Travel

Jetteke's road trip through Portugal

Jetteke van Lexmond travels through Portugal with her two sons Dean and June

Portugal, I'm going back for the umpteenth time because I've lost a part of my heart to this wonderful country. However, this time it's different because I'm going with my boys since my husband has to work. It's going to be a road trip with the three of us. A bit exciting, but sometimes doing something new is just good.

I ask Dean and June what they want to see before we go, and they come up with a long list of sights. They are now 8 and 11 years old, and I quickly realize that this is a great age to take them on a trip alone. The boys take care of their own suitcase, at the airport they help us find the right gate, and they are in charge of the hotel room keys the whole trip.

First stop: Lisbon

A great destination, but let's leave that rental car for now. In the historic part of Lisbon, you can't park the car, and a taxi is quick and not expensive. Dean, June, and I are staying at Palacio Belmonte, the hotel that Christian Louboutin calls ‘home’ when he is in Lisbon. The palacio dates back to the fifteenth century and is a national monument, located on a hill at the foot of Castelo de Sao Jorge. Actor Jeremy Irons describes it exactly as it is: ‘Living at the Belmonte is like living in the middle of a favorite book you are reading. You escape into it and never want to end.’

beach chairs by the pool bed with blue Portuguese tiled wall,

The charming Frédéric Coustols is the owner and, together with his wife, has turned it into a wonderful hotel since 1994. It was a six-year renovation. It was a challenge, but he tells me it succeeded in combining the comfort of today with the luxury of the building's architecture. The 3800 Azulejos, which are special Portuguese tiles, can be admired in the ten suites of the palacio. Each suite is named after a prominent Portuguese figure. When you walk through the large red doors, the hustle and bustle of the city fades away, and you feel at home. The imposing walls, the garden with its own orange trees, the lovely swimming pool, and that view over the city from your suite make this stay a gem in Lisbon. I almost forget to mention the breakfast in the garden with homemade French crêpes. Belmonte is unforgettable.

Of course, after hours of swimming in the palacio's garden, we also dove into the city. Here are the places you don't want to miss:

1. Restaurant Prado and Prado Mercearia
2. Restaurant Bairro do Avillez
3. Eating seafood at restaurant Ramiro
4. Having ice cream at Gelato Davoro
5. Drinking coffee at Hello Kristof
6. Visiting Mercado Biologico do Principe Real in the park
7. Lunching around the corner at restaurant A Cevicheria
8. Buying something at Paris em Lisboa (I always do that)
9. Going to museum MAAT
10. Walking along the Tagus River to break the city's hustle and bustle
11. Tasting the famous mini tarts from Portugal at Pasteis de Belem
12. Visiting the Mosteiro dos Jeronimos and walking through the botanical garden.

  • Dean and June in a clothing store
  • museum MAAT in Lisbon
  • Paris em Lisboa
  • Jetteke van Lexmond with Dean and June
  • Dean and June eating in a restaurant
  • Jetteke van Lexmond with her little son in the car
  • two lounge chairs by the pool
  • hotel where Christian Louboutin stayed in Lisbon
  • eating seafood and drinking beer

Another handy tip for when you visit Lisbon: the city is a no-go for shoes with smooth soles, and anything with a heel is impossible. The stones in Lisbon are super slippery, and the streets are steep.

Text: Jetteke van Lexmond @jettekevanlexmond