Art'otel Barcelos

The bar by the pool was a nice spot, with outdoor seating and sports on TV for the big events. My room was modern and very clean, and the location was good. It could use tea and coffee facilities, though. Reception is staffed part time, which could be an issue for some guests.

Breakfast came with eggs, bakery items, fruit, and homemade yogurt and jam. The host was so friendly, and she made us a delicious dinner with dessert too. Staying there felt a bit like being a guest at someone's villa in the 18th or 19th century.

The room had plenty of space, a nice tub for soaking, and a couch to lounge on. Breakfast was above average, and there are shops and restaurants an easy walk away. The location is wonderful, but the bar and lounge run with the hotel brought noise and commotion at night. The pool looked nice, though it was quite small and shallow. A few things made the stay frustrating. The bed was very hard and round, and the toilet was tucked behind the door in a way that required some serious maneuvering. The air conditioning kept the room cool when it worked. We couldn't use the safe because the previous guests had locked the instructions inside, and the front desk staff didn't know how to open it. Parking can be a challenge if you arrive by car. We reported that the main door handle needed fixing and that the door rattled whenever other guests opened theirs, but it wasn't fixed during our seven-day vacation. For what we paid, I expected more. I'd rate it 2.5 if half stars were an option.

The room was very spacious, tastefully decorated, and had a comfortable king-size double bed. The location was ideal, close to everything in Barcelos. We stayed just one night. At night it was noisy, but when we went downstairs to complain, they responded well and turned off the speaker near our room. The next day, broken glass was still on the floor beside the swimming pool, right where people might walk barefoot. It made it seem like the area hadn't been cleaned or the glass had been missed. Breakfast was fairly basic compared with similar places in Portugal.