No, the Douro Boys are not a boy band, but the spirit is the same: they work together to touch the hearts of the whole world. Not with pop songs, of course, but with wine – from the Douro Valley. Not only does the river of the same name flow here, but above all port wine. One of the four Douro Boys members also runs the marvellous Hotel Casa do Rio. Door number 9 takes us to Portugal for today’s prize: a night in a hotel including wine tasting for two people.

The Alentejo region, one of Portugal’s most untouched areas, has been gaining more and more attention in recent years. In particular, the small coastal village of Comporta has become a magnet for travelers seeking the antithesis of mass tourism. Nestled amidst rice fields, pine forests, and endless sandy beaches, a new form of tourism is emerging here—one centered on mindfulness, sustainability, and slow living.

If you’re looking for tranquillity yet with a hint of liveliness, if you want a holiday with no compromises yet with value placed on sustainability, if you want to see attention to detail yet still appreciate the overall picture, then Vila Valverde is the place for you. The best of the best from all over the world is here. It’s as if it were made for me…

This is where it all started for the Torel Boutiques hotels, and it’s a tale filled with history and sophisticated luxury. Torel Palace Lisbon, the first of their four establishments occupies a picturesque setting on Sant’Ana, one of the seven hills in the historic centre of the Portuguese capital …