I knew the hotel before the renovation and now I have to say that the hotel has nothing to do with what once was. The hotel has a minimalist design, very practical and comfortable. The rooms are spacious and the beds are huge. The staff is very attentive and breakfast is very complete, the typical continental with a few more home made extra cakes. The area is secluded, very quiet inserted in the middle of nature, I suggest you enjoy the landscape at night in the bar / restaurant. The hotel also has a good pool and a spa. For those who want to relax in nature and isolated from all the city noise, this is the right hotel.

What is good: the conditions of the hotel (comfort, design, quality, food)
the absence of city noise
the nature

What is less good: no walking distance points of interest ( you got to get in the car to go anywhere)

I know this hotel for a long time. It has been through bad and worse phases. It was recently sold and completely renewed into a decent 4 star, with a 4 star price. First of all, it is not where the map shows it: some show it inside Sesimbra, others right at the tip of the Cabo Espichel. Neither; halfway, on the N 379, going to the cape, near N 38.4416 W 9.1730. Secondly, the previous bad reviews, with which I also agree, are no longer valid, as the hotel is now virtually new -- see photos; it is now a hotel like any other. The only thing that still bothers me is that you can't get a lunch; you'll have to drive to get one.

I'd really like to be able to say something more positive about this hotel... simply because the staff were really nice. Throughout our stay, they were constantly friendly, helpful and efficient. The trouble is that they happen to be working in an old-fashioned, rundown establlshment.

We actually arrived with rather high expectations, following a recommendation from a friend, who works in an artistic capacity for one of the world's leading luxury brands. We'd taken a look at the hotel website and seen that the place looked quite simple. But, thanks to the friend, we were expecting a kind of rustic charm. Unfortunately, there was none.

Walking into the rooms is like taking a trip back in time. The hotel must have been built in the Sixties or early Seventies and it looks like the original fixtures are still in place. The first room we were offered had what was supposed to be a double bed... but it was so narrow that it would have been tricky for two people to sleep in it. It was also rock hard. Anything that was metal in the bathroom was all chipped and things in general looked worn and dirty. The whole hotel also had an unpleasant smell to it.

We ended up being upgraded to a suite... which was hardly very luxurious. But, at least we had two twin beds and a room in which to store our luggage. At the beginning of our stay, we opened the bin in the bathroom and there was dirt inside it. A week later, when we checked out, the dirt was still there.

The first night we had dinner, which was not very inspiring. The breakfasts were OK... but nothing to write home about. In the middle of August, the area around the hotel was also very windy and in the night, you could hear it battering against the building.

The main pull for us in the region were the great sandy beaches... where there is hardly anybody (even in high season). That was great... even though it was difficult to bathe in the sea because of both the strength of the waves and the temperature of the water.

All in all, if you're looking for a cheapish, backpacker option, then the Estalagem Dos Zimbros could be right up your street. Otherwise, you'd be well advised to stay clear.