Pousadela Village

Amazing hotel near Gerês National Park Without a doubt, this hotel stood out as the highlight of our two-week Portugal adventure. We were captivated by the unbeatable views, and the amenities like the indoor swimming pool, sauna, steam bath, and reading room were truly spectacular. Everything was exceptionally clean and well-maintained. Our check-in experience was a bit disappointing. The process took quite a while, and we felt the reception staff could have been more welcoming and friendly.

We recently stayed at Pousadela Village from September 6th to 9th, 2024. While the location has potential and some parts of the experience were pleasant, overall it did not meet our expectations for a 4-star stay. When we arrived, it was already dark, and navigating up to the property by car proved quite challenging due to underdeveloped infrastructure. The road was muddy and difficult to access, especially with regular vehicles. Our first room resembled more of an “igloo-style” hut – unique in design, but it felt cramped and not what we had envisioned. We asked to switch rooms and were moved to one of the more modern units. That room was significantly better, with a beautiful view over the valley and river – a definite highlight. However, the overall area felt very remote. Aside from the on-site restaurant, there were no nearby alternatives, and the surroundings lacked the kind of vibrant local life we enjoy. For travelers who prefer more convenience and access to activities or local spots, this place might feel a bit isolated. That said, we believe this destination has future potential – perhaps in a few years as the area and resort develop further. It may suit those specifically looking for a quiet, off-grid retreat and are happy to stay put at the resort. In short, this wasn’t the right fit for us, and we would consider this a 3-star experience rather than 4.

From my trip I will remember the deposit that was not returned, instead of nice views The property itself is very nice, but seems that staff at reception don't know what they are doing. They took security deposit 200 euro and are not returning it back. On the check in I mentioned that I DO NOT want to leave card details. So lady at reception reserved the deposit money using terminal. On check out, I was suggesting that receptionist should tap the card on terminal again. She refused and instead said that the deposit will be released automatically. That obviously did not happen. I have contacted hotel to receive the deposit and they suggest i should provide them card details over the phone to "release the deposit", which is obviously not a secure thing to do. Alternatively they suggested I wait for 5 days and today is day 6 and money were still not returned. Apart from that, when I asked at reception about the trails around hotel, that are supposed to start AT the hotel, the receptionist suggest that I should drive to some Geres tourist center and ask about trails there. About trails that start AT the hotel... Long story short, the property itself is nice, but experience at reception especially with not returning deposit has killed all the nice impressions I could have kept about this trip. Please DO NOT trust people at reception & keep an eye on your security deposit