You might know Christian Louboutin from his luxury line of red-bottomed shoes.

That's usually only helpful if you're in the market for stilettos or suede loafers. But now the French designer has gotten into the hotel game, with Vermelho ("red" in Portuguese) which just opened in Melides, Portugal.

As you might expect, it's not short on style.

Louboutin was inspired to create the hotel after spending more than a dozen winters in the area, which is known for cobbled streets, rustic cottages and local markets. Vermelho's design incorporates custom tiles, frescoes and murals into the property, and rooms are outfitted with conversation-piece furniture, North African and European antiques, and pops of color.

The three-story hotel has just 13 rooms, and each is different. Book a double room with a private terrace overlooking the gardens, or spring for a 900-square-foot suite with hand-painted murals and a lounge sporting a traditional fireplace. There's also a small spa suite for massages and other treatments.

When it's time to eat, Xtian restaurant serves Portuguese cuisine with international accents, as seen in dishes like octopus salad, braised sardines, wild boar stew and lamb chops with chimichurri. The hotel's bespoke silver bar serves cocktails, wines and snacks.

When you want to go exploring, stroll through the village of Melides, pop over to the beach, or see the countryside by bicycle, which you can rent from the hotel. Go horseback riding along the Comporta coastline, tour the regional vineyards to taste some local Portuguese wines, or request a picnic prepared by the chef. Or do none of that, and spend your days lazing around the pool, soaking in the sun before adjourning for dinner and a nightcap.  

This is the kind of relaxing destination where to-do lists come to die.