Quinta de Valverde

The apartment wasn’t cleaned properly before we arrived or during our stay. They mainly made the bed and rushed through washing the cutlery. There was no washing-up liquid or sponge for us to clean things ourselves, and two of the three bowls were broken. We also found mold in the closet, didn’t get toiletries, and had poor Wi-Fi coverage. The free laundry they offered was kind and useful, thanks for that. The service was a three, while the lovely, quiet grounds and beautiful views were five-star. These are small issues that could be fixed easily.

The grounds alone are worth a look, with well-kept natural scenery. Staff were quick to respond, and everything was very clean. The impressive holiday apartments are in beautiful 1930s manor-style buildings on a hill overlooking Viana do Castelo and the sea.

I paid 30% in advance for an October booking, which was canceled after I spoke with the owner’s daughter, Ana Maria, the only English-speaking person there. The promised refund of my 54 EUR deposit still hadn’t arrived four months later, in January 2022. I’ve been chasing it for months and feel deeply disappointed and frustrated. My emails are ignored and my calls go unanswered. Be careful booking here if you might need to cancel, because I still haven’t been refunded.

The grounds were beautiful, and I liked the decor, especially the sheep. Our apartment was spacious and very comfortable. The staff were helpful. Top-notch.