Monte das Alpenduradas

Traveling along the coast on two wheels, I found this to be a highlight of my cycling trip. I was here alone in February and really enjoyed the garden and surroundings. Such an amazing stay.

Check-in was easy, and the room was comfortable. The area is beautiful, just a short walk from town. Breakfast was excellent, one of the best I’ve ever had at a hotel.

The grounds are the best part of Monte de Alpadueras. It’s a beautiful, peaceful countryside setting with fruit trees, open skies, distant sheep, cows and birds, plus pools and lovely scenery. But the rooms didn’t live up to the photos or the price. They looked brighter and larger online than they felt in person. Inside, they’re small and dark, with old, heavy mahogany furniture and a lingering musty smell. The walls are thin enough that you hear other guests, which made it hard to rest despite the quiet surroundings. My bed was one of the most uncomfortable I’ve slept in. The mattress was hard and uneven, and squeaked whenever I moved. The bathroom was very cramped, and the shower was so small it was difficult to turn around. When I arrived, the bathroom lights went out. Staff kindly tried changing the bulbs, but that didn’t solve it, so I spent three days with a dark bathroom. Breakfast came with the stay, and the fresh juice was lovely, but the same cold ham, eggs, bread, coffee and juice were served each morning. A little variety would have helped. The property is remote, so a car is really needed. Taxis cost a lot even for short trips, and walking to Zambujeira do Mar takes around 30 minutes each way. I expected more comfort and care with the details for the price. The natural setting is undeniably beautiful, but the rooms and facilities don’t justify the cost. Better upkeep, soundproofing and updates could make Monte de Alpadueras as special indoors as it is outside.

The main drawback is getting into town. The hotel is about 2.5 km from the centre, and there’s no proper pedestrian path, so you have to walk alongside cars. We stayed in a comfortable little two-storey flat with everything we needed, plus a table and chairs outside and a hammock overlooking the hills. There are three small pools, one larger outdoor pool, an outdoor children’s pool and a heated indoor one, with nice sunbeds for relaxing. I’d especially recommend breakfast. It isn’t very expensive, you can choose from several options, and the food is amazing: warm freshly baked bread, fresh berries and pressed orange juice. We had enough left over to take on our hike.