Quinta de Silvalde

The stay was otherwise perfect, but I came away with a dog bite. The owner lets his small dogs wander around the garden without leashes or supervision, and they can be unpredictable.

The staff were kind and helpful throughout our five days, and even arranged an early breakfast for us on the last morning before our flight. The property is lovely and well cared for. Still, at this price we expected better facilities and management, especially around food, room features, and privacy. There was little privacy in the bathroom because the toilet and shower both had see-through windows. When we asked to move, the new room was smaller but more private. The air conditioning only heated the room, and the little fridge was warm, so it couldn’t chill our drinks. The pool is tiny, and guests have to switch on the sauna themselves. It takes 40 minutes to warm up, though the facilities are open from 9 am to 9 pm, so I think the hotel should manage it during those hours. Cleaning the pool at 7 pm meant we had to ask staff to turn off the machine before we could use it. Breakfast was very basic, mostly bread and eggs. Juice was available on the first day only; after that, we were told they were out, even though breakfast was included. The hotel is in a residential area with constant traffic, which also makes the location less appealing.

It felt like a second home. Everyone, from reception and the restaurant to the room cleaning staff, was so attentive, caring, and friendly. I’d highly recommend it.

We found the hotel really romantic, in a lovely location, with spacious, modern and clean rooms. The breakfast was great and made with fresh ingredients, and the staff were friendly. There’s an amazing wine cellar with old Porto wines. You can dine there too, and the indoor pool is nice, with a small gym alongside it.