Luna Hotel Serra da Estrela

We were there for the EstrelAcor race, so staying at the hotel where it starts and finishes was really convenient. The mountain views and location were lovely, and we enjoyed the facilities. It may not be the most modern hotel, but it’s comfortable and well maintained, with very kind, helpful staff. You could sometimes hear people talking or walking in the hallway because the sound insulation is poor. Breakfast had plenty of variety, especially the fresh pastel da nata and local cheese.

We live in Portugal and often go hiking in Serra da Estrela, but after this experience I can guarantee I’ll never book this hotel. We had reserved through booking dot com, but our pet needed emergency surgery late the night before, so we couldn’t travel. First thing in the morning I contacted both the hotel and booking dot com to ask about changing the dates, and said I was happy to pay the cancellation fee. booking dot com told me to contact the hotel. The hotel asked for proof of the emergency. We called our vet at home on a Sunday, and he kindly wrote a letter. It took a while to reach him, so I sent it to the hotel in the afternoon. Within two minutes, they replied that they couldn’t help. I only asked for a date change. They had me go through all that and then wouldn’t even consider it. Maybe they thought I was lying and didn’t expect an actual letter. I also called and asked to speak with the duty manager so I could explain what I wanted. They said they’d call back. Two weeks later, I’m still waiting. They should have told me during my morning call if they had no intention of changing the dates. Their attitude was very strange. We’re visiting Serra da Estrela again this weekend, but I won’t be booking here.

We stayed four nights, and it was quiet both day and night. The location is handy for visiting the many places around the mountain. Staff were friendly, and the buffet breakfast had a bit of everything, all fresh and tasty. We’d definitely return.

A beautiful location for walks and hikes, with a great hotel that has everything you need. Just up the road, the town’s swimming pool uses water from a natural stream. Right by it, there’s a lovely picnic spot under the trees beside that same stream.