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Forrester Essence Douro Hotel

4.0 star property
Pousada in Alijó with free breakfast and seasonal outdoor pool

Choose dates to view prices

At Palacete Barão de Forrester, guests enjoy breakfast before heading to the poolside bar for drinks. O Barão restaurant serves regional specialties for lunch and dinner. This upscale pousada offers a tennis court, coffee shop, and free WiFi for a complete mountain retreat.

Reviews

8.8 out of 10
Excellent

Popular amenities

  • Bar
  • Pet-friendly
  • 24/7 front desk
  • Room service
  • Breakfast included

Room options

Available filters for rooms
Showing 5 of 5 rooms

View all photos for Classic Double or Twin Room

Classic Double or Twin Room

Classic Double or Twin Room

Highlights

Air conditioning
LCD TV
Hairdryer
Bidet
Espresso maker
Free bottled water
Cable channels
Wardrobe
  • 32 sq m
  • City view
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Queen Bed OR 2 Twin Beds

View all photos for Deluxe Double or Twin Room

Deluxe Double or Twin Room

Deluxe Double or Twin Room

Highlights

Air conditioning
Free cots/infant beds
LCD TV
Hairdryer
Bidet
Espresso maker
Free bottled water
Cable channels
  • 32 sq m
  • City view
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 King Bed OR 2 Twin Beds

View all photos for Superior Double or Twin Room

Superior Double or Twin Room

Superior Double or Twin Room

Highlights

Air conditioning
Free cots/infant beds
LCD TV
Hairdryer
Bidet
Espresso maker
Free bottled water
Cable channels
  • 35 sq m
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 King Bed OR 2 Twin Beds

View all photos for Premium Double or Twin Room

Premium Double or Twin Room

Premium Double or Twin Room

Highlights

Air conditioning
Free cots/infant beds
LCD TV
Hairdryer
Bidet
Espresso maker
Free bottled water
Cable channels
  • 35 sq m
  • Sleeps 3
  • 2 Twin Beds OR 1 Double Bed

View all photos for Junior Studio Suite

Junior Studio Suite

Junior Studio Suite

Highlights

Air conditioning
Free cots/infant beds
LCD TV
Hairdryer
Bidet
Espresso maker
Free bottled water
Cable channels
  • 32 sq m
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 King Bed
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About the area

Map
Rua Comendador José Rufino, Alijó, Vila Real, 5070-031

What's nearby

  • Jardim da Avenida Doutor Francisco Sa Carneiro - 2 min walk - 0.2 km
  • Jardim Publico Doutor Matos Cordeiro - 2 min walk - 0.2 km
  • Igreja Matriz de Alijo - 2 min walk - 0.2 km
  • Adega de Favaios - 6 min drive - 4.7 km
  • Quinta da Roêda Winery - 26 min drive - 19.2 km

Getting around

  • Tua Station - 25 min drive
  • Vila Real (VRL) - 30 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Quinta Da Avessada - ‬6 min drive
  • ‪Calça Curta - ‬15 min drive
  • ‪Quinta do Portal - ‬19 min drive
  • ‪Maria da Glória - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Restaurante Típico - ‬17 min drive

About this property

Forrester Essence Douro Hotel

Upscale pousada in the city centre
At Forrester Essence Douro Hotel, you can look forward to a free breakfast buffet, a poolside bar and a terrace. The on-site Regional cuisine restaurant, O Barão, offers breakfast, lunch and dinner. In addition to a coffee shop/cafe and a garden, guests can connect to free in-room WiFi.
Other perks include:
  • A seasonal outdoor pool, along with sunloungers and pool umbrellas
  • Free self-parking
  • An outdoor tennis court, luggage storage and a banquet hall
  • A front desk safe, tour/ticket information and smoke-free property
Room features
All guest rooms at Forrester Essence Douro Hotel offer thoughtful touches, such as laptop-friendly workspaces and air conditioning, in addition to amenities, such as free WiFi and espresso makers.
Other conveniences in all rooms include:
  • Bathrooms with baths and bidets
  • 43-inch LCD TVs with cable channels
  • Wardrobes/cupboards, daily housekeeping and desks

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Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
  • Available in some public areas: Free WiFi

Parking and transport

  • Free self parking on site
  • Wheelchair-accessible parking available

Food and drink

  • Free buffet breakfast available daily 7:30 AM to 10:30 AM
  • A bar/lounge
  • A coffee shop/cafe
  • A poolside bar
  • A restaurant

Restaurants on site

  • O Barão

Things to do

  • Outdoor pool
  • Outdoor tennis court

Family friendly

  • Laundry facilities
  • Outdoor pool

Conveniences

  • 24-hour front desk
  • Free newspapers in lobby
  • Laundry facilities
  • Luggage storage
  • Safe at front desk

Guest services

  • Dry cleaning/laundry service
  • Housekeeping (daily)
  • Multilingual staff
  • Tour and ticket assistance

Business services

  • Meeting rooms

Outdoors

  • Garden
  • In the mountains
  • Outdoor furniture
  • Pool loungers
  • Pool umbrellas
  • Terrace

Accessibility

  • If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
  • Bathroom emergency pull cord
  • Grab bar near toilet
  • Hardwood flooring in room
  • Lift
  • Wheelchair accessibility
  • Wheelchair-accessible parking
  • Wheelchair-accessible path of travel

More

  • 1 building
  • 3 floors
  • Banquet hall
  • Communal living room
  • Fireplace in lobby
  • Smoke-free property

Room amenities

Bedroom

  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • Bathtub
  • Bidet
  • Free toiletries
  • Hair dryer
  • Shampoo
  • Soap
  • Toilet paper
  • Towels provided

Entertainment

  • 43-inch LCD TV with cable channels

Food and drink

  • Espresso maker
  • Free bottled water
  • Limited room service

More

  • Air conditioning
  • Desk
  • Laptop workspace

Policies

Check-in

Check-in start time: 3:00 PM; check-in end time: anytime
Minimum check-in age - 18

Check-out

Check-out before noon

Special check-in instructions

Front desk staff will greet guests on arrival at the property

Access methods

Staffed front desk

Pets

Pets are allowed for an extra charge of EUR 25 per pet, per day
Service animals are welcome, and are exempt from fees
2 total pets

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome
Rollaway/extra beds are available for EUR 20.0 per day.

Payment types

Important information

Optional extras

  • Pet fee: EUR 25 per pet, per day
  • Service animals are exempt from fees
  • Rollaway bed fee: EUR 20.0 per day

The above list may not be comprehensive. Fees and deposits may not include tax and are subject to change.

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
This property accepts credit cards; cash is not accepted
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios and terraces, which may not be suitable for children; if you have any concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm that they can accommodate you in a suitable room

We should mention

The seasonal pool will be open from 01 May to 31 October

Property is also known as

Pousada Barão Forrester
Pousada Barão Forrester Alijo
Pousada Barão Forrester Hotel
Pousada Barão Forrester Hotel Alijo
Pousada Barão de Forrester
Palacete Barão de Forrester.
Forester Essence Douro Hotel
Forrester Essence Douro Alijo
Forrester Essence Douro Hotel Alijó
Forrester Essence Douro Hotel Pousada (Portugal)
Forrester Essence Douro Hotel Pousada (Portugal) Alijó

Frequently asked questions

Does Forrester Essence Douro Hotel have a pool?

Yes, this property has an outdoor pool.

Is Forrester Essence Douro Hotel pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows pets (limit 2 total). There's a fee of EUR 25 per pet, per day. Service animals are exempt from fees.

How much is parking at Forrester Essence Douro Hotel?

Self-parking is free at this property.

What time is check-in at Forrester Essence Douro Hotel?

Check-in start time: 3:00 PM; check-in end time: anytime.

What time is check-out at Forrester Essence Douro Hotel?

Checkout is at noon.

Where is Forrester Essence Douro Hotel located?

Located in the heart of Alijó, this pousada is steps away from Igreja Matriz de Alijo, Jardim da Avenida Doutor Francisco Sa Carneiro and Jardim Publico Doutor Matos Cordeiro. Bread and Wine Museum and Adega de Favaios are also within 3 miles (5 km).

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Reviews

Forrester Essence Douro Hotel Reviews

8.8

Excellent

9.4

Cleanliness

7.8

Location

9.4

Staff & service

9.0

Eco-friendliness

8.2

Property conditions & facilities
Rating 10 - Excellent. 29 out of 55 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 20 out of 55 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 5 out of 55 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 55 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 1 out of 55 reviews

Reviews

8/10 Good

Karen

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Too cold to use pool but wonderful to walk the grounds and around town. Staff are so helpful and kind. Especially a shout out to David who treated us very well.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2022

8/10 Good

Liz

Room clean but would benefit from a bathroom update. Commented on noise because election rally went on till late across road from hotel both nights of our stay. Realise we were just unlucky to have this. Staff friendly and also knowledgeable about Port and where to buy it cheaply. Would love to come back overall.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Friendly, helpful staff. Comfortable, spacious room with windows on two sides. Good breakfast. Nice area outside for eating al fresco in the evening. Centrally located.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025

6/10 Okay

Thomas

Disliked: Cleanliness, room comfort

Not impressed with our stay.

We arrived at the hotel and found that the room did not correspond to the pictures on the website. Renovation work was in process. The room was very dusty. The floor is scratched and the furniture has seen better days. Te bathroom is old style and needs renovation. The air-conditioning did not work. The sleeping with open window was not a good choice as the room was giving on a busy street. Wi-Fi is patchy. After making a complaint, we were not able to change the room, as apparently the hotel was fully booked. The ray of sunshine of our stay was the good evening meal and the breakfast that is served in a nice ambience. Free parking is available at the hotel grounds. Let´s hope that after renovation the hotel gets back to a decent standard as advertised.
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2025

6/10 Okay

Estelle

Liked: Cleanliness
Disliked: Amenities, property conditions & facilities
Le personnel donne un service impeccable par contre l’hôtel est désuet et ne répond pas aux attentes vs le site.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025

6/10 Okay

Ton

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities
Good service. Not working airco. Bathroom was a bit outdated.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

dennis

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The staff was extremely friendly and very helpful. Dinner was delicious every night!
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Marcia

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Very personal, friendly and helpful staff! The room was even larger than anticipated and very lovely views//////11
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Eugene

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Loved the hotel
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2024

8/10 Good

Vittorio

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
The Host David was so Kind and ready to solve all problems and request. The Restaurant a plus.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2024

8/10 Good

Isabelle

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, room comfort

Tres belle expérience. Merci.

2 nuits dans cet hôtel élégant et calme. Grande chambre avec vue sur la piscine. Literie un peu ferme. Salle de bains grande et fonctionnelle mais meritetait d'être rénovée. Restaurant très bien lors des 2 diners à la carte : mets savoureux, bien présentés, service impeccable.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Andrea

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Beautiful estate home converted into a hotel. Had a lovely overnight stay. Their restaurant is fabulous. Room was very comfortable. Since we were here in the Fall, the hotel was very quiet. Only a few guests. Service was excellent.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Julia

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Beautiful, beautiful hotel with stunning views and excellent restaurant.
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2023

10/10 Excellent

donald

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
David at checking was very helpful & spoke good English. Explained a bit of the history of the area from Roman times. Great bar / restaurant in the hotel.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2022

10/10 Excellent

SUSAN

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Very relaxed and welcoming atmosphere right in the heart of this small town. Attentive service, very good restaurant
Stayed 4 nights in May 2022

8/10 Good

Rainer

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
Armaturen in der Dusche – Badewanne müssten erneuert werden. Sehr schöne Lage und gutes Restaurant
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2022

8/10 Good

HUMBERTO

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

A repetir.

Excelente. Serviço profissional, simpático e disponivel. Boas condições de higiene, quer no quarto, quer nas zonas comuns.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

Sophie

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Magnifique endroit calme, personnel très à l’écoute et très agréable, cuisine raffinée d’excellente qualité: bravo à la cheffe et à son équipe.
La terrasse qui donne sur la piscine
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2021

6/10 Okay

Sue

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
No heat in our room. Got moved to a new room, but not very good there, either. Manager was very helpful with tourism info. Breakfast okay, not great.
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2020

8/10 Good

Barbara

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Lovely Historic Hotel

Large rooms with comfortable beds. Lovely grounds and gathering spaces. Our one dinner there was excellent. Complimentary breakfast very good. Beautiful drive to hotel with amazing views.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2019

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Close by Centro walked to a very nice local restaurant. Staff were very friendly.
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2019

10/10 Excellent

Claude

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Soirée très agréable aussi bien le logis que la table !
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2019

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The rural setting was relaxing and refreshing. The staff went above and beyond to provide quality service. The restaurant was excellent
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2019

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
We had a pleasant stay in lovely location. The hotel was very good but the garden, swimming pool and grounds need a lot of work done.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2019

10/10 Excellent

Luis

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Apenas um fim-de-semana mas valeu a pena

Muito bom, bastante sossegado e com um staff 5 estrelas À higiene nada a apontar O restaurante fabuloso e os vinhos disponíveis do melhor
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2019