Sadly, Portugal is often overlooked by travelers in Europe. It is a country with a lot to offer its visitors, and I highly recommend it if you have time in your schedule. Portugal has some of the most amazing castles in the world, so castle-lovers should not miss the opportunity to take a tour. Destinations are all accessible from Lisbon, the center of Portugal.

Lapa Palace is one of the most exquisite hotels in all of Lisbon, Portugal. Now a hotel, the Palace was originally built in 1870 as the private home of the Count of Valencas. It is located in one of the most prestigious areas of Lisbon, right on a hill overlooking the romantic Tagus river. If you stay in the capital, try to stay at the Palace Wing's Tower Room—probably the most excellent in the entire palace. This room is the uppermost tower of the palace and has a private terrace that overlooks the Tagus river. There are a variety of other luxurious rooms positioned throughout the palace grounds, all of which are decorated beautifully and contain modern amenities.

For those of you looking to use the time in Portugal to relax and indulge, Lapa Palace is the perfect destination. La Prairie is the Spa at Lapa Palace and offers quite a range of treatments for guests. The most decadent of all these treatments is probably the caviar firming treatment—this skin treatment is designed to leave your face perfectly smooth and healthy. La Prairie also offers a host of other skin and body treatments, including an assortment of massages.

While La Prairie Spa is a definite must for guests looking for relaxation, not everyone will want to spend their days in Lisbon inside the palace walls. For those looking to explore the vast city and areas around Portugal, the Palace is ideally located. The friendly concierge will help all travelers organize their excursions, and even offer certain travel packages. Lisbon also contains some of the best culinary delights, so talk with the concierge for restaurant recommendations. For those nights on the town, make sure to pack some stylishly hip shoes to adorn your feet.