Grande Hotel das Caldas da Felgueira — Hotel in Nelas

Quite a disappointing experience. Partially renovated hotel, on low season, with a good value for money price for 2 suites, 2 nights. Should work as a kind of base camp for some touring around Serra da Estrela. Unfortunately, all amenities were close and/or without staff. No spa, no pool, no bar. Even at reception we had to ring to call someone. Employees were friendly. But no problem solving approach was really made. As an example, the entire hotel’s TVs system just went off for the entire weekend and only on Monday should a tecnician be available to repare it. We’ll never know if it actually worked out well. SPA were close and no information was given - this is a SPA hotel, it’s pointless to stay there without the SPA. We were told that they use this period for some repairs on all facilities (hotel and spa) which makes sense, but the services must continue or perhaps it’s better for them to close for the season… there was only a hand full of reservations, which tells a lot. Breakfast looked nice on pictures fore was actually poor and with a low follow up (cold coffee, unbaked pancakes, “funny eggs”…). Fine room renovation, but also a lot of defects on an Ikea based furniture… All That said, I guess the worst was to be sure it’s a good hotel but lack of management and attention to details, truly tags it to a place to be avoid. Sadly, because the place and surroundings...

This place has been (partly) rennovated after a long sleeping beauty. I am not convinced if the (low cost) realization (at least of our very small standard room will last as long as the age of the building is? It was very tight in bathroom and equipment is more for privat use than for hotel business. Shower so small you can't move. ||Rennovations are done in cheap way: adding a wooden wall behind is housekeeping, overpainting the orginal wooden walls white... I can see it, some people might not care||Queen beds okay for 1 person but for 2? Noise from cobbled road nearby and workers starting 7 am with their works.||Breakfast typical Portuguese limited choices and bit chaotic on Sunday morning.||Pool was great - parking available, Wifi high speed ||As 90% of guests are Portuguese receptionist might not speak any other language. ||There is one good restaurant in town (next to hotel one) and Ze Pataco in village ca. 15min drive main road.||Remember the place in IN the valley next to river! - good value stil for 80-90€/double with breakfast...

High score on:||- range of services (mini-golf, tennis, big pool with a jump ramp, enjoyable lounge, bikes and nice walking path to Mondego river, spa, etc.)||- events (local choir with traditional music, jazz evening, tango festival in August, etc.)||- excellent food (diversified, healthy and good value for money)||- thermal spa (we recommend the Vichy felys - thermal shower with simultaneously a massage)||- sympathy (we were received by Mr. Adriano who was courteous and very pleasant the whole stay)||- location (close to touristic villages)||||Room to improvement:||- some young staff needs to be trained on the hotel features||- access to the Mondego river could be better signalized ||- Continuous modernization of the more ancient rooms||||Nevertheless, in our opinion this could be a 4...