Macdonald Resorts opens luxury retreat in Algarve

Macdonald Hotels and Resorts has opened a new resort and spa in the Monchique Mountains of the Portuguese Algarve.

Macdonald Monchique Hotel & Spa opened to public on 1 June 2016 after renovation work costing €5 million.

The property is the only resort in an undiscovered area of rural Portugal that combines five-star amenities, premium service and contemporary styling with unspoiled natural surroundings and breathtaking views. The luxury resort sits high up in the Serra de Monchique mountain range, surrounded by the evocative scents of pine and eucalyptus. Close to the Algarve’s many attractions, the resort is 15 minutes from the town of Portimão and 30 minutes from the beaches of the Costa Vicentina.

Macdonald Monchique Hotel & Spa has 185 contemporary suites featuring floor-to-ceiling windows and a mix of private balconies and wrap-around terraces providing dramatic views of the mountains and the ocean. Facilities and amenities include HD flat-screen TVs, free Wi-Fi, Nespresso coffee machines and local skincare brand, Monchique Cosmetics, toiletries in every suite.

Keith Pickard, group director of Golf and Health & Fitness, Macdonald Hotels & Resorts, said: “Guests at Monchique will experience something very different from the many hotels situated in the highly-developed coastal resorts of The Algarve.

“With its idyllic setting, married to exceptional service, food, beverage and spa facilities, Macdonald Monchique Resort & Spa offers a unique proposition for golfing couples and families wishing to experience five-star service in a location that feels a million miles away from modern day life, but still close enough to play some of Portugal’s finest golf courses.”

Courses close to Monchique include Penina Hotel & Golf Resort; Onyria Palmares Golf and the Gramacho, Vale da Pinta and Silves golf courses at Pestana Golf Resort, near Lagos.

Rob Veltman, general manager, Macdonald Monchique Resort & Spa, added: “Monchique is a ‘hidden gem’ set in an undiscovered area of The Algarve and when guests are not playing golf, they can trek or cycle through mountainous woodland, visit charming Monchique village and discover the very best of the region’s culture, food and wine.”

The hotel’s facilities include four restaurants – an informal petiscos (Portuguese tapas) bar and a pizzeria through to a gourmet food market and a fine-dining restaurant specialising in local fish and wines; a Sensorial spa, where facilities include a Turkish bath, a rock sauna and sensorial showers, and relaxation rooms; indoor and outdoor pools, a state-of-the-art fitness centre; and a kids club for children aged 4 to 12, along with a family swimming pool and a children’s playground.