The Vibe: A small boutique hotel with 12 eclectically designed rooms, inspired by emotions like surprise, passion, meditation and destiny.

The Area: Roughly midway from Lisbon and Porto, in a beautiful valley in the heart of Serra de Aire e Candeeiros Nature Park. Three UNESCO World Heritage sites can be found within a 30-minute drive: Tomar, Batalha and Alcobaça.

The DNA: Cooking and Nature is an eclectically designed boutique hotel which promised that what it is in its name: there is a rustic-chic restaurant offering cooking classes and the opportunity to cook your meal yourself supervised by the chef. Nature comes into the form of its surroundings. Plus, other amenities include indoor and outdoor pools and a kids’ pool, plus a playroom and a spa area with air baths: indoors pools at different temperatures, relaxation room and massage room. On request, there are yoga classes, hiking outings and horse riding. Kids can enjoy The Green Woodpecker Room with games, where they can explore their creativity – and the adults entrance is forbidden.

Suite-Me-Up: The fantasy room has a swing in the shower cubicle.

Your host: Rui Anastácio

✅ free Wi-Fi • size matters: 12 rooms (25m2) (269 sq ft) • hotel opened: 2013 • architecture: Ana Correia • interior design: Casazul Studio ✅ free parking on-site • no pets allowed