Summer in the city

By Patrick Stuart [email protected]

Escape the summer madness of the Algarve and enjoy a bargain luxury break in Lisbon

The five-star Corinthia Hotel in Lisbon has been enticing holidaymakers to the capital this summer with some great deals, so if the traffic on the EN125, queues in the supermarkets and general silly season down here has got its better of you, why not take a break?

Double rooms at the hotel can be had for less than €80 a night including breakfast; an amazing bargain considering that rates are usually well in excess of €200.

At the end of August, the capital starts to come back to life as city dwellers return from their summer breaks but not until early September will we see the usual traffic jams that clog up the city. What’s more, we can still catch the end of the summer sales, at the El Corte Inglés department store for instance, where discounts on designer brands are now cutting as deep as 70%.

The hotel has a nice (indoor) pool and adjoining sunbathing area but this can get a bit busy, especially during the summer when the hotel is catering more to tourists than the usual business travellers.

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Our tip for some serious chill time is to head for the fabulous spa (no kids allowed). This is the largest spa in the city and, without a doubt, one of the best in the country and is operated by the Longevity Wellness Group, the same company that has the Longevity Resort in Monchique.

They offer an integrated range of wellness therapies covering holistic health, massage, water treatments and beauty, all using Elemis products. The massages are excellent and for some utterly pleasurable pampering for two, the ritual for couples is absolute bliss.

Combining breathing techniques with acupressure and gentle lymph drainage massage at first followed by a deeper back massage to finish, this is a somewhat sensual full body experience that will leave you walking on air.

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But the facilities of the spa can also be enjoyed by hotel guests for a very reasonable fee of €20 giving full access to the Acqua area, tea lounge and relaxation room.

The Acqua area is a haven of softly lit tranquillity with big comfy beds where the hours slip by reading a good book between dips in the water therapy pool with bubbles and jets of every description. The obligatory sauna and steam room along with a range of cooling dips and feature showers complete the picture.

For more information, please visit: www.corinthia.com/en/Lisbon/home/ or call 217 236 363.