**One year ago, I discovered PORTUGAL…**

Bom dia! Portugal completely surprised me in the best way, offering an effortless travel experience with an incredible culinary scene, beautifully understated wines, and breathtaking views at every turn.
I traveled with a group of advisors to deepen my knowledge of the destination and experience some of the top luxury hotels across each region firsthand, and by building personal connections with local partners and truly understanding a place on the ground, I am able to design more thoughtful and seamless experiences for my clients.

PORTO

I arrived a day early ahead of our familiarization (FAM) trip, which are typically hosted by destination partners or hotels and designed specifically for travel advisors to deepen their knowledge of a destination while conducting site visits of top properties.

I flew into Porto, a vibrant city set along the Douro River and full of charm and character. I stayed at Le Monumental Palace, which is perfectly situated in the heart of the city, making it an ideal base for exploring. During my short stay, I enjoyed a Port wine tour and tasting, took in one of the most beautiful sunsets, and even had time for a bit of shopping. I picked up a can of sardines for my oldest daughter, who loves them!

Much to my surprise, Porto also has a lively and energetic nightlife scene.

DOURO VALLEY

Next, on the first official day of the FAM trip, we made our way to the breathtaking Douro Valley, where we spent two nights at the beautiful new Torel Quinta da Vacaria, built in 2024. The setting is incredibly peaceful, with the hotel overlooking the river and surrounded by rolling vineyards.

We packed so much into our first day. I experienced a vintage car tour through the region, stopping at a local quinta (winery) for a private tour where we gained a deeper understanding of the area’s winemaking traditions. Our guide was fantastic and shared fascinating insights, including the natural methods used around the quinta for things like pest control, since pesticides are not permitted. I also learned that every vineyard is planted along steep, vertical hillsides, which means that during harvest season everything must be done entirely by hand, as machines simply cannot navigate the terrain. Even more impressive, the vines are not manually irrigated and rely solely on rainfall.

We then made our way high into the valley’s dramatic, terraced landscape for sweeping views over the river before ending the day aboard a traditional wooden boat, gently sailing along the Douro River, which was easily my favorite moment of the entire experience.

LISBON

We then made our way to Lisbon, staying in the heart of the city at the beautiful Palácio Ludovice. During our visit, we were given a tour of the presidential suite, and I later had the honor of sending a client to experience it themselves, which made it even more special. While in Lisbon, we took vintage tuk-tuks to navigate and take part in a tile painting class that turned into an unexpected highlight when our instructor asked us to draw a tree, any tree, and then began reading our fortunes. Mine was surprisingly spot on.

We also visited a stunning palácio (palace museum) before heading to the coast of Cascais for lunch at Mare, where renowned two Michelin star chef José Avillez delivered an exceptional dining experience. The tuna cones were unforgettable, and paired with the sweeping Atlantic Ocean views, it was truly a standout moment.

On our final night, we experienced a beautiful traditional Fado restaurant, where the music and atmosphere truly captured the heartbeat of the city. If you are unfamiliar, Fado is an intimate and deeply emotional musical experience, typically set within a small, candlelit dining room, where live performers sing soulful, melancholic songs that tell stories of love, longing, and heritage. It was the perfect way to end our time in Lisbon and feel truly connected to the culture.

ALENTEJO

Before heading to our final stop, we paused in the charming town of Évora, where we visited the fascinating Chapel of Bones. After a relaxed lunch paired with wine and guided by a sommelier, we continued on to the Alentejo region for our final stay at L'AND Vineyards.

This was the perfect place to unwind and fully soak in the surroundings. One of my favorite features was the stunning skylights above the beds, allowing you to fall asleep under the stars. The property is especially well suited for multigenerational families, offering both space and thoughtful design, and would make an ideal summer getaway with its manmade lake for swimming. They even produce their own honey on property, which adds to the charm, and I also managed to sneak in a massage, which was phenomenal and such a perfect way to end an incredible adventure.

As part of Alentejo’s Food Festival, we experienced an incredible eight-course meal, which was such a memorable treat. To close out our stay, we took part in a wine class where we created our own blend as a team. We even got to choose team names and design custom labels for our bottles, which made the experience even more fun. My group’s blend won, making it all the more special as I will be opening our custom-labeled bottle in the coming days to celebrate a one-year anniversary.