Hotel Puro Dão Hotel & Spa

We paid extra for a nicer room, but weren’t told it was directly below the indoor pool. We could hear everything, especially the jacuzzi jets. The air conditioning didn’t work, and the exit light was too bright for sleeping in a dark room. Dinner was a mess. We waited an hour and a half, some of the order never came, and we didn’t get drinks until halfway through the meal. If I’d had my kids with me, I would have left the restaurant.

The photos made the hotel look stunning, so we went out of our way to get there hoping for a relaxing family break in nature. It became clear quickly that families with children aren’t welcome. There’s nothing for kids to do, and they can use the warm indoor pool only during a couple of short, non-consecutive slots each day. The outdoor pool is ice cold. One parent ends up entertaining the children while the other uses the spa. A family holiday where you can’t all be together doesn’t feel like a holiday. We paid nearly €500 for the stay, then another €5 per person for swim caps at the spa. That felt like nickel-and-diming. For children, there’s no playground, activities, or anything provided beyond a bed and a robe, which is ridiculous at these room rates. Families should be told all this clearly before traveling here. I absolutely wouldn’t recommend it for a family holiday.

The suite we chose had a balcony overlooking the mountains, and the room was huge, with plenty of space. My wife even did a couple of yoga classes out there. The bed was comfortable, and there were lots of TV channels, including plenty in English, which was nice when relaxing on the couch. The views also take in some farmland. We used the outdoor pool a couple of times in October since the weather was warm enough and the pool is heated by the sun. We were traveling through Portugal’s wine regions on a road trip and stayed two nights. The hotel communicated well from the start when I asked for recommendations. I appreciate a hotel that offers suggestions instead of only promoting itself. There was lots of parking, check-in was quick and easy, and staff helped when needed. Breakfast was included, with a fantastic selection, lots of room, and plenty of food options. It’s just outside the city center, at most a 3-4 minute drive. There are lots of restaurants 5-10 minutes away by car, plus a few within walking distance if you’d rather not eat at the hotel. It worked well as a base for the wineries we visited. You need a cap for the indoor pool, which seemed typical of the hotels we stayed at. If you swim outdoors, bring a bathrobe for the walk through the bistro to get outside. That’s a little odd.

This hotel presents itself as an expensive spa resort, but it really isn’t suitable for families with children. Kids can use the pool for one hour in the morning and one hour in the afternoon, with access restricted the rest of the time. There’s no playground, playroom, entertainment, or anything else for them to do. The stay becomes a constant struggle to keep your child occupied. The price doesn’t match the quality of service for families. If you’re traveling with kids, I strongly don’t recommend it.