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Herdade da Chamine - Alentejo, Portugal
About this Chic Retreat
Herdade da Chamine is a small luxury hotel in the luscious Alentejo hills available for exclusive rental or on a room-by-room basis. This chic retreat has just 4 rooms, each with an individual personality, and a butler and affable Weimaraner dog will welcome guests to Marta Galva de Mello's peaceful haven in true provincial style. With an 87 hectare estate, a gorgeous menu of local food and the homeliest of living spaces filled with books, family heirlooms and deep soft sofas, this charming gem is perfect for a romantic holiday, break with friends & family or simply some time getting away from it all. Hand-forged iron, ancestral stones, stylish materials and beautiful paintings, Marta has created a beautiful home-from-home, amid the cork oaks, meadows and olive groves of this tranquil estate and guests can even explore on one of her own thoroughbred horses or relax in the tiled outdoor pool.
There is a great list of activities that Marta will happily arrange for guests, such as horse-riding, ballooning, golf, wine-tasting, cultural day trips, hunting and painting classes. Alentejo really does have something to suite everyone, but if the only thing you want is to relax, the hacienda has everything you need right there.
Accommodation
Herdade da Chamine has 4 south-facing rooms which look out to the gorgeous gardens. Each room has an individual style: the Brown and Rose rooms have traditional Alentejo headboards and a warm Portuguese ambience, the Alentejo Room is the largest, decorated with an array of antique porcelain objet d'art and the Arab Room, with its Berber bedcovers and keyhole archway separating the bed from the living area has an opulent Moroccan feel. Quirky touches, such as the Alentejo Room's portraits of dogs in Elizabethan dress, make these rooms all the more inviting & individual.
2 of the rooms have orthopaedic king-size beds and the other 2 rooms have spacious twins, all with duvets & pillows stuffed full with duck feathers so guests are sure to have a relaxing deep sleep. The en-suite bathrooms have large granite sinks and showers and the Blue Room has a bath. Rooms have central heating, internet connection, satellite TV, sound systems and butler service.
Activities
In such a tranquil location, guests at Herdade da Chamine may choose to simply relax in the sun by the outdoor pool, or snuggle up in the cosy living room by the open fire which has a cinema system and use of a huge collection of over 500 films. Or, for a bit of indulgence, take an in-room massage after a leisurely walk out in the grounds. However, Marta knows Alentejo well and is happy to organise a multitude of great activities, from horse riding - this chic retreat has 2 horses of its own and there are numerous ranches in the area - to wine tasting in some of the best cellars of the region. In November, guests can sample wine from some of the 30 cellars in the region in the Wine Festival. Other activities include cookery lessons with the expert chef and market trips where guests can pick up some fab souvenirs. Capture the grand surroundings with a painting lesson or get a birds-eye-view in a hot air balloon or a private plane. After indulging in one of Marta's feasts, guests can work out in the small gym with spaldar & spinning and there are plenty of paths for jogging and cycling. There is also a fantastic 18-hole golf course close by.
The region is great for hunting and Marta will organise partridge, deer, wild boar, wild moufflon sheep and hare hunting on horse in the October to February season. For an interesting day out, take a guided tour of the medieval village of Marvao which includes a tasty picnic lunch. Marta will also organise jeep safaris across a route taking in the 7 castles of the area, built to protect Portugals borders with Spain. The fair of antiquites & books in Castle Estremoz is a must-see for collectors of curios or for an insight into the famous bull fights, visit the properties where the toreiros train. A great day trip is to Comporta, a long stretch of beach 1 hour 30 minutes from the herdade which has some great fish restaurants.
Take advantage of Marta's expertise with a tailor-made activities programmes available on request. With so much on offer, it would be easier to ask what can't be done than what can, but guests may not wish to move further than the beautiful outdoor pool. The facilities are not suitable for children, but children over 12 are welcome providing they can swim.
Dining
Herdade da Chamine has a wonderful regional menu of home-cooked delights. Ingredients are wholesome and flavoursome with fish fresh from the Atlantic, locally-produced free-range beef and fruit & veg straight from the gardens. Dishes include baked bacalhau with olive oil & garlic, steaks au poivre with rice & peas, pumpkin cream soup with coriander and delicious puddings and the menu is every changing. All meals are accompanied with a bottle of wine from the region and are served in the stunning banquet-style dining room. Marta can recommend some great restaurants, including the Michelin-starred Atrium.
Breakfast is certainly not timid, with a full English on offer, fresh seasonal fruits, cheese, including some regional favourites, home-made jams, york ham, pancakes, cereals and yoghurt.
Rates
Room rates at Herdade da Chamine are per room per night and include all taxes and breakfast - other meals are charged at EUR 35 per person. Exclusive rates are for the entire property for one week based on 8 people sharing 4 rooms. Halfboard includes breakfast & dinner (excl. drinks) and fullboard includes breakfast, lunch & dinner (excl. drinks). A deposit of 30% is required to confirm the booking and the total must be paid 2 weeks prior to arrival. Children under 13 years old are not accepted. Pets are allowed outside the hotel in provided pet accommodation including food at EUR 25 per night. High season rates apply during Carnival and Easter.
* Rates in EUR
Cancellation policy
Cancellations made 6 weeks or more prior to arrival will lose the 30% deposit. Cancellations made less than 6 weeks prior to arrival will be charged 50% of the total cost.
Additional information
- Neareast Airport: Badajoz.
- Distance from Airport: 40 minutes.
- Child Policy: Only over 12 years old.
Chic Houses & Luxury Villas
4 rooms or exclusive rental
Good for:
creating your own tailor-made experienceFacilites:
bar, car parking, gardens, gym/fitness room, home cinema, pets allowed, restaurant, swimming pool, spa treatment room, WiFi/Internet, golfRates starting from
EUR 206
per room per night
per room per night
Other hotels in Portugal
- Quinta da Bouca d'Arques, Porto
- 4Rooms, Porto
- Mercador Luxury Apartments, Lisbon
- Quinta Bonita Boutique Hotel, Algarve
- Palacio Belmonte, Lisbon
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