Curio Collection by Hilton Hotels in Cascais

I stayed on my own for 5 nights in this lovely hotel. The staff couldn't have been more friendly or helpful - the best service I have received anywhere! They helped with booking taxis, finding a cashpoint, the train station etc. I had a small problem with my sink plug and that was attended to the same day. Even the cleaners who came to my room were lovely :) When I returned from a day out, I was always greeted warmly. I found the bed a bit hard for my lower back, but manageable, and the pillows were very big and comfy. The TV had a few English speaking channels for films. My room faced the sea' overlooking the pool and had a nice balcony with seating. There was also a small fridge in the room but there was a charge for using the tea & coffee making facilities and the bottled water. Breakfast is a huge buffet-style meal; it's mostly cold (fruit, pastries, yoghurt, cold meats and cheeses), though they also have bacon, sausages, mushrooms & tomatoes. If you want something not on the buffet , eg the only pre-made eggs are scrambled, it can be ordered, but the wait can be quite long. One morning it was 15mins, the next it was 20mins for a poached egg. In the evening there is a bar menu and also a full restaurant service. The hotel had only been open for a few months and was exceptionally clean and beautifully appointed. It's about a 10min walk down to the seafront - a bit longer back as it's up hill! It is next to a busy road and you can hear the road noise, but not see it as it's screened with hedges etc. The pool is quite small and unheated but nice to have somewhere to lounge outside- there is no garden. The town of Cascais has a huge municipal park with lots of trees, a cafe and plenty of different areas for sitting with a picnic. There are lots of birds there too - including free-ranging chickens! There are several sandy beaches in Cascais and plenty of museums and art galleries. Lots of places to eat with local food and some smaller shops - and of course, the beautiful black & white mosaic Portuguese pavements. It felt very safe as a solo female traveller. You can catch a train to Lisbon or Estoril very easily and cheaply. A day return ticket to Belem was 6 euros. There isn't a direct train service to Sintra, but the Tourist Information Office in Cascais has info about guided day trips - unfortunately when I was there most of Sintra was closed due to the forest fires further north and risk of them spreading. I believe there is a direct bus service.