I sat down to start this review of Aethos Ericeira and found myself veering off a bit romantically, a bit poetically, because that’s the feeling the luxury, wellness-focused hotel evokes. Perched on cliffs that drop into a frothy ocean below, the property makes you feel a bit like you’re in a dream.
This Aethos hotel is located just a 15-minute drive from Ericeira, a small but renowned surfing town that attracts world-class athletes and digital nomads alike. The drive from the Lisbon airport isn’t long, either, and cuts through the region’s green hills, which are sprinkled with clusters of red tile-roofed white buildings. The open, undulating roadways lull you into a sort of meditation. Then you crest that last ridge, catching your first glimpse of the deep blue Atlantic Ocean, and Portugal’s surf coast reveals itself all at once.
I recently stayed at Aethos Ericeira for four days and nights, during what is considered the off-season for this area of Portugal, and surfed, explored Ericeira and Lisbon, ate well, and just blissed out. I was graciously hosted by the property, and checked out how the World of Hyatt Credit Card allows you to earn extra points and get rewards like free nights, higher elite status, and perks at Hyatt properties around the world. (Not to mention, new cardmembers can earn up to 60,000 bonus points just by signing up.) Aethos Ericeira is part of Hyatt’s Mr & Mrs Smith luxury travel platform, which allows cardmembers to earn additional bonus points on stays, restaurants, spas, and more.
This was my first trip to Portugal, which has for years been buzzed-about for its beauty and relative affordability. Indeed, Aethos Ericeira had everything this balanced traveler looks for in a wellness destination: stunning natural beauty for serenity; varied experiences to stay active; and delectable food and wine for indulgent, languid meals.
If you’re considering a trip to Portugal, here’s why you should make a stop along the coast at Aethos Ericeira — if only for a night or two as you explore all the stunning country has to offer.
About Aethos Ericeira Wellness Hotel
- Aethos Ericeira is a luxury wellness hotel with 50 rooms and suites.
- The starting nightly rate is $220.
- Breakfast is included in your stay, and the hotel’s restaurant Onda is open for lunch and dinner.
- The property is a 15-minute drive from world-class surf breaks and the town of Ericeira, and about an hour from Lisbon.
- Aethos Ericeira offers wellness classes and experiences, including surfing and yoga classes, guided hikes, and more.
- The property boasts a heated saltwater pool, a meditation deck with a cold plunge and sauna, a steam room and gym, and a spa.
What I Like About Aethos Ericeira
As I mentioned, I like to think of myself as a pretty well-rounded traveler. That’s why Aethos Ericeira is the best of all worlds. The property itself is beautiful, just a short five-minute walk to a beach below the cliffs. But you’re also a reasonable Uber ride from Lisbon (about an hour and 50 euros each way), or a short drive to nearby surf towns where you can try out the sport (or spend the day watching locals show you how it’s done), sample very fresh, seafood-driven Portuguese cuisine, and get a sense for the laid-back vibe of the region.
Even if you prefer to stay on-site when you’re on vacation, Aethos Ericeira delivers. Driving to the hotel, you feel like you’re secluded atop a breezy cliff. The facilities are beautifully designed — think white-washed walls, geometric, sprawling windows, and Scandinavian details — and the rooms are well-appointed. The minimal, airy layout perfectly complements the surrounding landscape. One afternoon, I opened the doors to my oceanview balcony and listened to the waves crash against the coast, and basically spent a whole hour just watching the sun melt towards the horizon. Time felt at a standstill, mostly because the hotel was quiet when I visited — the days unfolded however I wanted them to.
That’s another thing I loved about the hotel: it felt small, intimate. That might’ve been due to the time of year I was visiting, as I can totally imagine the hotel’s saltwater pool and patio are crowded with locals and travelers during the warmer summer months. But the staff learned my name, took time to get to know me, and kept up with all the wellness activities I’d signed up for.
Which brings me to those activities — a private yoga class, a luxurious facial, a dip in the cold plunge, and a surfing lesson. The latter, in particular, felt unique to the area and the hotel, and I would recommend anyone visiting the area to try it out. I was surprised to be picked up for my surfing session at the hotel by Joana Andrade, a professional big-wave surfer who runs Progress Surf School in Ericeira. Joana was gearing up to ride 20-meter waves at Nazaré, so our instructor, Luis Inacio, took two other tourists and me to a protected section of the famous Ribeira d’Ilhas, where there’d been a world-famous surfing competition just weeks before. Although I was admittedly very nervous to try my hand at surfing — I’d only been a couple times, years ago — the break was perfect for a beginner. Gliding on the board, bobbing in the waves, getting pushed (and being able to ride some frothy waves), I couldn’t stop smiling.
Finally, one of the things I looked forward to each day was a slow, fresh breakfast, which is included in your stay. I nibbled on fresh fruit, homemade granola, local cheeses, and perfectly baked pastel de nata, a Portuguese staple that almost everyone I met told me I had to try. The hotel’s restaurant, Onda, was a very solid option for other meals as well; I particularly loved the ceviche I had during one late lunch, and the seafood soup for dinner.
Such a comfortable, luxurious but laid-back, and visually dazzling stay made it very difficult to leave.
What to Consider Before Booking Aethos Ericeira
Part of what makes Aethos Ericeira so special is that it truly feels like its own little world, but that also means that it’s a drive to basically anywhere else. Most visitors rent cars, but I was glad that getting around via Uber was very manageable.
As you’re planning your trip, you should also consider the time of year. While you can surf year-round in Ericeira, November, December, and January are generally pretty chilly (in the low 60s) and rainy. I’ve heard that visiting in early summer and early fall are most popular. I got lucky on my four-day state in late November; the first day was gray and misty, but other than that, I got a mix of sun and clouds, with highs in the mid 60s.
Who Aethos Ericeira Is Best For
If you’re a surfer with a propensity for a bit of luxury and good design, book a trip right now. But even if you’re someone who’s only surfed once (me) or never, you’ll be able to appreciate Aethos Ericeira. My trip felt relaxing, active, and exciting all at once: you can do a yoga class in the morning, head to Lisbon to explore the city for an afternoon, and then wake up the next morning to surf and head to a winery in the afternoon. Of course, you could also just hang out at the impeccably composed hotel, but I’d advise trying to experience what the surf coast and nearby Lisbon have to offer.
Is Aethos Ericeira Worth the Trip?
Although I didn’t feel Portugal was much cheaper than other parts of Europe in terms of food and drink, the price for a stay at Aethos Ericeira was extremely worth it. With rooms starting at around $250 during the off season, the value is difficult to beat — you get a luxury experience nowhere near the price tag you’d encounter in, say, London or New York City.
Rating:
★★★★★
Lena Felton (she/her) is a senior content director at PS, where she oversees feature stories, special projects, and identity content. Previously, she was an editor at The Washington Post, where she led a team covering issues of gender and identity. She has been working in journalism since 2017, during which time her focus has been feature writing and editing and elevating historically underrepresented voices. Lena has worked for The Atlantic, InStyle, So It Goes, and more.