Stepping into this country house, you’d be forgiven for thinking you’d been whisked away to a Moroccan riad or a Balinese bale, such is the allure of its tropical gardens and nature-inspired decor. Perfectly at ease in Portugal’s rural Ribatejo region, this luxe bolthole promises serenity and seclusion in just the right doses. Party people may want to abstain: the mood here is more suited to peace-seekers than social butterflies, whether you’re indulging in pool-and-spa sessions or leaning into your suite’s luxe soporific vibes. That’s not to say a stay at Salvaterra will be low on high jinx: tour the vineyards, hit the region’s gourmet spots and tame the local stallions, then retire to your jungle hideaway with something scrumptiously strong from the honesty bar.

Spa, outdoor kitchen with barbecue, fire pit, free WiFi throughout. In rooms: organic cotton kimonos, smart TV, Nespresso machine, kettle, Dammann Frères tea, minibar with milk and bottled water, Meraki bath products.There’s a hint of Bali in the suites’ bamboo ceilings, net-draped beds and rattan furniture, though bespoke tiles and terracotta floors keep the decor firmly anchored in the Mediterranean. In winter, a fireplace calls for slow mornings in bed; in summer, French doors open onto private terraces and dense tropical foliage. Suite 3 steals the show with its in-room bath tub overlooking the gardens; for demure sunseekers, Suite 4 comes with its own set of sunloungers for lizarding away from prying eyes.

Ensconced in a jungle of bamboo, palm and banana trees, Salvaterra’s pool wouldn’t look out of place in the tropical paintings of Henri Rousseau. The water is cleaned through a unique chemical-free system that’s kind on the skin and eyes; after a refreshing dip, linger on one of the parasol-shaded sunloungers, or sprawl on the enticing day-bed.
The poolside spa houses a sauna and a Turkish bath for aromatherapy steam sessions. Expert therapists can tailor in-room massages to your needs, from soul-soothing strokes to deeper pressure treatments. Don’t miss a starlit soak in the Dutch hot tub, set in the gardens and heated with firewood.

This conscious country house can’t be faulted on its environmental efforts: it produces almost all the energy it uses, thanks to its own solar field. A state-of-the-art system makes the most of gardening and grey water, single-use toiletries have been swapped for refillable glass bottles and the hotel purposefully chooses recycled products, local materials and organic produce where possible.

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