Hi, mjanensch,
On this website, www.maisturismo.pt I found another pensao in Marvao of the same category as the Dom Dinis, it's called the Pensao Residencial O Poejo. Here's the link:
http://www.maisturismo.pt/1/1343.html

But I don't know anything about it, unfortunately. It says it's 5 km from the castle, so it must be outside of town a bit.

Castelo de Vide, another town with a castle, is 11 km away and the website lists several options: http://www.maisturismo.pt/cgi-bin/phgquery.pl

I'll look through my files and let you know if I come up with anything else. LR

Try also
www.a-opoejo.com

The website looks nice. Don't know anything about it.

Good luck. Prices are very good.

Looks nice. If you have a car, staying in Marvao or Santo Antonio das Areias doesn't make a difference (it's 5 minutes driving). Try to visit Ammaia, the roman city. These places (Marvao, Sto Antonio das Areias and Ammaia are very close to each other).
BTH poejo is an herb very used in the region in food preparation.
Sher, I wrote some notes for you in "things to do..."

Sorry to go on about the pousadas, but for 385 Euros you get four nights, which you split any way you like between different pousadas - excellent value for money ....

Marvao is on my agenda also thanks to all of you. It will be in February so we have our choice between Dinis and Albergaria El-Rei Dom Manuel. Any preferences?

pjoneslake.
We are staying at the Dinis this month so I will be happy to let you know.

I know the Pousadas are a good deal with the Passport program, but we normally do not spend over $100 a night on lodging. Just a personal preference.

Hi, pjoneslake,

I stayed at the Albergaria el Rei Dom Manuel in Dec. 2004. We had three rooms, one was a huge triple (where 7 of us were able to play cards around a table), the other two were doubles. You'll see from their website that it is a very old building (it is within the old city walls, right next to them in fact), but the rooms have all been completely modernized. Good bathrooms, ample size for room and bath(no postage stamp Paris rooms here), comfortable restaurant for breakfast.

We ate dinner here because the restaurant we were looking for was closed (perhaps because of Christmas holidays), and I wouldn't say the dinner was out of this world, but it was fine. In retrospect, I kind of wish we had gone to the pousada for dinner, though their food is not always worthy of a WOW, it is consistently high quality. But we had a perfectly nice dinner, and the staff cleaned up around us without making us feel like we had overstayed our welcome (though we were the last to leave by a longshot).

So, now all we need is Sher's review of the Dinis and you can compare. LR

Great I think I could hold off for a bit before reserving

So i splurged and booked a room at the pousada in Marvao! i saw some of the other options you guys listed but none were on top of the mountain. i really wanted to be on the top since that's what so many of you are raving about. Thanks again for all your help and advice. Everything is settled now so don't tell me another thing! ;-)

I'm still not sure if we'll make the wine and cheese party. My partner is afraid your all cult members and we're you're unsuspecting prey. ;-) I guess that's what a life in NYC will do to you. I promise i'll officially rsvp soon. thanks again for the invite.

mjanensch-
I'm pretty sure I'm not a cult member. I've talked to Judi, and I think she's not, and a lot of people here can vouch for LoboMau. Hope to see you in Lisbon. Have a great trip.

Leslie

I don't vouch for myself wolves are night predators

mjanensch. Good for you! Let us know how the Pousada is.
Our son and my brother (who both live in NYC) were convinced the first time I met with some of the posters here that I would be chopped into little pieces.

But I wasn't and I am still meeting people. It is great fun.

Anyway. Have a wonderful trip!

mjanensch, my husband was a little leary about meeting people from an on-line forum as well, but he's gotten used to the idea now. People have just been so friendly and helpful. After all, it's not as if you are going alone to meet someone on a date, which would be an entirely different story.

Hi, mjanensch, I'll bet you're glad to be done with all the itinerary planning, now you can just get ready to enjoy the fruits of your labor.

One last suggestion on the Marvao pousada. I was on the pousadas www.pousadas.pt website and clicked on special offers (even though it says "special offers on hotels in Lisbon" it brings up special offers on pousadas throughout Portugal). You will see Marvao has a "last minute" rate going right now for 75E for two B&B. It might be worth checking a few days before your arrival to see if they have a similar rate for the night you'll be there and then you can book it and cancel the other one. Just a thought, maybe it's too much of a hassle, but it might save a few euros.

Philip is now convinced you are not cult members or people trying to sell us timeshares. So, we'd love to join the LDC on Oct. 9 if there is still room for us. I've emailed Judi just in case she doesn't check this posting. Thanks again for the invite!

mj- So I don't totally hijack this thread, please check the post on the Lisbon Dining Club thread re details of Oct 9
Leslie

A quick reposte to any cynicism in the recent past...

Look to the latest Lisbon Dining Club post.


;-)

Matt