Vale Do Jordao Spa Hotel

From our balcony, we watched the sun come up between the mountains. It felt like finding a special little retreat right in the city, and waking up to the sounds of nature was so peaceful. We slept in complete quiet, too. The view was incredible, and the wooden furniture had details you just don't see much anymore. The place is old, sure, but it feels full of life and has the warmth of another time, when comfort mattered more than minimalism. Our room had a smart TV, a minibar, and air conditioning. I'd seen other reviews mention the air conditioning, so I think they must have taken care of that issue. The central fireplace in the lounge made the evening really lovely. Breakfast was fantastic, with a good selection and everything fresh. We're locals and had wanted to check the place out for ages. I hesitated after reading some negative reviews, but decided to give it a try. Hope to come back soon!

The only thing that lived up to expectations was breakfast. The room was never cleaned during our two day stay, and neither was our friend's room. The small bin was emptied, but that was it. The furniture was outdated, damp, chipped, and poorly maintained. Bare bulbs hung from the ceiling without even a shade. The bathroom tap water was yellow, the sink clogged as soon as water ran into it, and the shower swung between scalding hot and freezing cold. The towels were thin and poor quality, and weren't changed either. We were there because of a triathlon, and the high nightly rate had wrongly led us to expect better quality. The hotel is up in a wooded area, and we'd been taken in by the landscape photos online. A rude woman at reception couldn't manage even a basic friendly gesture. One time we came back, our room keys had disappeared and staff had no idea where they were. They certainly weren't with the cleaning person, since the rooms were never cleaned. This was a terrible experience. I've never rated a place this low before, but I want to warn future potential guests about what felt like a real hotel scam.

The setting and scenery are wonderful, and the place has a great structure, but the service was awful. Staff walked past us by the pool again and again during a private event and never asked if we needed anything or offered to explain what services were available. I had to stop someone to ask how food and drinks worked. Even as hotel guests, we had to pay 35.00 to rent an umbrella, and we couldn't use one for free during our two day stay. On Saturday we were told snacks were available. We ordered two portions and waited ages. When they arrived, there were no utensils, toothpicks, or even napkins. One portion had farofa, so we had to go to the breakfast room to get a utensil. When we ordered soda, they kept forgetting the cup with ice. By the time I went back for it, the drink had gone warm from the delay. When we were checking out, we asked if we could leave the room at the requested time and stay by the pool. A very rude, ignorant employee told us we'd need to pay 45.00 per person for day use. We were already paying for two nights. Everywhere else we usually go allows this, and I don't think letting us stay would have cost the hotel anything. There are plenty of other things I could mention, but none would have felt so serious if the service had been at least good.

The valley view is a real highlight, peaceful and lovely to look at. The hotel has a classic style, with an elegance that suggests it must once have been quite refined. The outdoor pool is a good size, and both it and the rooms were in great shape when it came to cleanliness. Breakfast was varied and good quality, and the service was satisfactory for the kind of place it is. The price felt fair for what was offered. There's also a covered heated pool, though it's currently out of service, and getting it running could add a lot. I'd recommend the hotel especially if you value a beautiful view and a quiet stay.