Quintas do Valbom e Cuco

The staff were incredibly helpful and came each day to change the towels and make the beds. The valley and mountains are nearby, though you have to walk up the drive to get a view of them. We booked the cottage hoping for a few restful days as a couple, and it felt expensive for that. It might have been okay for four people sharing overnight accommodation. The cottage was basic, and although the adverts showed a sofa, there was a second double bed in the living area instead. We asked for comfortable seats instead of the straight-backed dining chairs. We were given very low, soft folding single bed chairs that seemed suited to children or gymnasts, and the spare bed was put away in its cupboard against the wall. The proprietor brought two enormous armchairs on the second day. The microwave, kettle and coffee machines sat on a shoulder-height shelf beside the dining table, all plugged into one socket. The stovetop was cracked, its larger ring didn't work, and the extractor fan was broken too. There were no microwave-safe dishes, and there isn't an oven. In the bedroom, both the double and single beds could only be reached from the middle of the room. A strong, warm drain smell from the bathroom spread through the house because its door wouldn't quite shut. We also heard scratching in the roof, as if local wildlife wanted to share the space. The previous reviews gave it over 9 stars on the booking app.