I saw this hotel in a magazine years ago and always wanted to visit. The location is really nice if you like a remote beach atmosphere with gorgeous "Big Sur" waves and wind but without a lot of commercialization nearby. The hotel was very nice with great service. The room was unique and I loved the little miniature seating area near the window that opened to the sea. We were able to visit Sintra and many other local spots and really enjoyed the area and the people.

Now I understand what first class service really is: we drove up, were greeted warmly and seated at a table to check in, and while we were going through the formalities, they took our car keys, and by the time we had signed in, our bags were upstairs in our room, nobody was hovering around waiting for a tip. Not that we mind tipping, it's just always a little awkward, and you have to have money on hand. But here, instead of piecemeal tipping, we just added a tip to cover everybody when we paid the bill.

As others have noted, the location is spectacular, dramatic a little barren, windy, vegetation free, on a cliff, the westernmost hotel in Portugal, looking out to the Americas. Breathtaking really.

Our room was nice, eccentrically decorated in a way -- lime green sheer curtains trimmed in gold, for example -- but they had preserved the architectural details from the original fort. There was a small room off our bedroom from which we could look out to sea, open the window and feel the wind. You need the separation of space because of the wind.

The Michelin rated restaurant that is in the hotel is phenomenal. We had a wonderful meal, expensive, but as this was our honeymoon, we decided we could splurge a little. There is also a fish-focussed restaurant just up the road that is excellent and more reasonable, where we ate the second night.

We really enjoyed our stay, and I should probably give it five stars, but I'm taking one off because the location is a little isolated, the decor was a little odd, and nothing could beat our experience at the Albergaria do Calvario in Evora. Probably unfair of me.

Very nice, great staff. Rooms are nice, but sea view rooms are somewhat different from the description. Only junior suites have full sea view, others are partial sea view, but lovely rooms. A bit out of the way from anything. It's a 15 minute drive into Cascais.

While not really in Cascais (about 20 minutes away by car) this old fortress has been magnificently preserved and the best place to stay just to enjoy the scenery. The rooms are small but clean and with all the amenities. Staff is fantastic. The views from the restaurant bar or terrace are breathtaking. You really feel like you are in the middle of nowhere with the excellent service of a major city 5 star hotel. Breakfast and lunch menus have a wide variety of delicious food. Dinner at the Michelin rated restaurant is a bit overpriced but certainly intriguing. While you are there drive to Cabo da Roca to visit the most westernly point of Europe