Forte de São Francisco Hotel Chaves — Hotel in Chaves

All looks but little substance. That is to say the location, the setting, the pool and the building conversion are incredible to see. The rooms, the breakfast, and general maintenance are sadly lacking. The rooms (we were in a double premium in the converted building) have changed little in 30 years, with hardly any updates (despite a supposed extensive renovation 6 years ago), for example our room still had light brown stucco walls, a design touch from the 80’s. The shower was just a hose off the bath taps, which needed cleaning. The furniture is Ikea style flat pack, and falling apart. The bed was particularly hard, which I can deal with, but might be a problem for many. The hairdryer is a 1 star hotel type, that overheats in 30 seconds. The cold tap runs hot because of plumbing layouts. The carpets in public places desperately need a proper clean… outside our room the carpets smelt of sick, the stains were clearly visible. The breakfast is only okay, but the machine coffee is the worst I’ve tasted in 40 years, that’s after the first press came out mixed with chocolate too! As for the orange juice, that’s just slightly flavoured water, not even an orange colour, appalling. During my stay the pastries were undercooked one day. Orange segments were dry & curling as they’d clearly been out at least two days running. For many of the upstairs rooms in the converted building, they look out over the delapidated roof of the restaurant, which has noisy air-con running until 10pm, then again from 6am. It provides a loud background hum for the pool area too. The Wi-Fi coverage is good, it has no password to restrict it to just guests that have been given the password, and it is throttled to 20Mbps maximum. Anyone with the right app & tools, guest or malicious actor, can see every device on the network and its IP address & MAC ID, and everything that is done on that device. So you must use a VPN at all times, without fail, to protect you & your device, or preferably don’t use the Wi-Fi at all, favouring phone shared 5G signal. The hotel is majorly resting on its cache of being a converted fort, but only being run day to day like a 2 star hotel that is struggling to balance the books. It will but only get gradually worse. I have also stayed at the competitor hotel in town, the Castelo de Chaves, which as a hotel, is leagues better in almost every way. It depends entirely what you want...

Forte de São Francisco Hotel Review - Chaves, Portugal

Returning to Forte de São Francisco Hotel in Chaves, Portugal, for a second visit only reaffirmed why this historic gem is a favorite. Housed within a beautifully preserved 17th-century fort, the hotel offers a unique blend of history, comfort, and exceptional hospitality.

Complementary Breakfast: 5/5

The complimentary breakfast at Forte de São Francisco Hotel is superb. Each morning, guests are treated to a wide variety of fresh and delicious options, from pastries and breads to cheeses, meats, and fruits. The quality and variety of the breakfast spread ensure that there’s something for every palate, setting a perfect tone for the day.

Amenities: 5/5

One of the highlights of the hotel is its fantastic pool. Set within the historic walls, the pool area offers a relaxing oasis with comfortable loungers and a tranquil ambiance, making it a perfect spot to unwind and enjoy the beautiful surroundings.

Service and Check-In: 5/5

The check-in process is smooth and efficient, with friendly staff who are always ready to assist with any needs or questions. The team’s professionalism and warmth contribute significantly to the overall positive experience, making guests feel welcome and valued from the moment they arrive.

Location and Setting: 5/5

The hotel's location is ideal, situated within the historic Forte de São Francisco. The building itself is a fascinating piece of history, and the grounds include a beautiful chapel, adding to the charm and uniqueness of the setting. The central location also makes it easy to explore the many attractions of Chaves, from its Roman bridge to its vibrant local markets.

Overall, Forte de São Francisco Hotel offers a remarkable stay, combining the allure of historic architecture with modern comforts and top-notch service. Whether you are visiting for the first time or returning for another memorable experience, this hotel is a standout choice in...

Estuvimos un fin de Semana muy agradable. Las habitaciones son amplias y confortables, reservamos 3 habitaciones: una estándar, Superior y Junior Suite.||La estándar y la superior estaban en el edificio donde está situada la recepción, es como un anexo del convento y la Junior Suite estaba en la parte noble, lo que es el convento y se podía acceder al otro edificio a través de un túnel subterráneo. La estándar se podría decir que es la más sencilla, pero grande y acogedora y la superior está un poco mejor y la Junior Suite es perfecta, al entrar tienes un buen armario para la ropa con almohadas, mantas, zapatillas y albornoz, de frente ves el salón un pequeño habitáculo con un sofá, mesa escritorio, tv y vistas al jardín y al edificio de recepción. Hay como un arco abierto y accedes al dormitorio con una cama grande con dos mesillas y un banco de pie de cama tapizado muy útil y enfrente un mueble para guardar prendas ropa y un apartado con el minibar y la cafetera con capsulas y aguas de cortesía, también dispone de un ventanal con las mismas vistas que en el salón. Desde la habitación hay un pequeño pasillo con un espejo de cuerpo y con una asiento de madera también muy útil y en el lateral esta la puerta del baño, super amplio con amenities y una bañera, la habitación dispone de aire acondicionado. Los desayunos están bien, bastante variedad, el café pésimo, anexo al comedor se encuentra una especie de terraza alargada con asientos y mesa para tomar algo y descansar con la paz que ofrece hotel, se divisa las murallas del mismo, las garitas y la piscina que está muy bien con sus correspondientes tumbonas y sombrillas, rodeada de palmeras. Los jardines son amplios y hay otra zona que están las pistas de tenis y de futbol sala al descubierto, las vistas desde el Jardín depende en la zona que estés, pero se divisa la ciudad, las montañas y castillo. También dispone de sala de juegos y centro de fitness. Cerca de la piscina había una bajada por unas escaleras y accedías a una zona que parecía un Spa, pero no estoy seguro de que lo tuviese porque estaba la puerta cerrada. Los edificios son grandes y la parte del convento tiene una capilla que albergo la tumba de D.Alfonso, primer duque de Braganza, el claustro del ex convento franciscano. Está rodeado de muralla con cañones, al ser una fortificación, el acceso principal se realiza a través del lado sur, a través de un puente levadizo sobre el foso, ahora esta tapado, pero hay varios accesos todos a través de túneles hasta el cuadrado de armas. Nosotros entramos con el coche hasta el mismo edificio, pues dispone de buen parking, incluso sino quieres meterlo dentro de la fortificación dispones de otro parking en el exterior de las murallas, todo gratuito. La ciudad está bien para pasar un fin de semana, suficiente para ver todo, muy recomendable la zona del río Támega con merendero y ver el antiguo puente romano, recomiendo ver el ocaso, había unos colores preciosos con las montañas de fondo. Si vas alojarte recomiendo totalmente este hotel, el mejor de la localidad y además es una de las visitas que no puedes perder por la historia y belleza que tiene. El personal muy...