Six Senses Douro Valley

The Portuguese Kitchen tales were the highlight of our stay. Fernando's tour of the kitchen gardens was fascinating, especially hearing about the herbs and plants and his commitment to organic gardening and reducing environmental impact. The cooking demonstration was just as good. Our group had several allergies, and the team worked around them beautifully. Chef Gustavo made a meal full of heart, and the pastry chef, whose name I didn't catch, prepared wonderful vegan and dairy-free dishes. It was the best meal of our three weeks of travel, and worth every penny. We also enjoyed the Port Knox hike and tasting. Simon knew the property well and shared plenty of information, and Johanna from Port Knox led a great tasting. Dina made breakfast brighter with her cheerful, welcoming manner. My wife and I and another couple spent three nights at this beautiful Douro Valley resort, a perfect chance to unwind after two weeks of travel. The gardens, sitting areas, and outdoor pool were lovely, and the spa and workout facilities were top notch. Our room was perfectly appointed, and the staff really stood out. We can't wait to return.

The food and autumn views were wonderful, and the valet attendants and breakfast receptionist made a great impression with their attentiveness and sincere manner. The gardeners also do an impressive, professional job keeping the grounds beautiful. When we asked to move from a noisy room beside the stairs, the hotel offered an upgrade and handled the change efficiently. The rest of the hospitality left us disappointed. We arrived early and were told we'd get a call when our room was ready, but no one called. At the restaurant, one staff member tossed a napkin from a plate onto the table, and there were repeated order problems: almond milk and oat milk were confused, orders were duplicated, and ours got mixed up with another table's. Two items we asked to have delivered to the room also took a second attempt. In the upgraded room, water leaked from the shower into the toilet area, which was separated by a full-length glass panel. None of these issues alone was a major deal, and we weren't in a hurry, but the repeated small mistakes wore on us. At the price per night, we didn't expect so many problems and began to wonder whether this was really a luxury hotel. We won't be back.

We came just for dinner at the main restaurant and didn't expect the property to be such a destination. The gardens were lovely, the views spectacular, and the food and service felt Michelin grade. High marks all around.

The rooms, pools, and scenery are amazing, but the service was the worst I've experienced. We stayed two nights, and after my mom got sick we ordered basic breakfasts from room service both mornings. Neither order came right. I'd picked the hotel for its lively wooden boat and hoped to use it to travel on the river and reach a winery. It was booked even though I asked two weeks ahead. The hotel administrator said the winery they work with had an identical boat, and I specifically checked that it was wooden, so we booked. At the pier no one was there, there was no shade in 40-degree heat, and we waited 20 minutes while people called around. The winery's boat was visible behind a chain, and the man from six Seneca had apparently gone to smoke. It turned out to be plastic, not wood. When I asked whether the winery had another boat, I was told it had only one. Either the receptionist had lied or hadn't bothered to check, despite my specific question. We arrived between lunch and dinner, when it's hard to find a decent meal at 4 pm in many European countries. Still, at €2000 a night, we hoped we could eat at any time. We couldn't. Wandering around a bit lost, we reached the winery bar and asked the American woman if we could eat there. She didn't answer, and instead asked if we had a wine key and where we were staying. When it was clear she wasn't going to help, we thanked her and turned to look for food. As my dad took a step away, she angrily called “whatever” after him. This was hotel staff, at a place where some rooms cost €3000 a night. I could go on. I'd rather spend the money at a nice small hotel where the owners pay attention to their staff's skills and attitude.