in advance as this is a very popular lunch destination in the city.

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Rooms at the Four Seasons Lisbon start at $600. Although one of the more expensive options on offer in Lisbon, many guests take to TripAdvisor to assure others it was ‘worth paying extra for’.