Need to know
Rooms
98, including ten suites.
Check–Out
Noon. Earliest check-in, 3pm. Both are flexible, subject to availability.
More details
Rates include a buffet breakfast of fresh bread and pastries, pancakes, fresh fruit and juices, yogurt and muesli, eggs, cold cuts and cheeses.
Also
The lobby’s painted mural – sunhats, slithering eels and a rather stern owl – makes a delightfully rural backdrop for selfies.
At the hotel
Gym, foosball and tennis courts, charging station for electric vehicles, kids club, free WiFi throughout. In rooms: flatscreen TV, minibar, air-conditioning, free bottled water, Castelbel toiletries.
Our favourite rooms
Dressed in shades of cream and butterscotch, rooms are pared-down and infused with Zen-like calm. Textured Burel blankets, hand-loomed wall hangings and vintage baskets keeps things tactile and interesting. Ask for a Valley View Suite: they have a prime position on the hotel’s upper floors for gazing out over the Douro’s postcard-perfect landscape.
Poolside
Take in serene views of the valley from the heated outdoor pool (open June to October), a Mediterranean fancy framed by fragrant pine trees, romantic colonnades and pergola-shaded sunloungers. The heated indoor pool has equally charming views through floor-to-ceiling windows, as well as a Nordic bath to linger in. Little Smiths can use the pool daily between 9.30am and 4pm.
Spa
Make time for an hour or two in the hotel’s treatment room. Plump for a brightening facial using Madra products, or opt for something pampering – an ayurvedic massage, say, or an aromatherapy treat – harnessing the therapeutic powers of olive oil, lavender or almond blossom.
Packing tips
Bring a tome by José Saramago, Portugal’s literary heavyweight, to thumb by the pool, and leave plenty of space in your luggage for well-packed bottles of the resort’s own wine to take home.
Also
Some Double rooms have been adapted for wheelchair users.
Children
Welcome. A free cot for-under 3s can be added to all rooms on request; families or larger groups should book a suite – each can sleep two adults and two children (aged 16 and under).
Best for
Babies and up.
Recommended rooms
With their separate living area and handy kitchenette, Deluxe Valley View Suites are ideal if you’re travelling with a brood.
Activities
Visit the hotel's round-the-clock games room, where little Smiths can play foosball and board games whenever they want.
Swimming pool
Under-12s can splash around in the indoor pool and nordic bath between 9.30am and 4pm.
Meals
The restaurant has high chairs, and staff will happily reheat baby food or adapt menus for fussy eaters.
Babysitting
Local babysitters can be arranged for €20 an hour; book two hours ahead.
No need to pack
Travel light: the hotel has disposable bibs and changing mats, wipes, diapers, tot-friendly plates and cutlery and baby baths.
Sustainability efforts
Solar panels provide much of the hotels energy, water tanks collect greywater for irrigation, bathroom amenities are organic and glass water bottles have taken over from their plastic counterparts. The restaurant works closely with local suppliers and farmers, there’s a recycling programme in place and the spa was recently remodelled with sustainable materials.
