São Mamede Hotel Estoril** – Best Budget Stay Near the Beach & Casino, open 24 hours

Situated 18km south west of Lisbon in Portugal lies this beauty. Lisbon’s very popular with tourists for many reasons but did you know it’s also home to a fabulous casino?The Casino Estoril – which markets itself the largest in Europe = has been going strong since the First World War in 1916.Its then-president, Dr Bernardino Machado, laid the first stone of the building and it’s been a majestic space to behold ever since.Rumor has it that during WW2 it provided a secret hideout for spies and fugitive royals. Ian Fleming certainly felt inspired enough by its décor to set his James Bond story, Casino Royale, there.Rather than the usual round the clock opening hours, this establishment does just fine operating in 12-hour stints. You’ll be able to play all your favorite games here with over 1,200 table games and slots available.The poker room here is renowned the world over for its elegance and regular tournaments, so it’s definitely worth checking out.Kick back in any of the 10 bars and restaurants available offering top-notch food and a great selection of drinks.Now you know there’s more to the world’s casinos than Las Vegas and Macau so get yourself over to Europe!

ADRESSAv. Dr. Stanley Ho
Edifício do Casino Estoril
2765‑190 Estoril

EMAIL: info@estoril‑sol.com
PHONE: +351 214 667 700
FAX: 214 667 965

Tamariz beach is located in the popular and long established resort of Estoril at the Cascais end of the Lisbon - Cascais line. It's a lovely little stretch of sandy beach with plenty to do for all ages. There are rockpools for the kids and a host of bars, cafes and even a nightclub for everybody else. Running along the beachfront is a promenade which runs from just down the coast to Cascais - ideal for a gentle stroll and popular with joggers.

The beach is particularly easy to get to as there is a train station just behind the beach. A quick stroll through the underpass and you're on the beach. In the summer it can get pretty busy on Tamariz with the beach dotted with straw parasols.

The large faux castle at the eastern end of the beach is apparently owned by the Monaco royal family

We love a good park and Cascais has plenty of green space all around. But the one that is our favorite is Parque Marechal Carmona. Not only does it have all the green space and play areas you would expect, but it has much, much more. A large pond is home to many ducks, geese, and turtles. There’s a little cafe at the back of it as well. And not only do we love the watery pond area, but all around it are our favorite residents of the park – all kinds of birds. Yes, we avid bird watchers managed to find a bird haven in the middle of Cascais Portugal.

The history of the village of Cascais is linked to the history of Europe, many royal families and other Portuguese families.A really beautiful place for holidays. Cascais. Always linked to some of the great landmarks of the Portugal's history, thanks to the proximity of Lisbon and the strategic point it occupies on the map, to the West. From early on linked to the Portuguese Royal Family, especially when it was chosen as a summer resort in the 19th century, it has always been a village of great historical interest, fruit of the cultural heritage from those who lived here. As such, you have to turn some leisure days into cultural lessons about Cascais.

To understand what we are talking about, there is nothing better than to start a visit to the Bairro dos Museus (Museum District), a project created by the city hall and Fundação D. Luís, with a geographical perimeter encompassing most of the buildings, museums and palaces of the village. The Casa das Histórias Paula Rego, opened since 2009 in honor of one of the great names of Portuguese painting, makes a journey through 620 works of the artist, which are exposed in permanent and temporary exhibitions; the Museu Condes de Castro Guimarães, a beautiful house from the end of the 19th century, built in a cove of transparent waters, which was bequeathed with all its spoil to the village of Cascais by its last owner, Manuel Inácio de Castro Guimarães; and, two steps away from there, the Casa de Santa Maria, also built around the same time, but in the beginning of the 20th century, thanks to Jorge O'Neill, and was a private residence for decades, being now open to those who want to visit it.

Boca do Inferno is one of the most fascinating places in Cascais. Its name relates to the size and sheer force of the huge waves that batter these shores in winter. Literally translated as the Mouth of Hell, Boca do Inferno is the remains of an ancient cave with its wide-open mouth jutting into the sea in the form of an archway, through which the Atlantic waves crash relentlessly.

With features as unique as this, visitors can only marvel at such an incredible spectacle and enjoy the magnificent sunsets from that very same spot.

Next to the viewing platform, visitors will find a restaurant, cafeteria and a few shops selling locally-made products.

Cabo da Roca, which is approximately 100 metres high, is one of the symbols of the Region, so do not be surprised at the number of people around the Restaurant.

Our suggestion is to follow a track which leads to Ursa beach – this beach, on the north of side of Cabo da Roca, is difficult to reach, but it is well worth a visit. On a clear day it provides excelente shots for your photo álbum. To reach the beach, about 800 metres from the lighthouse, you have to follow a footpath along the top of the cliff, it then descends to the valley carved by the Ursa brook. But beware: the route to the beach is steep and twisting. The countryside is marked by small stretches of land which until recently were cultivated, divided by small hedges of spanish cane (Arundo donax), farmers used the hedges to protect their crops from the strong sea winds.

The whole route exposes a wealth of flora, if you look carefully you might spot one of the portuguese’s flora’s endemic species – Armeria Pseudarmeria.

Birdwatchers will find a that this is the na ideal place from which to observe countless species which winter or nest here. 

The first place to visit will be Sintra, classified as a UNESCO World Heritage, where we will discover the emblematic Pena Palace, Moorish Castle, National Palace, Quinta da Regaleira, Monserrate Palace, breathtaking landscape and the romantic old town. Time will be given to visit Pena Palace and Quinta da Regaleira, the other monuments will be sightseeing from specific points.

Belém Tower was first built to defend Lisbon. Years later, it was transformed into a lighthouse and later still a customs center.

The Jeronimos Monastery is, along with the Belem tower, the most important tourist attraction in Lisbon, inside which lies the tomb of Vasco de Gama.