Póvoa de Lanhoso Villen

This Pousada is located in an old Monastery. The owners have done a super job of creating a modern up to date hotel out of what was a former Monastery. The conversion from Monastery to Hotel had been tastefully and sympathetically done. This Pousada is a bit remote to get to and in a small town that has two cafe bars. We arrived here on a Sunday when the two local cafe bars were closed leaving us with no alternative but to dine an the Pousada restaurant. The meal was acceptable but a bit expensive for what it was. On arrival it is necessary to check in at Reception which is on the first floor. Ordinarily this would not be a problem but it is a problem when 30 or so guests are trying to check in at the same time with one small lift only available for the guests and their luggage. It took us half an hour to reach our room. Our bedroom was far too small to accommodate two adult guests. There was nowhere to leave a suitcase open which most touring guests living out of a suitcase need to do. Lighting In the bedroom was a waste of space. Impossible to read a book in bed. Our bedroom was badly designed. The bathroom door opens out on to the wardrobe door and bumps into the person using the wardrobe. The rail in the wardrobe is too high to be used with ease. You need to be a Giant to reach the coat hanger hooks. There were no instructions as to how to work the air conditioning. There were no instructions as to how to work the television. In the bathroom there is a notice from the hotel asking guests to save water. The hotel could lead by example and provide a plug for the wash hand basin. The wash hand basin plug was noticeably missing. This is because the wash hand basin did not have an over flow pipe. Within a few seconds the basin would fill with water and cause a flood. Whoever thought of installing a hotel wash hand basin that you could not use properly ought to be reprimanded. This hotel need to take out all the existing plug less wash hand basins and replace them with new wash hand basins with plugs and overflows. The cost should be recovered from the person who designed such stupid plug less wash hand basins. The one good thing about this hotel is the fact that the Toaster at Breakfast did work.

On the base of the structures of a typically Minho farm in Calvos, in Póvoa de Lanhoso, this charming hotel offers air-conditioned rooms with satellite TV. Facilities include an outdoor pool. The rooms at Hotel Rural de Charme Maria da Fonte are decorated with warm colours, wooden furniture, and parquet floors. All rooms have a private bathroom. Maria da Fonte also offers a multi-purpose sports field, a games room, and a tennis court. For total relaxation, guests can make use of the hotel’s wellness facilities, including an indoor pool, a gym, a sauna, and a Turkish bath. The restaurant offers local Portuguese dishes as well as international cuisine, made with organic produce from the hotel’s garden. The typical wine cellar offers fine regional wines. Free parking is available on site. Gerês National Park is 15 km from Hotel Rural de Charme Maria da Fonte, and Braga is 20 km away.