Jetteke's road trip through Portugal

In my life, I have a few taste barometers. People who can blindfold you and drop you anywhere in the world. If they say life is good there, you believe it. When Jetteke asked me to write a report for Amayzine about her trip to Portugal, I could only hit caps lock and type an incredibly long ‘yaaaa’. So Jetteke, take it away. Where should we eat, sleep, swim, and read?

From the historic part where we stayed in the amazing Palacio Belmonte, we take a taxi to the car rental company in Lisbon.
There we find a really cute little car, with a convertible roof, with which we drive to Comporta in an hour and a half.

Comporta is a small place with only 348 inhabitants. It is not Saint-Tropez or Marbella; it is actually a place of nothing, but with the most beautiful beaches, flamingos (real ones!), a few restaurants, and a few beach bars. Nothing in abundance, but what is there is relaxed and exactly how we like it.

We have been coming here for years, and it is very easy to unwind here. We go back to the amazing Sublime Comporta, a gem. The estate is 17 hectares large, the scent of pine trees surrounds you, and you stay among wild sand dunes. Pure and calming. We stay in a villa with our own private pool. Wonderful to read books and sunbathe in peace. Ideal also if you have small children who want to take a nap, because you lie super relaxed but still close by.

Outside, there is an infinity pool where you can swim laps. The spa is also equipped with all luxuries and has a pool that only allows children at certain hours, so you can also find real peace here. Beautiful new villas have been built, biopool villas with two, three, four, or five bedroom cabanas. Those villas are highly recommended; you have your own house, but with the service of a hotel.

Furthermore, the breakfast buffet, wow! Deliciously abundant from their own vegetable garden. In the evening, you can dine at Sem Porta where regional products and of course food from the vegetable garden are served, or choose the restaurant in the vegetable garden called The Food Circle. There is space for 12 people. Of course, everything is based on sustainable production. You eat over an open fire, a fantastic experience. You understand why this hotel keeps winning award after award; I want to go back too.

My favorites in Comporta

Accommodation: Sublime Comporta
Horse riding: Lavalos Na Areia in Carvahal (this is where Madonna also rides; you make magical outdoor rides on wide white sandy beaches where you can enjoy the breeze on horseback)
Favorite beach bar: SAL
Restaurants: The Food Circle, Museu do Arroz, SAL
Shopping: Côté-Sud, Lavanda, Loja do Museu do Arroz

Small downside: because there are so many rice fields, there are a lot of mosquitoes in the summer.

Text: Jetteke van Lexmond