Douro Palace Hotel Resort & SPA

We were on a Country Roads of Portugal trip and stayed one night. The drive through the Douro Valley to arrive at the hotel was nothing short of breathtaking beauty. Our room was nice but one floor up had a much better view of the river-- we could see the river but another part of the hotel structure was smack in front of us. We loved walking around the ground and also to see all their animals. The pool was nice. The hotel is pretty isolated but if you are looking to get away for some relaxation this could be the spot. The breakfast was good as was the bar where we had a sandwich and chips.....great service in the bar.

Dear pupepause,

Thank you for the time spent sending this review about your recent stay with us. We are very pleased to know that you enjoyed Douro Palace Hotel Resort & Spa and hope you choose JASE Hotels & Resorts again in the future.

Sincerely,

Jorge Raínho
Sales | Marketing | Social Media

Just back from an interesting stay at this hotel.
After the hustle and bustle of Porto we were looking forward to some peace, relaxation and a wine/vineyard tour. Things turned disappointing quite quickly. The staff at reception looked puzzled at our request for information about a vineyard visit, that would not be possible apparently (a video ad for one was playing beside the reception desk, go figure) We were advised that we would need to book a table for breakfast as well as dinner which I don’t think I’ve ever been told before & although we arrived at 1:45 our room was not ready yet so we went to investigate the grounds. The views are simply spectacular it is just so beautiful I cannot stress this enough but everywhere was completely deserted - I don’t mean quiet we were literally the only people there (think The Shining with sunshine)
At three we went to collect our room key. The room was pretty disappointing, both it & the bathroom are dark & in need of updating & the toiletries provided are cheap looking. The view from the balcony is stunning it was just a shame the glass balustrade had an ugly repair on it.
We went down to the bar for a drink before dinner, admittedly it was a Tuesday evening but we were the only people in there - we even had to go & find someone to serve us a drink - we then went into dinner, guess what ? Yup, we were the only guests in there for the first half an hour or so. The food in the restaurant is outstanding, really very, very good indeed & our waitress, Bruna (I hope I’ve spelt that correctly) was very friendly & helpful explaining dishes & facilitating my husband’s pickiness with the chef. The prices, even for wine, are not excessive.
After such a lovely dinner we were looking forward to breakfast. Unfortunately everything appears to have been bought on the cheap, the ham, cheese slices, bread & pastries are all what you’d expect to find in a value supermarket & I assume there’s not a chef in the kitchen in the morning as whoever cooked the poached eggs made a total mess of them. Bear in mind you are miles from anywhere here so popping out for breakfast somewhere else really isn’t an option.
We collected towels from reception for the pool (they make a big deal about taking your room number in case you steal them which is a little unexpected in a 4 star but whatever) and went down to the outdoor pool. Have I mentioned how beautiful the scenery is here? Lying in the the glorious sunshine looking at that view & listening to the abundant birdsong is just bliss. There must have been about 40 sunloungers around the pool & myself & my husband made up one of the three couples in total using them. The outdoor pool isn’t heated but is fabulously refreshing & there is an indoor heated pool in the spa for the wimps (my husband being one). The facilities in the spa are great, if very dark, & the massages very reasonably priced. Unfortunately the bar at the pool was not open (it opened on Thursday) so it was a bit of trek to fetch drinks if you wanted one.
We’d noticed that our bottle of water hadn’t been replaced when our room was made up so mentioned it at reception. We were told that only one bottle of water was provided to guests, we’d need to buy more if we wanted it - did I mention this is a 4 star hotel? Why would you wind up a customer for a 2 euro bottle of water? We filled our bottles at breakfast & felt like we’d got one over on them🙄)
Wednesday evening was a repeat of Tuesday although there was a lonely looking American lady in the bar this time that we struck up a conversation with. Eventually a bartender turned up so we could have a drink before dinner. We walked over to the table we’d sat at the night before & Bruna came to take our order. Again dinner was delicious.
On Thursday other people arrived at the hotel!!!! Suddenly there was the buzz of conversation around the pool & in the bar.
Thursday evening we went down for our final evening & walked to the table we’d used for the last two days. As we were sitting down a man I’d never seen before came rushing over & said “I need your room number before I tell you were to sit” I told him our room number & that I would be sitting here. Service was not as efficient as we’d become used to but was still good - & understandable considering the sudden influx of people - the restaurant was probably two thirds full, & again the food was excellent. Unfortunately we had an unpleasant experience when it came to dessert. We had been ordering a couple of tawny ports to drink with dessert over the last two evenings & did so again on Thursday. After quite a wait our dessert arrived but no ports. We waited 5 minutes but still nothing, we stopped a passing staff member & asked him if we could have the tawny ports we’d ordered. He rolled his eyes (yes he really did!) & said “you wait” I said no I won’t wait they were ordered at the same time as the dessert. He stomped off & five minutes later two port & tonics were delivered. We said no we didn’t order those we ordered tawny ports (I love a white port & tonic BTW but at the end of a meal?) The man who’d told us to wait then tried to imply that we’d ordered the wrong thing in Portuguese??? I’m afraid I slightly lost my temper stood up & said “I’ve just about had enough” at which point the fabulous Bruna rushed over with two glasses & a bottle of tawny port. This experience really spoiled our final evening.
We were checking out quite early in the morning for the airport & despite being told by one of the ladies at reception that Uber did not come to the hotel & that a taxi would be €110 we had no problem with our pre booked Uber which arrived on time & cost €70 with tip.
At times this hotel had a feeling of Fawlty Towers about which is such a shame as the location is simply outstanding. We did enjoy our stay but the management here could do so much more to make stays more comfortable & welcoming.

Dear MandyLH,

Thank you for the time spent sending this review about your recent stay with us. We are very pleased to know that you enjoyed Douro Palace Hotel Resort & Spa and hope you choose JASE Hotels & Resorts again in the future.

Sincerely,

Jorge Raínho
Sales | Marketing | Social Media

What a gem of a 4.5 star hotel at such a reasonable price compared to staying at the various vineyard accomodations. This had all the trappings of a 5 star hotel, with great food, sheer luxury and an idyllic setting. Large rooms with balconies overlooking the vineyards and the duoro river.

Dear harrys930,

Thank you for the time spent sending this review about your recent stay with us. We are very pleased to know that you enjoyed Douro Palace Hotel Resort & Spa and hope you choose JASE Hotels & Resorts again in the future.

Sincerely,

Jorge Raínho
Sales | Marketing | Social Media

I’m very happy with my experience at Douro Palace Hotel. The hotel features a very nice spa where you can unwind and relax after a day of exploration. The facilities were clean, and the pool, sauna, and steam room offered a relaxing touch. The spa's ambiance contributed to a peaceful time. The restaurant's decor, inspired by Portuguese themes, complemented the overall atmosphere. The view of Douro River and vineyards from the balcony was breathtaking. If you're into comfort and relaxation with scenic natural views, this is the place to be.

Dear Theportuguesefox,

Thank you for the time spent sending this review about your recent stay with us. We are very pleased to know that you enjoyed Douro Palace Hotel Resort & Spa and hope you choose JASE Hotels & Resorts again in the future.

Sincerely,

Jorge Rainho
Sales | Marketing | Social Media

Just concluded my stay at Douro Palace Hotel. The room offered a stunning nature view of the Douro River, hills, and vineyards. Evenings provided a spectacular display of stars. The rooms were comfortable with all the necessary amenities. The breakfast buffet was modest yet satisfying, featuring a mix of international options and delightful Portuguese pastries. Douro Valley's historic charm adds to the appeal. Recommended for those seeking a relaxing nature retreat.

Dear radicenicolo,

Thank you for the time spent sending this review about your recent stay with us. We are very pleased to know that you enjoyed Douro Palace Hotel Resort & Spa and hope you choose JASE Hotels & Resorts again in the future.

Sincerely,

Jorge Rainho
Sales | Marketing | Social Media