Estalagem Do Vale

Unfortunately, the stay did not match the expected for a 4-star hotel. Initially we were assigned the room ‘Professor’, where the bed had the screws loose, making it impossible to stay in the same. For this reason, we were later assigned the upper room ‘The Cartilage’. However, this room also presented several maintenance problems: intermittent desk lights, extremely noisy air conditioning, a bathtub tap that didn't close properly, running water all night long, a blackout that didn't completely close, and bathroom ventilation that didn't turn off. There is a worrying situation: the door did not allow proper locking inside and also had difficulty opening/closing, which is especially problematic for a person with reduced mobility, evidencing lack of maintenance and lubrication. In general, these are basic maintenance flaws that are unacceptable in view of the prices practiced and the hotel category. Still, it is fair to highlight the sympathy and availability of the staff, which has always been impeccable despite dealing with these situations that seem recurring.

We stayed at this hotel with our children in two different rooms, and the experience fell significantly below what is expected from a 4-star property. Neither room had a kettle, meaning no access to basic in-room tea or coffee — a standard amenity in hotels of this category. More concerning was the presence of visible mold in both rooms. Our eldest daughter experienced an allergic reaction as a direct result. Although the hotel relocated us after a few nights, the replacement rooms also had mold on the walls and ceilings. This indicates a systemic issue rather than an isolated incident, and raises serious concerns about hygiene and health standards. Guests are provided with a single 1.5L bottle of water upon arrival, with no daily replenishment. This level of service does not align with what most would reasonably expect from a 4-star hotel. Breakfast selection was minimal and lacked variety — no fish options at all, and only one type of ham/meat and cheese. Dinner was equally underwhelming, offering just two choices, neither of which stood out in quality or taste. The pool area is enclosed in glass, limiting the overall experience, and the water temperature was approximately 18°C — too cold for comfortable use. The setup also makes it difficult to enjoy sunlight or relax properly, even in good weather. Overall, while the hotel is marketed as a 4-star property, the actual experience is much closer to a 3-star standard at best. Based on our stay, there are clear gaps in maintenance, service, and overall guest experience that need to be addressed.

Our room in the "old building" was very small and dark (old black decor). Our double bed was very narrow and the blanket was one (1) large linen with a covenant blanket over it. Electrical outlets are in short supply due to the old building (take extension cables with distributor). We had no balcony and especially no possibility to hang and dry the damp hiking clothes anywhere. At the end we looked at the rooms of the other group participants, all of them were bigger and brighter (not with one, but with 2 large windows) although they were allocated as single rooms. -> Conclusion: a gross error in the room allocation!!! The food was fine with us, the breakfast very good. Unfortunately there is dinner and also the "a la carte" and small things like toast, etc. only with advance notice at breakfast. The swimming pool is unheated but covered, the Jacuzzi and sauna have not been commissioned - even on request. The bartender Arnold was an important, great employee who could level things with his friendliness and ponca competence.