Quinta de Santa Maria

Where to begin. We booked this place through hotel.com on the basis of reading some positive reviews of this place. I can only think the management has changed since then. First off the pictures do not do justice to how run down the place is. I get it's hard to keep grass green and plants alive through a Portuguese summer, so I'll let how run down the place looks slide. My biggest issue is that it is clearly not a 4* hotel. Grounds asides, the rooms are no where near the standard expected. The bathroom was small and rundown. It had not been cleaned properly and there were dead insects littering the place. When I attempted to use the shower in the evening only scalding hot water was coming out. The management team resolved the issue - by kicking someone out of the swimming pool (which was freezing cold and littered with dead insects) as there's something to do with the supply of cold water. The kitchenette is cramped and the extractor fan did not work. There were no bowl's provided as which left my kids rating cereal from a mug (although to be fair they didn't mind!) Several plug sockets in the room did not work. And the crowning glory was a curtain pole that was half pole half unsecure iron rebar - which I found out as it struck me when I was closing the curtains and it fell off and struck me on the hand. There is a mezzanine floor which the single beds reside under the staircase of. There has been no attempt to make the beams holding the stairs up safe. Other reviews talk of a warm reception with warm bread and wine. We were not granted the same reception. We were simply told that breakfast was not included in our price - with no further details being offered. Again not 4* service. On a plus not the bed and bedding was reasonable. We were supposed to stay for two nights, but there is not a chance im staying for a second. Kindly they have issued a refund for the second night.

This inn is located only about 20 minutes north of the airport but it is a world away. It is a very pretty property with nice rooms. However, two things keep this from getting an unabashed recommendation. WIFI was very bad, although they claimed it was because of the worldwide hacking attack. There are also about 10 dogs and at least that many cats on the property and some of them run around the public indoor spaces unabated. While they seem friendly enough, they do scare some of the people. Also, one couple we stayed there with thinks they got fleas there, which would not be beyond the realm of possibility, although we did not get them. The furnishings are pretty but in one of the three rooms we had, they smelled quite musty. If you really like animals, I would stay there in a minute. If not, I might look elsewhere.

Small room with any views, iogurts already expired (for more than 1 month!) on the breakfast, swimming pool water was very cold for summer. The hotel does not justify its high prices. For us, it was a disappointment!