When we visit the Serra da Estrela, it is in this guesthouse that we stay, because it is well located and has an excellent quality/price ratio in its services.
The first thing we noticed when we arrived was that the reception and meal area (including breakfast) is in a different building than the rooms, which are in a building opposite the reception entrance. Apparently this is the new building and that's where we stayed. The check-in was done without problems and with a lot of sympathy and so we went on a cold night to the warm little room
The room with 2 single beds (but we put together, because we are a couple) is very simple and has only the essential for those who come to visit the surroundings. There are no chairs or desk, but the closet is quite large and spacious. The furniture is summed up to 2 beds and 2 desk tables and a TV mounted on the wall
The bathroom has a decent size and was just really missing a bench or other furniture, or support shelf, because the truth is that it becomes difficult to find where to dump the bathroom utensils (but we have found a way there). The shower has a window with dim glass to the outside, which brings plenty of light and gives a refined air to the bathroom, no doubt. This shower, however, did not have a small shelf to put the little shampoo / bath gel that they left us, so I had to bend to the floor to grab these bottles.
Ah, one more note regarding the bathroom: they do not have a hair dryer present in the room, but this can be ordered at the reception even before taking to the room which, I remember, is in another building and therefore is not very practical in the winter, so I took my own dryer. There was enough toilet paper for 2 people and 3 towels; 2 bath and one for hands. It would be great to have spare towels (even for those who have long hair and want to dry it), but unfortunately we only found spare blankets in the closet.
From the room we have access to the outdoor terrace which has a beautiful and rustic views to the small village of Peneda and to the Serra in general. We liked to go out to this terrace in the morning, despite the cold of 2 to 5 degrees of height.
The most relevant part about the room is that it has central heating that can be regulated and a small heater also in the bathroom, so me and my partner, despite very cold, we spent warm and comfortable nights in the cold winter that surrounded us out there.
The guesthouse has matraquilhos abroad and features a number of activities related to snow and hiking, but we have not taken part in any of them, yet. The common rooms are quite rotating and comfortable, with TV and dining tables which, I suppose with the proper permission, can be used to work on a laptop. The meals cost 13€ per person, but you have to make a reservation on the same day, so they can prepare the meal according to the number of people who are interested.
We haven't (still) tried lunch or dinner, but breakfast (included in the room price) has little variety and is able to be the less positive point of the experience. Just had enough and no cakes; croissants, fiambre, cheese, bread, milk, orange juice and various kinds of coffee. There were people here saying that it's rationed and that you could only take one croissant per person, but the truth is that me and my boyfriend took more than that and we had no problems. Despite the little variety, everything was great and we never went out there in the morning for walks in the Serra hungry.
In conclusion; excellent place for those who do not want to spend much and have more interest in visiting the Serra (in cold or hot weather) than staying in the hotel. Until we see this is where we will stay on a next visit.
