In Gold Hotel & Spa

The staff were easily the best part: everyone we met was friendly and helpful, which made the rest of the stay more disappointing. The room was okay, but nothing special. In the bathroom, the shower floor was coming apart and dangerously slippery, which seemed unacceptable for a place rated four stars. I’ve had a much better stay in three-star hotels, and wouldn’t recommend this one for a relaxing break or spa visit. The spa was the biggest letdown. You have to reserve, but there didn’t seem to be any limit on how many people could enter. On our second visit, 11 people were crowded into the small pool. Four children were jumping in loudly while their parents encouraged them. My husband, another guest, and I ended up in a corner, moving whenever the commotion came too close. The issue isn’t children simply being children. This is supposed to be a spa, and we chose the hotel hoping to relax. If we wanted a noisy regular pool, we could have booked somewhere cheaper with standard amenities. In my view, young children shouldn’t be in the spa, or there should at least be family time slots so guests can choose what suits them. The water was cold, and the spa is in a separate building. You have to walk uphill a little to get there, and in the rain you’ll be walking in the rain, so it isn’t suitable for guests with reduced mobility. We didn’t pay extra because access was included in our reservation, but it costs 15 EUR per hour otherwise. Breakfast was also disappointing: there seemed to be too few staff, food refills took a long time, and many tables were left uncleared and unset, so finding somewhere to sit was difficult. This stay left me frustrated. Previous reviews mention the same problems, so the hotel administration clearly hasn’t improved things.

We stayed here during our Camino bike trip. They welcomed us and had a great spot for our bikes. The room was nice and had AC, and breakfast was great. I ran out of time to try the Turkish bath, but I would have liked to.

I really can’t recommend it, especially as a four-star hotel advertised as a spa hotel. The spa is a small separate building with no direct access from the main hotel. Overnight guests can’t use it as part of their stay, but can book it for €15 per hour. That doesn’t feel like a relaxing spa experience.

We booked a room without breakfast for one night last month, when we came for the silent night at Agitágueda. It was our first time, and we had no complaints. The room was fine for two, the bed was comfortable, the AC worked perfectly, and the bathroom was clean. Downtown Águeda is only a few meters away on foot, and the location worked well for us, with about a 10-minute walk to the festival. The staff were simply nice. The best thing was the large free parking lot. A couple of things to know: the door was hard to open and close, and using the swimming pool costs extra. I’d recommend it if you just need a place to stop for the night in Águeda and plan to spend time out and about.