Douro Royal Valley Hotel & SPA

The location of the hotel was excellent with an amazing view of the Douro River. The infinity pool outside was heated. The restaurant and food service of the hotel was not up to par. We waited over an hour for coffees during dinner and left before it arrived. When we ordered room service, it took over 90 minutes for the food to arrive. When we asked how long the food may take, they had no idea what we were talking about. They simply cannot handle the volume for dinner, even with the reservation slots. We wound up going to nearby towns for lunch and dinner, where it was significantly better service and better pricing. Breakfast was buffet style, so it did not rely on service. The rooms were of good quality but also had visible blemishes in the hallway and room, indicative of past water damage. When we asked about how to go about booking jet skis or nearby winery tours, the front desk seemed confused. The room cleaning was good.

I stayed at Douro Royal Valley Hotel hoping for a luxurious 5-star experience, but what we got felt much closer to 4 stars. There were several details that didn’t meet the expectations of a hotel in this category. Starting with the room: we stayed in a “quarto deluxe”, which was beautifully decorated inside, but for a hotel of this level, everything should be in perfect condition — and it wasn’t. The balcony needed painting, and throughout the hotel, you could notice that the building hadn’t been refreshed in quite some time. Service-wise, I also felt disappointed. The staff weren’t particularly warm or welcoming — from dinner to the spa, there was a consistent lack of friendliness. At dinner, for instance, the waiter kept insisting we should have made a reservation. We understood from the beginning, but instead of helping us settle in and enjoy our evening, he repeated it several times — and we were just hungry and hoping to eat in peace. Service overall was quite slow, even though the food itself was delicious. Now, the breakfast was underwhelming. The scrambled eggs were lukewarm and not even covered, the bacon was overly crispy (almost burnt), and the variety of options was very limited. It felt more like a 3-star buffet, which was honestly disappointing. After check-out, we stayed for a while longer in the indoor pool area, and the staff member came over to tell us we had to leave. Her tone wasn’t kind or courteous — not what you’d expect from a hotel in this category. With better hospitality and a refresh of the facilities, this hotel has potential to truly offer a 5-star stay.

Before reading the below review, please keep in mind that we as a couple rarely complain or write negative reviews. In summary, please don’t fall for the same trap we did. Just because it’s #1 on booking.com when you search Douro valley does not mean it’s actually a 5 star hotel… in reality it’s a 3 star hotel. Don’t expect a relaxing break in the Spa either, it was so bad we couldn’t wait to get back to sauna in our gym at home… Room: We booked a double room, but it was simply two single beds pushed together, making for a very uncomfortable sleep for a couple. • Broken AC Unit: The air conditioning in our room was not functioning, making it difficult to sleep. I had to use noise-canceling earphones just to sleep. • Breakfast Experience: There were long queues for breakfast each morning, which significantly impacted our experience. Even in 3 or 4 star hotels, we have never experienced such a long wait to have breakfast. • Lack of Service at Ruby Bar: We waited at the bar for 15 minutes at lunchtime but received no service, forcing us to leave and find a local restaurant instead. When we did get served, our meal of two measly portions of soup, toast and a bottle of water was somehow €20. The fake fine dining restaurant is no better either, so you really are forced to go to a nearby Tasca for actual food. • Unhelpful Concierge Service: When we asked for recommendations on nearby activities, we were handed a list of vineyards over 70 km away, which was neither helpful nor an appropriate level of service. Visiting vineyards was the whole point of our trip… • Spa & Gym Facilities: The spa did not match the photos on Booking and was in need of refurbishment, resembling a budget gym rather than a five-star facility. Additionally, the gym equipment was not in working order. You also need to walk through a maze and take two elevators to get there, so any feelings of relaxation you get from the spa are gone when you can’t figure out how to leave. • Bar Service & Wine Selection: When we asked for wine recommendations at the bar, the bartender only offered a single red wine option—disappointing given the hotel’s location in the Douro Valley. • Wi-Fi Quality: The Wi-Fi was extremely weak and unreliable, which is unacceptable for a hotel of this standard. For the price, at almost €180 a night to stay in an ugly block of concrete, you will find much better options!