This hotel is very isolated, so difficult to find our coach driver got lost. The rooms are arranged so all have a view over the River Douro but the hotel is terribly dark, very badly lit. The restaurant had a buffet menu for our Riviera group of 29 which was served out of cupboards - seriously, not open well lit tables but black cupboards. This made it dark, difficult to get at and poorly stocked. You don't serve a tiny plate of sliced tomatoes when 30 people are having dinner and then replace incredibly slowly. Breakfast was the same, food ran out and was eventually replaced but not quickly enough. The first night the group had travelled from two different start points and one was later arriving. The waiters point blank refused to open the buffet doors (!) until all the group had arrived, meaning we all wanted to get at the food at once. There is absolutely nowhere else nearby to eat or even to walk. This hotel has a lot to learn about service and lighting. I would strongly advise against staying here if you possibly can. It is classed as 4star so does have fridge, TV with a god selection of English language channels, good sized bathroom with toiletries and reasonable storage space in the room though nowhere specific to put the suitcase.…
Lilliana and Jiao / Jaio at reception were truely wonderful.... management please take note.... and mad3 our 5 day holiday here perfect . Lovely views of the Douro river from the room and the pool. Lovely breakfast lovely room. Perfect ....highly recommended
A friend and I first stayed at the Douro Palace during September of 2017. We spent one night here and took dinner in the dining room after an enjoyable couple of hours in the bar playing cards and talking to other guests. The food was excellent, as was the wait staff. We enjoyed this hotel so much that we made a point of returning with our wives again this year. The weather has been beautiful and allowed us to spend two delightful days enjoying the magnificent view of the Douro River at the bottom of a steeply sloped valley densely packed with grape vines growing in very old stone terraces stacked on both sides of the river. The pool and it’s associated bar are very pleasant and the poolside area provides the same magnificent views up and down the river. The one BIG disappointment was the restaurant. On our previous visit, the staff were sparkling, vibrant and well versed with the food and wine offerings. Also, the food was flavorful, perfectly prepared and beautifully presented. Alas, this is no longer the case. One waitress was professionally prepared, but the rest of the wait staff were woefully underperforming. Twice, we asked one waiter about an item on the menu, and each time he said that he didn’t know, but would ask the chef. He returned the first time with a response to a question that we didn’t ask, and he never reported back after departing to ask the second. The waiter who brought the wine list knew almost nothing about the local wines we in which we were interested. The final blow came when we tasted the food. Our grouper was terribly over cooked and arrived with a beautiful melange of julienned vegetables that were pretty, but which totally failed to compliment the flavor of the seafood. Another member of our part ordered an aged veal and sausage dish. The term “aged” evidently referred to the age of the beast when slaughtered, not to any dry aging that took afterwards. The meat did not have the color, tenderness or taste of veal. “Baby beef” would have possibly been closer. The meat had flavor, but was incredibly tough and was abandoned half way through consumption. In total, we have enjoyed the outside environment of the Douro Palace, but found the food and dining room service to have lost its luster over the last two years. It is a tedious drive along the narrow winding roads that parallel the Douro River, and one that we will no longer attempt, as the rewards no longer approach the costs of getting in and out.…
The Douro Palace is an amazing place. Set on a hill side, you’ll enjoy the views of the Douro river. Make sure you pay the extra for a room with river views, it’s worth it! Upon arrival, try and make Google maps show you the way via the the main roads. You might end up in a small alleyway if you take the shorter route :) The breakfast was beyond expectation with loads of Portuguese specials, fresh juices and bread, pastries, croissants and the like. Try the fresh oranges, they’re to die for, so sweet and succulent. Fresh from the land, you won’t be disappointed! Couples, bear in mind that this is a family friendly hotel, so you will find kids at the pool. There’s only one recommendation that I’d make and which made me rate four instead of five stars: the bathroom. Our shower leaked water and a technician had to be sent in to fix the handle (the shower kept sliding down, my 6”4 partner didn’t appreciate that ;) ). But other than that, enjoy everything the Douro Palace has to offer, and make sure to try their restaurant and cosy bar at least once. …
This was a very pleasant hotel with fabulous views of the Douro. It was fairly remote. The rooms were a little on the small side and not very well lit, which was a pity.There was also nowhere to put your case to unpack, although the rooms were provided with dressing gowns and slippers.Rooms were clean and the food was generally good and the staff friendly and helpful.
"all rooms are facing Douro Valley, choose one at the lower flors , they have best view"Read full review
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