Intercontinental Estoril for toddler?

[SRF.]

After seeing lots of recommendations for IC Estoril on another thread, I’ve been investigating it as a trip for wife and I and our 2y’old daughter.

Any opinion if hotel is suitable for that sort of trip? Looks like indoor pool, outdoor pool and children’s outdoor pool plus beach 5mins walk away (also Lisbon 30mins away on train for day trip).

Looks very nice, but is it worth spending a week there or would I be better suited to something bit more cheap and cheerful as daughter will mostly be interested in a plastic water slide than a locally caught sea-food platter for dinner.

Any play grounds, parks, toddler friendly things near to hotel?

I’m Diamond AMB and would be paying cash (inc my BOGOF weekend cert).

Many thanks.

[Olly]

Perhaps bookend the stays at the IC but spend the rest of the week in the Martinhal just further down the coast at Cascais

[Guernsey Globetrotter]

If you are interested in exploring the Martinhal option further, have a look at the excellent post @Froggee did on his family holiday there last year – informative and hilarious in equal measure!

https://www.headforpoints.com/forums/topic/algarve-trip-report-by-froggee-paterfamilias/

[SRF.]

Thank you for replies.

I skim read it, but Froggee’s account looks like bit of an epic – crammed with info and humour. May have to wait until tonight until can read properly.

This same person who wrote the delightful account of Family trip to the Edinburgh Tattoo or similar?

I seem to remember something about Kitkats but may be completely unrelated!?

[Blair Waldorf Salad]

I definitely found the vibe there to be child-free older couples age 50+. There’s a lot of classy breakables in the lobby so I’m just not sure it’s a bucket and spade option for a toddler. The Sheraton or Vila Galé or Eurostars in Cascais all look like better family options.

[SRF.]

I was starting to think that. When the local attraction that is most touted is a casino, it doesn’t scream icecream and dirty nappies.

Was just trying to find somewhere new.

Very annoyingly had to cancel my trip the Dubai Festival City IC in couple weeks, which seemed to tick a lot of the boxes, so now looking somewhere [probably in europe] for few months time.

IC and IHG are very city-centric though while we’re trying to find a family-friendly beach. (IHG and Avios are only points/status I have)

[Froggee]

You rang?

The Martinhal I wrote about is the original one in the Algarve so this is a different property.

But the mindset of the Group appears to be around gearing holidays for kids. You can definitely relax more in that sort of environment as rather than worry about your child breaking things or disturbing other people you can just enjoy the bedlam.

[CraigV]

I wouldn’t say that this hotel is really suitable for toddlers. The staff are every bit as lovely as you would expect, but its just not a kiddie-centric hotel. My Diamond status got us a nice upgrade facing the water, so you should get the same. It would be fine to use up your AMB cert there, but I’d then move elsewhere.
None of the IHG options in Lisbon are particularly well placed for tourists, and in a way the IC Estoril is a lot easier with a toddler than using the city centre IC or Hol Inns. In Estoril you can walk out of the hotel’s underground garage straight onto the station platform – the train goes to Cais Do Sodre in central Lisbon, with direct bus, tram and ferry connections. Your daughter should love the train trip – lots to see! For ease get your Viva Viagem cards in advance. Take the ferry across to Cacilhas for views from across the Tagus – the Farol restaurant in Cacilhas right at the ferry terminal is a great inexpensive lunch option. Hope this helps!

[kwho]

Providing you go in warmer months, the outdoor pool should be open. We have stayed there a few times when our child was 3, then 5, then 8. I think as a 2 year old was easiest. The outdoor pool was fine, there is a lovely playground within 3 minuet walk up the hill. This hotel is in the nicest area of Estoril. By the playground, there are lovely cafes, restaurants and lots of families, so your child will be happy there.

One thing to mention: the indoor pool only allows children between 10-11 or 10-12, not sure which. It is a spa pool, run by Occitane, wonderful!

The hotel itself is small, only 50 rooms, which means that your toddler will be very happy in the public areas. Staff will pamper him/her and feels like you’re part of a small condo. The staff really went beyond our expectations when it came to our child.

The walk to Cascais is 30 mins with a toddler, it is a lovely walk along the beach. You could hire a car and go further north along the beach, where the surfers are, which is really nice. There is a pony riding school for kids at the Sheraton. I heard the Sheraton has far more stuff for kids, but it is a…… Sheraton.

Finally, taking the train to Lisbon is fun. And lots to do there too. The aquarium is splendid.

If you feel like driving, go to Comporta. It’s magical. Just over 1 hour away, you’ll have a beach to yourself, Comporta village is fabulous, great restaurants and shops and it’s only a tiny village. Restaurants to go to are Cavalarica and Dona Bia.