Vinha Boutique Hotel - The Leading Hotels of the World

The room was uncomfortable and poorly planned. There was no door on the toilet, so there was no privacy, and the many mirrors made it hard to get your bearings. The service also felt inattentive and inflexible, and we never felt heard or valued. We went to the Christmas dinner, but its food, delivery, and service fell well below what we'd expect at a five star hotel, especially for a premium meal booked for the holiday. We then asked politely to cancel the next day's Christmas lunch, which cost €300 for two adults and two children. Staff refused any flexibility despite our raising the concerns right away and in good faith. The rigid policy and lack of accountability or care were as disappointing as the meal. The hotel charges like a five star property but didn't provide the hospitality we expected.

The spa bathroom was disappointing. None of the three shower cubicles had shampoo, and there was no conditioner. They had body lotion in the showers instead of body gel, which felt careless for a five star hotel. The front desk did give me shampoo and a hair mask. I also wasn't impressed with the hydrating body treatment massage. It felt like the kind of technique used in Thai massage shops in Porto's city centre, while I expect something more sophisticated from a five star spa. In my opinion, Yeatman and Monumental Palace give a much better massage. The sensory shower didn't feel sensory to me either. I went to Vinha Boutique Hotel just for the spa, and only found out on arrival that its vitality pool, one of the main attractions for me, was closed for maintenance. I'd seen another review saying they don't usually tell clients when facilities are out of use.

We stayed in November and were lucky enough to have my birthday fall during the trip. That night, I came back to a bottle of champagne and a little cake in the room, and the cake was delicious. They also left us boxes of macaroons and sweets each day. Thank you for such a lovely stay! Our room had a river view and was spacious, cozy, stylish, and comfortable. The whole hotel is beautiful and a really pleasant place to spend time. Breakfast was delicious, with plenty to choose from, and the staff were attentive and very accommodating. They even let us check in around 1 pm instead of 3, perhaps because it was the slower season, but it was a nice touch. We were glad we chose the hotel over staying in Porto. The ride into town was short and easy, about 7-10 minutes, and the hotel also provided a free boat ride. Everyone working here, and whoever manages the property, did an incredible job.

The restaurant was a waste of money, with high prices and low quality. The room had ants everywhere too. I reported them and was told the problem had been fixed, but when I woke up the next morning they were all over the place and had ruined the complimentary sweets. The hotel blamed it on being 'in the countryside'. Maybe that would make sense for a rural Airbnb, but this is a five star hotel next to Portugal's second city. The heating was broken, and after I complained three times it still wasn't fixed. At 10 pm on my last night, they offered to move me to another room, but by then changing rooms would have been too much of a hassle. It's a shame the service was so bad.