Vila Nova de Paiva Holidays from NZ$725

Location

Genuinely recommend for Porto. Better peace of mind

Excellent breakfast, restricted dinner. Hotel facilities very good and staff very helpful

This is one of the best hotels we've ever stayed in. The location is a reasonable distance from the busy city of Porto over the river, while still being very accessible on the Gaia side, near the port wine cellars. We booked a studio room overlooking the Douro River with a stunning balcony view of the Luís I Bridge that we had to see to believe. Some days we took a short walk along the river to the lower cable car station to take in amazing views on the ride to the top. The upper station is next the top level of the bridge, so we enjoyed the beautiful high walk across into the south of the city. We sometimes ordered a ride because everything is drivable within a few minutes and this skips the demanding hill climbs. The hotel atmosphere is upscale without being pretentious. Immaculately clean, with an industrial modern styling and tasteful furniture throughout. We found our room to have some natural sounds of the river, while still being quiet at night. There is a minor road outside but the double balcony doors keep any noise out. The amenities are impeccable. We used the spa, the gym, and ate at the restaurant which is fantastic for dinner. Breakfast is very good. Snacks and drinks in the room are reasonably priced if you want more than the generous complimentary items. All the staff are so attentive at every point - wine suggestions with dinner, knowledgeable therapists in the spa, friendly housekeepers. We loved coming back to our room to thoughtful daily gifts and snacks.