The Five-Star Detox
By Tatiana Boncompagni
Jewelry designer Sara Beltran heads to Portugal’s newly renovated Vidago Palace to detox in style and comfort.
After a fun-yet-frenetic Paris Fashion Week, Sara Beltran, the New York-based designer behind the cult jewelry line Dezso (see one of her pieces above), spent a few days at Portugal’s Vidago Palace in search of a little much-needed R&R. The resort, which recently underwent a $52 million renovation, including the building of a massive, 20-treatment-room spa and 18-hole golf course, is notable for it’s old-world-glamour meets new-world-luxury vibe. “It’s very elegant, you feel like you are in another time, but the new spa is so minimal, modern and chic,” says Beltran, who shared with us a few of her trip highlights, travel finds and must-haves.
ON THE MENU: Breakfast was a fresh cheese spread on rice toasts and hot water, with chia seeds or flax seeds and fruit. A few hours later, we had a smoothie made from beet, carrot and ginger. Lunch was often a vegetable soup, and for dinner there was fish. The food was so delicious. I could live on a detox like this forever.
CAULIFLOWER SOUP RECIPE: (4 Servings) In a large pot over low heat, sauté ¼ cup chopped onion in a tsp of olive oil until soft and slightly brown. Add 2 cups raw chopped cauliflower, one and a half cups of milk and cook for 25 minutes, or until cauliflower is tender. Process the soup with an immersion blender and salt and pepper to taste. Serve drizzled with olive oil and your favorite spice, if desired. Season to taste.
Related: The One Food Nutritionists Eat Every Single Day
SPA TIME: I did a high-pressure water massage, followed by a mud and citrus-and-berry-extract body wrap and aromatherapy massage. It tones the skin and helps with lymphatic drainage and circulation—and the massage feels good.
Related: Your 28-Day Hot-Body Plan
ZEN MOMENT: I practice Pilates and see a personal trainer when I am in New York. But I wanted to do Tai Chi (at the Vidago Palace) because it’s very relaxing and helps you stay balanced, centered and focused. Sometimes in New York, it is so busy you forget what is important. Doing Tai Chi at the spa, smelling the pine trees and feeling the sun–not too hot, not too chilly–I felt so lucky, so grateful.
SHOPPING LIST: At the resort’s spa, I bought oils from Aromatherapy Associates, a company based in London. I bought one for muscle soreness and a relaxing oil for a pregnant friend.
TRAVEL MUST-HAVES: I always bring a Louis Vuitton carry-on, my black Rimowasuitcase and a cashmere scarf. I also bring Skintrip, a body moisturizer from Colorado, and Diamond Extreme, from Natura Bissé. And I never leave home without some of my jewelry (left).
SELF DISCOVERY: I learned on this trip that I don’t need to be on the phone all the time. I didn’t have cell phone access. Normally I am constantly on Instagram and I’m thinking “What’s going to happen next?” But on this trip I realized, “Okay I need to be here in this moment.”
NEXT UP: My next long trip is going to be to India for work, but I’m dying to go to Africa to go this year, to an island next to Kenya called Lamu.
(Room rates start at $450. For more information, go to vidagopalace.com)
(Photos: Courtesy of Sara Beltran and vidagopalace.com)
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