RB Santiago Hotel Rural

The new furnishings and garden pool make a great first impression. The kitchen has an oven, microwave, induction hob, fridge and dishwasher, but very little crockery or other utensils. During our two nights, the air-conditioning never worked, the rooms were not cleaned and the bins were not emptied. WiFi and TV were also out for several hours on the second day. There’s nowhere to hike or run around the property, and nearby neighbours tuning motorbikes and cars can disturb the quiet. The rooms have no soundproofing, so every movement and noise from next door carries through the tall, empty rooms. I’d give it five stars if that sound issue could be fixed, but it seems unlikely to go away.

A really peaceful, beautiful stay, and the staff were friendly and enthusiastic. We had an amazing time and would highly recommend it.

The breakfast room is nicely decorated, and breakfast itself has fruit, eggs, cheese, ham, several kinds of bread, cakes, croissants, fruit juices, milk, coffee, jams and butter. The jacuzzi was lovely too. The staff were attentive and helpful, and keen to sort out any guest concerns. It’s a quiet hotel with only a few rooms, a good place to rest. Outside, the grounds are well kept and have a pool, outdoor gym, slide and swings. Indoors, the style is modern but still welcoming, and the rooms are comfortable with plenty of storage. There are a few things that could be better. The kitchen door has a threshold that makes noise for guests in room 1 above it during breakfast prep, and it also disturbs people eating. Replacing it with a door without that threshold could help. Robes and slippers in the rooms would be welcome. The hallway floor could use carpet or another sound-absorbing material to soften footsteps, and the rooms could be better insulated from outside noise and neighbouring doors closing. We had an extremely positive stay. It’s very good for a rest, while still being about 15 km from historic Ponte de Lima and close to Vila Verde, Barcelos, Braga and Viana do Castelo.

The staff were really friendly and helpful, and the breakfast was good quality, though there was very little choice. The spa has limited hours and the space itself needs quite a bit of work. They were kind enough to give us a glass of champagne, though. The gym is so limited I wouldn’t really call it a gym. For the price, I don’t think it’s worth it. Other hotels of the same sort offer more and charge more competitive rates.