Pousada Mosteiro de Guimarães - Monument Hotel

The monastery has lovely cloisters and tucked away reading spots, so it’s an easy place to relax. The rooms all have their own character, and the people who work at the pousada made our stay amazing. I can’t praise them enough. I’m already looking forward to coming back in summer to enjoy the pool and patios.

The staff are so nice, especially Leandro, who gave us a warm welcome. The hotel is full of history, set on a hill above the city, with a superb view. Stunning place.

The breakfast selection and quality fell short of what I’d expect from a five star hotel. The receptionist did offer a discount for the night we left early, but I’d rather not have spent a whole night breathing in mould. Reception said there were no other rooms available.\n\nOur room smelled strongly of mould, and a small plug in air freshener didn’t cover it. The bed wobbled badly and the mattress was extremely hard, so we checked out a day early because another night there would have been impossible. When I explained why at the front desk, the receptionist opened with, “Are you aware that you are in a historic building?” Yes, I understand what it means to book a room in a 13th century building. I just didn’t expect the Pestana group to want us sleeping as people did back then.\n\nI wouldn’t rate this as five star. To me it’s no more than three, maybe a low end four.

There weren’t enough chairs around the pool, so some guests ended up lying on the grass. And the açaí really needs rethinking. It was watery, basically just ice, and honestly terrible.\n\nStill, the stay was strong enough to earn five stars. The hotel is beautiful, with art everywhere that makes it feel like stepping back in time. The pool is great, and its bar adds to the atmosphere.