Hotel Rural Douro Scala

Construction work disrupted the peaceful feel of the place, and the indoor pool felt quite cold even though the sign said 29°. Aside from that, we had a lovely stay. The staff are nice, breakfast is very good, and there’s a killer view from the rooms and the hotel in general.

For the scenery alone, this place delivers. The views over the valley and vineyards are beautiful. The hallways at night feel eerie, like a mystery movie set, and the restaurant let us down on both food and service. I can’t call it a five-star property. At best it felt like a three-star stay. If you want breathtaking views, it works, but anyone expecting top-notch service, fine dining and a true luxury experience may be disappointed.

The location is magical, and the staff were nice and friendly, but sadly the place feels run down. It absolutely isn’t five-star quality and needs an overall renovation. The food was really bad. The spa was a joke too: the steam room wasn’t working, the sauna wasn’t even hot and felt tiny for the number of people. The whole spa area needs an overhaul.

I saw the hotel advertised on Odisseias and bought a voucher. I emailed the hotel and they confirmed there was availability on my preferred date. But when I tried to book with the voucher, they said I couldn’t use one from Odisseias. I spoke with Catia, who was dismissive and hung up while I was trying to get information. She then stopped replying to my emails asking why I couldn’t book. It feels dishonest to list the hotel on Odisseias, show no availability and refuse to let clients use their vouchers. I wouldn’t recommend it, especially if you’re booking through Odisseias.