Friends of Ideal & Co: Javier Suarez from Six Senses

The Douro is a very special region for us, not only because we are based in Porto, but also because it is one of the most beautiful places in Portugal. The Six Senses Douro Valley, the only hotel of this chain in Europe, is a unique place, set in an impressive 19th-century manor house, surrounded by the surrounding vine-covered rolling hills. With its renowned spa, rooms with river view, restaurants, wine library, swimming pools and organic garden, the Six Senses is also the perfect starting point for discovering the Douro. Being our latest stockist and partner, Six Senses Douro Valley presents in its spa shop a selection of the Ideal & Co collection and specially customized pieces for the hotel. We interviewed Javier Suarez, area wellness director of the Six Senses: Three reasons to visit the Douro Valley? The beauty of the region and their spectacular, unspoilt terraced vineyards that represent the largest mountainous wine region in the world; the wines that are here produced for centuries, first the Port wines and more recently the Douro reds and whites that have reached international recognition; and for sure the fact that Six Senses has chosen this part of the world to open its first resort in Europe. Where to go and what to do in the Douro Valley? The Douro and Six Senses Douro Valley have a huge number of different choices in terms of what to do. Starting with the activities' calendar in the hotel where the wellness, sportive, artistic and learning activities. Ranging from forest walks, guided hikes through the vineyards and forest, yoga and Pilates lessons, tile painting workshops, daily and themed wine tastings, workshops where our guests can learn about the ancient techniques of how to preserve food. The Alchemy Bar where one can learn how to make beauty products before petrochemicals. If the choice is to leave the hotel we have a wide list of wineries and local Quintas that are open to our guests for visits and tastings. And one should always see the Douro from more than one point - to a river cruise is always a moment of discovery and pure bliss... Why have you chosen Ideal & Co for the Spa shop? Obviously, the fact that it is handmade, built one by one, in an ecological and sustainable way in Portugal played a huge factor because it matches one of our core values in Six Senses of local and sustainable. Your theme "some things stay with you forever" was also a definite factor to work with Ideal & Co as your extreme quality leather pieces will pass on from generation to generation.