Hotel Segredos de Vale Manso

The setting is beautiful, the views are lovely, and the countryside is peaceful. The staff were kind and welcoming, and our room was clean. After that, the good points ran out for us. The pillows were filled with shredded foam and were incredibly uncomfortable. The Wi-Fi kept dropping without warning, which was a problem when trying to work or call home. On three separate days, room service tidied our room and left the door unlocked, even though we'd left our things inside a locked room. We went out for the day and swam in the river, then came back that evening to find there was no hot water. We had to shower cold. When I told reception, the person at the desk said we needed to keep the shower running, as though we hadn't had hot water that morning or didn't know how to use a shower. Breakfast runs from 7 to 10 a.m. We slept in, and each day from 9 onward, an hour before it ended, there was no one in the breakfast area to help. The only tray of scrambled eggs, bacon, and sausages was always cold. It was a disappointing stay. The place is beautiful and the staff are welcoming, but the rest felt like a two-star hotel claiming four stars because it has no competition nearby. I'd look elsewhere.

The food was good, both at breakfast and at the restaurant, where the dishes we tried were delicious. The bar and restaurant could use more staff focused on service, though. We had a comfortable, clean room with a great sunset from the balcony. Book a lake-view room if you can. The pool looked nice, but the wind during our stay kept us from using it much. It's a nice place for a few days, well located, with stunning views over Castelo de Bode lake valley and dam. I'd rate it 4.5.

Set in a beautiful area, this is a great hotel. It was clean, and the staff were really helpful.

On Tuesday, June 22, 2021, four of us were touring by car and stopped in casually at lunchtime. This is a beautiful, very upscale place, and we had top-notch food and wine at extremely reasonable prices. The service was friendly and hearty. Top marks for quality and price, location, and atmosphere.