São Lourenço do Barrocal is a hotel that had been on my wishlist for years, an idyllic escape in the Portuguese Alentejo region. Just a few hours drive from Lisbon, this hotel works perfectly as a second stop after a few days enjoying the excitement of the capital city.

The hotel has a special history… the atmospheric property has been in the same family for over 200 years and feels very much in tune with its beautiful surroundings. The hotel has a 780-hectare estate that includes olive groves and vineyards (you can taste the olive oil and wine on site), and also boasts an orchard and wall garden.

A main building hosts evening sundowners and cakes, and is also home to a charming bar for all your refreshment needs. The reception here are on-call to help make your stay at São Lourenço do Barrocal as memorable as possible. Guests have so many options to fill their daily itinerary with… from horse riding, to hot air balloon rides over the region.

The hotel prides itself on being incredibly family-friendly with activities to suit all age groups. But for those needing some alone time, the Susanne Kaufmann spa is the perfect refuge.

There are 40 rooms including courtyard, winery and farm rooms, and cottages for accommodating families. The rooms are all decorated in a similar style – laid back and luxurious. The courtyard room we called home was spacious and comfortable, with a generous living area and outdoor terrace.

The bathroom felt lavish with underfloor heating and dual sinks, bath and separate power shower, and best of all… mini Susanne Kaufmann toiletries.

Our room felt like a suite and it was a lovely oasis to come back to at the end of the day.

The hotel restaurant, Alentejo, is a homely dining room for feasting on the finest local produce. In the morning, a huge buffet offered fruit and cold meats, pastries and cereals. A cooked menu offers all the hot dishes you might desire, and I was impressed by the thoughtful service, particularly when the waiter remembered my coffee order on the second morning.

I looked forward to dinner at Alentejo both days. The menu was full of enticing farm to table recipes and I particularly loved the slow cooked meats, which were incredibly flavoursome and delicious when paired with the São Lourenço do Barrocal wine.

In the long warm days we lazed by the pool, with the scent of citrus fruit in the air. On our second day we were treated to a picnic in the grounds, prepared specially for us by the hotel. It was wonderfully relaxing to be able to spend all our time here, there is so much to see and do on site that I didn’t get my usual itch to explore further afield.

For a sunny and calm European getaway I would highly recommend São Lourenço do Barrocal. The design-led but traditional interiors made this hotel a pleasure to spend time in, and the authentic friendly service ensured every detail of our trip was perfect. Waking up to the birdsong and falling asleep under a sky full of stars are two memories I will always remember from our short stay at this magical hotel.

More information and book a stay at São Lourenço do Barrocal here.

I was a guest of the hotel.

Whether I travel for a day trip or a two-week holiday, I always like to truly discover the best of a destination… from speciality coffee shops and wine bars, to unique local designers and the finest foodie establishments. So when I heard about Hotel Indigo’s ‘Clues to the Neighbourhood’ experience in Stratford-upon-Avon, I was immediately interested.

This special campaign aims to introduce guests to the most individual and interesting parts of the destination that the hotel calls home. The concept kicked off at the Hotel Indigo Berlin and continues in Stratford-upon-Avon and Brussels. In the Hotel Indigo Stratford-upon-Avon library, you will find 20 clues – a collection of beautiful items and artefacts – each a clue to a special place, venue or excursion in the town. The clues have been chosen by artists, musicians and historians who all have a connection to Stratford-upon-Avon.

The clues lead you to a range of itinerary options, from local perfume makers to museum exhibitions, cute historic pubs to talented hairdressers. There are a few clues that relate to Shakespeare, but the collection of 20 showcases a great deal of other ideas too. There is something to suit guests of all ages and interests, and the hotel staff are trained to help with any bookings or tickets. Every clue tells a story worth discovering.

During the launch day we were all treated to experiences from one of the clues – a trip to the Butterfly Farm, a gin tasting at Shakespeare Gin Company or a Perfume Workshop with expert Rebecca Tracey. I headed to Rebecca Tracey’s studio for a lesson in essential oils. After smelling 16 different oils and hearing about all the qualities and properties of each, we were encouraged to mix our favourite top, middle and base notes to blend our own bespoke oil. It was a brilliant few hours picking up some great perfume tips.

Before heading back to London, we were treated to a feast at the Hotel Indigo Stratford-upon-Avon’s celebrated restaurant, The Woodsman. This cosy eatery is known for its menu of wholesome recipes, in particular its deer dishes. The whole group sat round a grand table and tasted an array of wonderful local delicacies. The main course was my favourite; platters of perfectly cooked Venison Wellington, roast roe deer, the creamiest mashed potato and flavoursome vegetables. The meal concluded with freshly made, piping hot, strawberries and cream beignets.

After 10 years of writing about and visiting hotels I’ve never witnessed a destination experience quite so bespoke and exciting as ‘Clues to the Neighbourhood’. I just hope this inspired idea will be on offer at more of the Indigo hotels in the future.

‘Clues to the Neighbourhood’ continues at Hotel Indigo Stratford-upon-Avon for the next three months. Book here to stay and experience the best of the city.

This is a sponsored article in collaboration with Hotel Indigo, see more from the video here.