Portugal's aristocracy began decamping to the scenic Estoril Riviera for sunshine and play in the 19th century, hence the plethora of hunting lodges and crenellated mansions along this coast. Laid-back luxurious leisure is still the watchword at this family-friendly hotel set in the exclusive environs of Quinta da Marinha, a short drive westwards from Cascais, inland from the Atlantic. This is the latest incarnation from the successful Martinhal stable, whose winning formula of unparalleled facilities for families in a stylish resort-based setting has garnered universal praise since its Algarve resort opened in 2010.
Such details mattered little to our overjoyed children who squealed with delight at the playground complete with zip wires, play structures, large trampoline and lawns. Face-painting and obstacle races in the complimentary Kids Club were followed by water play in the heated Clubhouse pools. Their highlight? Driving the campervan to Africa with fellow intrepid explorers. Ours? Taking time for mealtimes and each other, while our offspring played in the supervised kids space beside both restaurants. There are wondrous beaches and coves nearby, much of the coastline is protected, and day trips to Lisbon, Cascais and Sintra are easily arranged. Luxury for families defined; one of our best ever vacations.
Highs
- Superb kids facilities include an excellent playground, bikes to hire, football and table tennis, and a choice of six pools!
- Parent pampering in the excellent spa, with family treatments available (I really enjoyed our mother-and-daughter massage)
- No need for a car as the hotel offers a shuttle service to Cascais station and beach, and can arrange transfers and taxis
- We loved the sleek, spacious rooms in hotel and villas alike, and were amazed by how quiet they were inside
- The staff are stellar
Lows
- The food at the M Bar is pretty basic, but O Terraco, the larger restaurant, has a nice a la carte menu
- The 12 self-catering villas get booked up quickly (and they only have showers)
- The lovely free-form Lagoon pool is open June-Sept only
- The hotel shuttle bus has a small surcharge and runs mostly during the day, but local taxis are cheap. We found bike hire a little pricey
- Bear in mind that it's aimed more for under 10s, but teens can enjoy tennis, football, surfing and day trips to Lisbon or Sintra
Best time to go
The hotel is open all year. The best months are May to September weatherwise. If you can avoid the school holidays, you'll find better availability and rates.
Our top tips
If you're coming with a baby or toddler, remember that a huge amount of gear is available to borrow so you can travel light (baby carriers, potties, even pushchairs). Do bring your swimming stuff - the pools are heated!
- Boutique Hotel
- 72 rooms, 12 villas
- 2 restaurants and 2 bars
- All ages welcome
- Open all year
- Pools
- Spa
- Beach Nearby
- Pet Friendly
- Disabled Access
- Car not necessary
- Parking
- Restaurants Nearby
- WiFi
- Air Conditioning
- Guest Lounge
- Terrace
- Garden
- Gym
- Concierge Service
- Bicycles Available
- Terraced gardens, lawn, choice of lounge areas
- Football pitch (tarmac)
- Laundry service
Rooms
72 luxurious Deluxe Rooms are set in a long 2-storey building facing the restaurants and spa, with lawns and reflecting pools between. All are decked out in warm wood, orange and green highlight colours and white leather-clad seating. Large floor-to-ceiling French windows (and swishing curtains) open to a balcony with outdoor armchairs and a table. Supremely comfy kingsize beds can be arranged as twins. Aside from 4 larger Deluxe Suites which bookend the corridors, rooms vary only according to view (front or back), whether they interconnect with their neighbour (ours did, and we stayed in palatial style), or if they have fold-down bunk beds.
Spacious bathrooms are all-white affairs, each with double sinks, a separate rain shower and a bathtub (lit by blue and yellow lights for fun, colourful shadows).
The 12 Grand Deluxe Villas are sited behind the Clubhouse area, and all have an identical layout of 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms up top, with open-plan living/dining/kitchen below. There's a private garden/patio space with outdoor furniture plus each has parking. Six of the villas have fold-down bunks downstairs so can sleep larger families.
Features include:
- Air conditioning
- Minibar/fridge
- WiFi
Eating
All eateries have adults, kids and babies menus, and supervised play spaces for children - no fidgeting at the table waiting for food to arrive.
High-ceilinged O Terraço hosts extensive buffet breakfasts of fresh fruit, pastries, hot dishes (more are available to order), cereals, local jams and honey. There's plentiful coffee, teas and hot chocolate; juices of orange and green hues. In the evenings, dine a la carte on modern Portuguese dishes - I enjoyed scallops in lemongrass, with quinoa and balsamic followed by codfish on celeriac with a vegetable tower. The children had mini-bitoque and homemade fishfingers and chips.
In the Clubhouse, M Bar offers casual all-day dining. The menu features global favourites, such as pizzas, salads, hamburgers and curries, which can be washed down with a healthy smoothie or coffee. For something a little more authentic, there's a special Portuguese Family Dining experience, bringing the chance to try some of the local cooking.
The Lounge Bar is your place for healthy smoothies, cocktails or an afternoon coffee, plus it hosts a delightful Family Afternoon Tea experience.
The self-catering villas come with full kitchens plus seating for up to 6, rates include a welcome pack of goodies, and you can arrange for groceries to be delivered. You can also choose to have all meals in the restaurants or collect a breakfast box.
Features include:
- Children's meals
- Minibar/fridge
- Restaurant
- Restaurants nearby
Activities
- At the hotel: relax in the Finisterra Spa, spoil yourself on a one- or two-night Ayurvedic detox retreat, hangout at the Pool Hangout, play football or table tennis
- Take the shuttle to Cascais to explore its charming city beaches (very safe for children), visit the playground and park, the Maritime Museum, the authentic food market (Wednesdays and Saturdays), carousel, and shops and restaurants
- Nearby Atlantic beaches are superb. We loved Guincho, which has a cafe and is known for surfing, kitesurfing and windsurfing, and the hotel operates a shuttle here 3x daily. Or hire bicycles from reception instead; there's a great coastal bike path to follow
- Day trip to either Lisbon or UNESCO-listed Sintra with its 19th-century Romantic architecture, castles and palaces
- You're right next to a golf course and there are plenty of others in the vicinity. There's a Tennis Racquet Club 10 minutes away by golf cart
Activities on site or nearby include:
- Cycling
- Fishing
- Golf
- Hiking
- Shopping / markets
- Surfing
- Windsurfing
- Wine tasting
Kids
Onyria Marinha Boutique Hotel is fun for children aged 12 and under. There is a kids club for 2-12 year olds (book hourly, half-day or full day sessions in advance), and a superb playground. And, best of all, there are a choice of pools in 3 locations across the site. You can also pay for additional babysitting.
Teenagers are less catered for on-site, though there are lots of activities nearby: Lisbon, Sintra and Cascais are easy day trips, and there are great beaches and watersports a short taxi ride away.
Best for:
Babies (0-1 years), Toddlers (1-4 years), Children (4-12 years)
Family friendly accommodation:
All rooms can be configured as doubles or twins. If staying in the hotel, an extra bed or cot can be added to the rooms, nearly a third of which interconnect with the room next door to create a family suite (sleeping 6 as a maximum). Many of the hotel rooms have bunk beds so can sleep a family of 4 + a baby, as can the suites, which are large enough for 2 extra beds and a cot to be added. The 2-bedroom villas are obviously popular for families, and half of them have fold-down bunks in the living rooms so can sleep a family of 6.
Cots Available, Extra Beds Available, Family Rooms
Baby equipment:
- Baby cots with bedding
- Potties
- Baby baths
- High chairs
- Baby cots
- Safety gates
Remember baby and child equipment may be limited or need pre-booking
Creche/Kid's Club:
The Dreamarine Kids Club is set in the Clubhouse and offers a weekly programme of activities, from origami to fitness and kids yoga, glitter tattoos to pixel art, kids got talent to movies. There are six play spaces to choose from, and a fun marine theme: Jellyfish Room (sensory play), Art & Games, Interactive, Sea Life Rescue (eco principled play), Library Cocoon (a lounge area with chess and books) and Neon Teens (for kids aged 6 upwards). All sessions are supervised and are an additional cost. The kids club is open as follows:
Sessions AM
9h30-10h30
10h30-11h30
11h30-12h30
Sessions PM
14h30-15h30
15h30-16h30
16h30-17h30
Children's meals:
On our most recent visit no kids menus were available but the simple menu offers a number of things most children will enjoy – such as fries, chicken wraps, ham and cheese toasties – and the chef can always make something for fussy eaters. Kids menus are on the way for the summer months and the breakfast buffet has options for all.
Kids Activities on site:
- Playground
- Choice of swimming pools
Kids Activities nearby:
- Beaches
- Cycle paths (hire bikes from the hotel)
- Day trips to Cascais, Sintra and Lisbon
- Surfing, kitesurfing, windsurfing on Guincho beach (which has lifeguards on duty)
Families Should Know:
You will need to bring your own baby monitor and we have had reports that the signal may not reach the restaurant. Children up to 16 years old will have access to the heated indoor spa pool only from 9am to 11am and 3pm to 5pm. There's an additional charge to use this pool.
Distances:
- Airport: 40 minutes (Lisbon)
- Hospital: 10 minutes
- Shops: 10 minutes
For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection
Location
Martinhal Cascais is in the exclusive Quinta da Marinha area, just west of the coastal town of Cascais on the Lisbon coast.
By Air:
Fly to Lisbon Portela (about 40km away).
From the Airport:
The hotel offers transfers, but you can easily travel independently via Metro and train. The hotel can also arrange taxis to Sintra, Lisbon and beyond, so you won't need a car while you're here, but if you want to hire one, see our car rental recommendations. The hotel has free parking.
Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.
Airports:
- Lisbon Portela Airport 40.0 km LIS
Other:
- Beach 6.0 km
- Shops 4.0 km
- Restaurant 2.0 km
Our guests' ratings...
Based on 1 independent review from i-escape guests
Feedback is only from guests who have booked and stayed through i-escape