mccarder

Hi all,
I am looking for a good place to spend 2 nights (Jun 10-12) in the Duoro Valley as part of a larger trip to Portugal and Spain/Barcelona. We will likely have a rental car. We will be spending the previous 2 nights in Porto and then flying out of Porto late on Jun 12 (8:45 pm) to Barcelona. We are a family of 3 (parents and 13 yr old). Looking for a place that has rural character, probably a pool, and/or other activities a 13 yr might like (need to balance the wine tasting with some kid stuff). I've seen a number of places that advertise communal portugese dinners which sounds nice. Would like to keep it around $150 per night or less if possible and also trying to avoid sofabeds.

These are 4 places I've identified so far. Any comments on location or other? The prices quoted below are from Booking.com and are total for 2 nights.

*Quinta das Lamas e Salgueirinhos $208 (2 – triple rooms left); no view of the river, but still looks beautiful; small pool, includes breakfast, location? - Resende and Caldas de Aregos, the nearest towns, are a 15-minute drive from the farm.
*Casa do Moleiro- 2 bedrm villa $236 (1 available) , river view, pool, wi-fi, meals avail – I think; Locatio? Cinfães, which is by the River Douro, well inside the country and about an hours drive to Porto. 1.25 hr to Pinhao.
*Quinta Das Quintas – Family apartment $361 includes brkfast, pool, a/c, no internet, farm animals, meals upon request. 1.25 to porto; 1.5 hr to Pinhao. Location? expensive
*Casal De Tralhariz – Studio apartment ($208 sofabed) & 2 bedroom ($361); great reviews; pool; dinners on site; brkfast included, a/c, wifi. I think a better location?

Thanks in advance for any help!

Robert2533

Not familiar with any of the ones you've noted, so it would be hard to recommend one over the other.

What I am familiar with are:
Hotel Rural Quinta del Pégo (http://quintadopego.com/Hotel-23245.htm), but it's not available on your dates.
Quinta de la Rosa (www.quintadelarosa.com)
Quinta do Vallado (http://www.wonderfulland.com/vallado/)
Quinto Nova N. S. doCarmo (http://www.quintanova.com)

mccarder

Thanks for your reply. I've sent emails to Quinta de la Rosa, and Quinta do Vallado to inquire if either of them can accommodate us.
How about this one?
Casa Relogio de Sol - $304 for 2 nights–maybe extra 50 euros for extra person?; includes brkfast; wi-fi;pool;a/c;10-minute drive to Peso da Régua with its restaurants and bars. Free bikes.

Robert2533

The Casa Relogio de Sol looks fine and its location is okay, but it do not own their own vineyards as do the others I listed, which to me makes a difference. The Quinta do Vallado is one of the oldest in the region, dealing mostly with wine and port buyers, but opened up an excellent hotel two years ago.

mccarder

Have not heard back from Vallado yet. Quinta de la Rosa is a possibility, but above my budget. Did a little more searching and came across these 3 as well. Any thoughts on them?
*Quinta De Guimaraes
*Quinta Da Timpeira
*Quinta de Santo António

Robert2533

Quinta De Guimaraes is a little more basic, but should make for a good weekend getaway, a little over an hour's drive from Porto. It's on the north side of the Douro, in the Vinhos Verdes wine region, about a 30-minute dive downriver from Régua.

Quinta Da Timpeira is a little nicer property, but it's located south of Régua, beyond Lamego. No views of the Douro River Valley.

Quinta de Santo António is the best of the three. It's location is better, overlooking the Douro from the south side. It's only a few minutes down the road from Quinta del Pégo, our favorite stop in the Douro, and about a 10-minute drive from Pinhão. It does have a small pool.

mccarder

I appreciate all your responses, Robert. I am really struggling with this decision. I am leaning toward Quinta De Guimaraes mostly because of the activities they have (large pool, volleyball, ping-pong) and the space offered (2 bedroom)considering that we will have our 13 yr old daughter with us who will be "suffering through" the winery tours and wine tasting during parts of our visit to the area. [also just realized I mis-spelled Douro in my subject line-oops). However there are hardly any reviews on-line that I can find which makes me nervous. Price is ~$260.

However, Qunta de Santo Antonio does look really nice and the location seems so much better and it gets fabulous reviews. I think we will be squished with an extra bed since many comment on the small rooms. Price is $304. Limited activities also.

Quinta Da Timpeira also is still on my list since it has the activities also, the space (2 bedrm), and good reviews, but alas, no view and still 40 mins from Pinhao. Price $332.

Qunita de la Rosa is also still on my list with great views & location, space (2 level suite), but pricier at $414 and no activities on site except for the pool.

I cannot find an email for Casa Relogio de Sol to get any additional information so am striking them for now.

Oh, another question...do you think A/C should be a consideration (June 10-12)?

Thank you for any additional comments you may have.
Any one else???

Robert2533

Yes, AC will be needed in June. It can be very warm.

lreynold1

Maybe this is more basic than what you're looking for, but I very much liked the Casa de Canilhas, the views are great, it's a 20 minute walk to a little town (Mesao Frio) with a decent restaurant and its location is very good for touring the area IMO.

There's a pool, the family is very attentive and helpful, and the rooms all have balconies or terraces that look over the river.

Sberg

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