Hotel Rural Quinta de Samaiões

The setting is absolutely beautiful, and the room is great. We’re on day three of a five day stay, and it’s been very good overall. The pool has only a few sunbeds, with a large area that has no shade, and there’s no bar service, which is disappointing for a four star place. The pool area also has loads of dinosaur flies. They’re a nuisance and make it hard to nap, so some kind of fly deterrent would help. The man who looks after us at breakfast is wonderful, friendly, and helpful, a real asset. We had dinner here last night. The menu system is confusing, though it’s great value, and the food was fantastic. The staff are very friendly. I’ll be dining in the restaurant again tonight.

My father-in-law had been looking forward to bringing us to this Quinta. He met his wife here as day labourers 60 years ago, when it was still an operating estate, and taking the family out for a restaurant meal is a big occasion for him. We arrived on time, before the restaurant had opened. Other people were waiting on the low wall outside, so we sat there too. A section had apparently been treated with bleach by the cleaning staff and not rinsed. It didn’t look wet, but we noticed it felt damp and stood up straight away. By then, all our clothes were ruined. My father-in-law was upset that the moment he’d planned had been spoiled, and wanted to speak up so it wouldn’t happen to someone else. We weren’t especially bothered about the clothes, but it mattered to him. He spoke with several staff members and eventually the owner, and each was hostile and blamed us. One even made an exaggerated remark that if we were dirty from rolling around on the ground, it wouldn’t be their fault either. Nobody apologized, and they dismissed him. I saw it happen each time and was disappointed by how little respect they showed him. He’s an older, clearly blue-collar man, but he values consideration, respect, and kindness far more than compensation. A sincere-sounding apology, thanks for pointing it out, and a promise to keep it from happening again would have been enough. People sit there often. I was especially surprised that the owner, who also runs the hotel, was just as dismissive. He seems naive about the world around him and the realities of running a business in this industry today. The restaurant has a 4.7 rating from 181 reviews, and someone with the right knowledge could undo that through various approaches at relatively little cost. Perhaps he thinks the establishment can treat people disrespectfully because it stays hidden. It leaves me wondering what else he doesn’t understand about running a restaurant and hotel. Beyond the business side, though, there’s basic human decency to consider, especially for someone who chooses to work in hospitality.

We had the Açorda de Camarao, and it was the best we’ve ever had. The Quinta restaurant serves Portuguese cuisine at its finest, and the staff are attentive and polite. It’s well worth the five minute drive from Chaves.

A charming, unusual spot for sightseeing with the kids. There’s plenty of parking, the service is good, and the food selection is varied and tasty. Book lunch ahead of time.