Herdade do Vau

The apartment was huge and clean, and the views were amazing. I really enjoyed the stay. The one thing I didn’t care for was the dirty water in the pool. We also had dinner at one big table with all the other guests, though that’s just my personal preference. Apart from those things, it was amazing.

Sharing dinner with the other guests, the owner, and his family was a highlight. The food was excellent, and the conversations around the table were pleasant and memorable. We stayed three nights in this quiet, remote setting and had a really peaceful time. Everything was spotless, the pool was just right, and the staff were warm, helpful, and always smiling. We felt very welcome.

One thing stayed on my mind after our visit. Down from the premises there were two kennels, each with two dogs. One was brown and quite fearful, and another looked like a young lab. The kennels were full of dog poo, and the water troughs were slimy. They seemed to be refilled regularly but not cleaned. We asked a worker whether the dogs got out, and were told they did, but we never saw them out during our three days there. I hope the owners read this and take better care of the dogs. The stay itself at Herdade do Vao was lovely. We were welcomed, shown around, and taken to our spacious room with great views of the rolling hills. Dinner one evening was well prepared, and the guests were seated together, which was entertaining. We also noticed the place was pet friendly, as a couple had two dogs with them. Overall, a fantastic stay.

We loved it. A great place to stay, with good rooms, excellent food, superb wine, and lovely surroundings. The owner was very interesting too.