Need to know
Rooms
Six suites.
Check–Out
Noon. Check-in is at 3pm, but both are flexible, subject to availability.
More details
Rates at TheVagar Country House include an à la carte breakfast of locally sourced treats, served in your suite, the cosy main house or out in the ivy-strung garden.
Also
The Simplicity Suite on the ground floor is wheelchair accessible (and comes with optional in-room dining), as are the communal living area, garden and pool. Unfortunately, the bath house, hot tub, ice baths and contemplation house are not.
At the hotel
Bath house, hot tub, ice baths, fire pit, chapel, and free WiFi throughout. In rooms: air-conditioning, radio, Delta coffee, tea-making kit, Smeg kettle, minibar, free bottled water, and Damana bath products.
Our favourite rooms
The Hope Suite has our hearts, with its cosy fireplace and view-blessed bath tub.
Poolside
The infinity pool draws entirely from nearby mountain springs – and if that doesn’t have you feeling fully in tune with Mother Nature, the panoramic valley views should do the trick.
Spa
In the glass-walled bath house and chapel-like contemplation house, aromatic baths are laced with wild lavender and rosemary and massages make use of local, organic olive oil, all with ahh-worthy valley views. There are also forest-fringed ice baths and an alfresco hot tub fed by the mountain spring, plus meditation, yoga and wellness classes.
Packing tips
In the spirit of TheVagar’s deliberately TV-free suites, ditch as much tech as you can and finally slash that daily screen-time count.
Also
If an elopement is on the cards, we’d say TheVagar’s forest-fringed chapel is a much more romantic bet than Vegas.
Children
Little Smiths are very welcome, should you fancy kicking your crunchy parenting credentials up several gears. The Essence Suite is specially designed for families, with a bunk bed that sleeps two children.
Sustainability efforts
The hotel exclusively uses mountain spring water, with rainwater collected for reuse on the land, and all of the grounds are organically maintained. Almost all produce is sourced from suppliers within a 10-kilometre area, and details from picnic baskets to traditional Portuguese board games have been handcrafted by local artisans.