I was stunned by this hotel. Set in rural Portugal, near the Spanish border, this spa resort is beautiful. Very modern, clean, well equipped throughout, incredibly welcoming staff and superb food in the restaurant. The hotel is the perfect mix of old and new as it is set on an old vineyard, with modern extensions which complement the original 1700's building. Outside the back side is a huge stone terrace which extends the whole width of the 1700's original building with views of the mountains and spa pool and beautiful gardens. The old part of the hotel is magnificent, but we also enjoyed the comfort of our modern room which had a huge terrace overlooking the valley. Everyone working there was friendly and efficient, and the owner spoke English perfectly. I would really recommend this place to anyone visiting northern Portugal. It made for a great relaxing break for my older parents in there 80’s to relax and enjoy the slower pace from Lisbon and before moving on to Porto on a 12 day vacation. The attention to detail and 'nothing's a problem' attitude from everyone we come into contact with is just exceptional. The breakfast is plentiful and has a great selection. We were very happy with the breakfast which offered a large variety of fruit and breads, cheese, ham, several types of jam, as well as cereal and yogurt. The evening meals are so good that you can't stop eating! The manager/owner, Fernando, is the most gracious host that will attend to your every need, while assuring your quality experience is filled with lasting memories and a strong desire to return again. In the evenings we dined in the hotel restaurant. Fernando was truly a phenomenal host, who made us feel welcome. On one of the evenings, he started us off with local sausages and cheese along with some local port from the local vineyard. He made excellent recommendations for our wines and did not disappoint with his selections. The food was delicious. We ate there every night for 4 nights, and everything kept meeting and exceeding our expectations. The beef is something that the region is known for, and it was delicious. Fernando also took us on a tour of the impressive 17th century wine making that uses filtration and gravity. The preservation of the original wine making is located in the lower area that is used for wedding receptions and large parties. The way it is incorporated into the new modern areas was impressive. I will be visiting Portugal in the future and will be re-visiting Fernando's Hotel Rural Casas Novas. We truly enjoyed our stayed here while we visited local vineyards, Chaves and Peneda-Geres National Park.
Very Good
43 Reviews