Douro Valley Hotels

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bennno

Original Poster:

13,637 posts

283 months

Thursday 15th May
quotequote all

We are planning a couple of weeks taking in Galicia, Porto, then Douro valley, before either Salamanca or Picos, then Bilbao.

Can anybody recommend a nice hotel in Douro Valley, must be accessible in low car and have decent parking plus a pool and restaurant, or be within walking distance of some.

Earthdweller

15,813 posts

140 months

Friday 16th May
quotequote all
Stayed here

https://www.booking.com/Share-TTEjfJ

https://www.vilagale.com/en/hotels/porto-and-north...


For a couple of nights last year, nice hotel with pool and spa on the bank of the river with a secure underground car park

Should add there were six of us all with low sports cars. The garage entrance is wide and whilst on a ramp not with steep angles, the spaces were wider than you'd expect

Decent restaurant with open seating outside overlooking the river and a good bar food selection

10 minute walk across the bridge into the town on the other side of the river with plenty of bars/restaurants

Edited by Earthdweller on Friday 16th May 09:22

Harpoon

2,174 posts

228 months

Friday 16th May
quotequote all
We stayed here a good few years ago. Was lovely back then but the restaurants have been added since

https://www.quintadelarosa.com/rooms

We only had a hire car, so you'd need to check parking with them.

//j17

4,712 posts

237 months

Friday 16th May
quotequote all
bennno said:
must be accessible in low car
How wide's your car? My memory of the Douro valley was decent road surfaces but narrow, twisty roads. Great for a sports car/less so for more super/hyper cars that need to be 6m wide these days.

bennno

Original Poster:

13,637 posts

283 months

Friday 16th May
quotequote all
//j17 said:
How wide's your car? My memory of the Douro valley was decent road surfaces but narrow, twisty roads. Great for a sports car/less so for more super/hyper cars that need to be 6m wide these days.
It'll either be my 296 or the Portofino, both relatively wide.

Earthdweller

15,813 posts

140 months

Friday 16th May
quotequote all
bennno said:
//j17 said:
How wide's your car? My memory of the Douro valley was decent road surfaces but narrow, twisty roads. Great for a sports car/less so for more super/hyper cars that need to be 6m wide these days.
It'll either be my 296 or the Portofino, both relatively wide.
This would be pretty representative of the roads round the Douro, twisty English B road width but without the worry of potholes

Some of the roads along the valley were very busy with tour buses, local buses, camper vans and rental cars etc

Hard to do more than 30 or 40 on them

Of course it depends I suppose on what time of year you're going

I generally find that roads in Spain are much better to drive on and the local driver's far more relaxed, Portugal can be a bit manic in comparison with much more aggressive drivers


//j17

4,712 posts

237 months

Friday 16th May
quotequote all
Earthdweller said:
Portugal can be a bit manic in comparison with much more aggressive drivers
But thankfully nowhere near Italian standards!

Earthdweller

15,813 posts

140 months

Friday 16th May
quotequote all
//j17 said:
Earthdweller said:
Portugal can be a bit manic in comparison with much more aggressive drivers
But thankfully nowhere near Italian standards!
You may have a point there !

smile

Venisonpie

4,013 posts

96 months

Friday 16th May
quotequote all
We were in the Douro last September, stayed just outside Pinhao but wouldn't recommmend the hotel.

The roads along the river heading East were nearly all being resurfaced and were very lumpy. Something to consider given your car options.

bennno

Original Poster:

13,637 posts

283 months

Friday 16th May
quotequote all
Venisonpie said:
We were in the Douro last September, stayed just outside Pinhao but wouldn't recommmend the hotel.

The roads along the river heading East were nearly all being resurfaced and were very lumpy. Something to consider given your car options.
What was the hotel that you wouldn't recommend please? here's hoping they've finished the roads by July.

VEIGHT

2,376 posts

242 months

Friday 16th May
quotequote all
Not kind to the wallet, but probably one of the best hotels I've stayed in! https://www.sixsenses.com/en/hotels-resorts/europe...

bennno

Original Poster:

13,637 posts

283 months

Friday 16th May
quotequote all
VEIGHT said:
Not kind to the wallet, but probably one of the best hotels I've stayed in! https://www.sixsenses.com/en/hotels-resorts/europe...
Call me a tightwad but £1300 a night is OTT for a hotel room......

Im just about ok with £200-£300 range if the place is really nice. Shortlisted to

https://www.booking.com/fivestars/region/pt/douro....tongue outl:tatongue out1tongue out2:ac:ap:neg;ws=&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=108539665&gbraid=0AAAAAD_Ls1JB7e576qsqG2lhseW_fTSQq&gclid=Cj0KCQjwxJvBBhDuARIsAGUgNfjo8WsLze3-5kMkPwg9PddO9a5jQbH9kbkCgAv8qGZcUPpGQf5-8TIaArOLEALw_wcB

VEIGHT

2,376 posts

242 months

Friday 16th May
quotequote all
Wow it was a long time ago! That’s a lot!

Venisonpie

4,013 posts

96 months

Saturday 17th May
quotequote all
bennno said:
Venisonpie said:
We were in the Douro last September, stayed just outside Pinhao but wouldn't recommmend the hotel.

The roads along the river heading East were nearly all being resurfaced and were very lumpy. Something to consider given your car options.
What was the hotel that you wouldn't recommend please? here's hoping they've finished the roads by July.
It was Quinta do Silval, I've stayed twice. Its in a stunning location and the hotel is lovely however they just can't get any staff. As such the place just doesn't work plus its not suitable for low cars.

Its a shame, when I stayed in 2023 it was excellent but 2024 was poor.