Carmo's Boutique Hotel

Honestly, the whole place creeped me out: the staff, the lobby painting, the furniture, the rooms, the general atmosphere, and especially the doll house. Neither of us could sleep, and we had nightmares. The place gave me occult vibes.

My husband and I just got back from a five-night honeymoon at Carmo's Boutique Hotel, and we’d happily recommend it. The food and service were outstanding. The special Friday dinner in the wine cellar was probably the best meal of our whole trip. The staff were friendly and helpful with any questions, and the concierge could arrange all sorts of experiences, like guides, trips to the National Park, and picnics. Our room was beautiful, with a lovely patio and a nice view. The grounds are on the small side but laid out well, with a pool, little gazebos, ponds, and a vineyard that were pleasant to walk around. The entrance and grounds are near a major road, but we couldn’t see or hear it from our room and felt quite secluded.

The hotel didn’t live up to the expectations that come with being a Small Luxery Hotel. Carmo's boutique hotel felt like an outdated bunker, literally concrete blocks stacked on each other. There are curiosities and “art” everywhere, which could have been fun, but everything looked yellowed and dusty. Even the dried flowers seemed past their best. The idea may once have been fun. The main building has rooms we didn’t see, plus glamping tents outside with freestanding baths and beautiful views. There are lovely chairs and daybeds around the grounds. We booked one of those tents for three days. As soon as we entered, there was a pungent smell. At first we hoped it was from cleaning and would go away, but it didn’t. The shower, toilet, and sink were in cramped, rather shabby cubicles. The floor sloped throughout the tent. The main bed had seen better days, and the bunk bed our son used shifted anxiously with every movement. It felt close to collapsing. Everything in the tent seemed set up for two people, though there were three of us. The information in our accommodation was kept in sticky, dirty plastic sleeves that looked like they hadn’t been replaced in years. Notes with penalties were posted around the hotel: €150 for losing the safe key, €20 for “stealing” an umbrella, plus warnings by the pool. The receptionist seemed to have a lot of authority but little hospitality, and we didn’t feel welcome. Her tour was brief and left out a lot. We couldn’t work out the electricity system or turn on some lights ourselves. Eventually someone helped, though I couldn’t say how. We tried to make the best of it, but it didn’t feel like a luxury break. After one lousy night, we left. The hotel is right on a very busy N-road. Maybe they could have fixed the smell, but the other problems would have been harder to sort out. My husband tried to reach the manager, and the receptionist promised the manager would call that day. We’ve messaged every day since, but still haven’t heard back. There’s been no dialogue.

We chose the glamping option and had a great room, lovely surroundings, and delicious food. There’s plenty to do nearby. It’s just a little too close to the road.