Many eco-resorts do the treehouse thing, but few can say they tapped a well-known architect to design theirs. Enter in northern Portugal鈥檚 lush, mountainous Tr谩s-os-Montes e Alto Douro region. This is port wine country, and you鈥檒l want to sip yours from one of Pedras Salgadas鈥檚 two high-end tree suites, dreamed up by Portuguese architect Lu铆s Rebelo de Andrade.
The , reachable by bridge, have an otherworldly aesthetic. Imagine a giant sculpture of a snake rendered in the Cubist style and you鈥檙e on the right track. Each treehouse juts out into the woods and has thoughtfully-placed windows for stargazing and bird watching, one bedroom, a living room, a kitchenette, and a bathroom.
If heights make you nervous, book one of the property鈥檚 鈥渆co houses,鈥 also designed by de Andrade. These modern cabins sleep up to six and offer a few more bells and whistles than the tree houses, including LED TVs, WiFi, air conditioning, and daily maid service.
Next to the contemporary accommodations, the big draw at the resort is its , located in a refurbished 100-year-old former casino. The town of Pedras Salgadas is known for its natural supply of rejuvenating mineral water, which is incorporated into the various jet and hydromassage treatments on offer at the resort. Add it all up and it鈥檚 the greatest (and possibly only?) treehouse/spa weekend ever.
The Details: For availability and room rates, call +351.259.437.140 or email the resort’s reservations desk.
