Convento dos Capuchos

The room was clean, modern, and spacious, with a small terrace, and I’d happily stay here again. We were there overnight during a road trip through the north. The hotel and its grounds are lovely, with a stylish outdoor pool area, restaurant seating in the interior convent, and plenty of quiet spots to relax. There were lots of families, though I don't think the Google photo of the kids' slide gives the right impression of the hotel. Because of Covid, staff served the breakfast buffet. It was a basic breakfast, fine but nothing special.

We booked this family-run place to go fishing on the Minho River with a local guide, which was fabulous. The hotel looked promising online, but the stay fell short. They couldn't find our reservation, and the electricity took 30 minutes to work properly. The minibar fridges weren't cold. Hot water was limited to about two hours in the morning and evening, and no one told us at check-in, so I ended up taking several cold showers. The food was so-so, and my family was glad to move on. It’s a nice place off the beaten path, though the atmosphere felt a little tense.

The breakfast was good, and the garden is nice. The building has been renovated elegantly, but the place felt poorly managed. In winter, the rooms are very cold and not insulated properly. It took a couple of hours to warm ours up, and the bathroom had no heating or extraction fan. I wouldn't pay extra for a suite: the extra space serves no purpose, and ours looked out at the back of the building, as the attached photo shows. The staff need proper hospitality training. The first receptionist wasn't suited to welcoming guests. Also, be aware the spa costs extra. For me, it wasn't worth the visit.

The curtains in my room let in far too much light, so I woke up much earlier than I wanted. At this price, hotels in Portugal often leave a complimentary bottle of water on arrival, but this one didn't.