"Things I like about the hotel:
The restaurant is exceptional. The breakfast while extra is good. The dinner is excellent. The food and desserts are some of the best I’ve had in Portugal. As a luso-American, I know the importance of complimenting your host’s wine, so I will say it is affordable, but I would appreciate different wine options such as one of the excellent Douro region wines or Porto. The staff is very friendly and kind. The location is also good.
Areas for improvement:
Having been to other four star hotels in Portugal, I have a certain expectation for the condition of the room. But I do not come from wealth, so I also try to be understanding. The hotel is mid-renovation, which is good because it is somewhat dated. The carpet in our room was stained near the door and there was damage on the lower portion of the walls. To be clear, this isn’t an un-nice hotel, but it did not meet my expectations for a four star hotel. The bar was unmanned every time we went in. However, we stayed there over the Republic Day holiday weekend, so there may have been a staffing shortage. Overall not a bad hotel, but it also does not meet my expectations for the price or star rating. A staffed bar and finishing the renovations would assuage my concerns."
"When I booked this hotel, we needed a little bit of serenity after a very busy first five days in Lisbon and Porto. The grounds are absolutely breathtaking. It is in the middle of nowhere —driving up these tiny roads you think you’re in a residential area and you come upon this castle-like structure. Everybody is friendly, the staff is super attentive, the infinity pool is located overlooking the vineyard. The food is very good! The rooms are absolutely stunning. I would highly recommend staying here for a getaway if you are in the Braga area."
Make a point to visit attractions like Garrafas Riverside Beach and Porta Do Mezio. Discover sights such as Chapel of Our Lady of Conception and Museu do Barroco during your stay.
When is the best time to book a hotel with a pool in Salvador?
You may want to think about a place to stay with an outdoor pool if you're planning to visit Salvador in the driest months of July, August, or June when the average rainfall is 2 inches. Lodging that has a pool indoors may be the way to go if you come to town during the rainiest months of October, December, and November when the average rainfall is 9 inches.