Hotel Sol e Serra

The hotel is conveniently located just a few minutes walk from the Castelo de Vide. The building is dated but everything is very clean and tidy. The room we stayed in was very basic. Few electrical outlets, no cupboards or drawers for our clothes and poor lighting, but the heating worked and the shower was wonderful. The breakfast served was outstanding. This hotel is good value for the money.

There was no bar. There was no restaurant. Open for breakfast only. Pool closed. Wifi in hallway only. Poor signal. No toast/toaster broken I was told. Things that were to be hot for breakfast were cold/lukewarm. Rubber scrambled eggs, slimey mushrooms. Bed very comfortable and nice towels. Sound proofing poor. Could hear someone using the toilet before flushing. Some staff observing breakfast but uncommunicative. Bathroom light took 30 seconds to light up. Up grading required.

Beautiful location in a beautiful town. Sadly we were received badly. We booked a double room and were promptly allocated a twin in a room without a terrace resembling a cell. The indignant and visibly irritated gentleman at reception initially stated he could not help, and was dismissive. His explanation was that other guests had booked more in advance so they take priority, which is insensible given our booking was made perfectly legitimately with payment in advance. Eventually he grudgingly offered a double room, but with an attitude of superiority versus us as inferiors. The room was ok, but started to smell very bad within hours. The pool was lovely, however consistent with the overall condition of the hotel and its receptionists attitude; in need of a refresh, care and attention. We would not go back.

The hotel is perfectly located just literally a few steps from the town. The breakfast was good and plentiful, and the restaurant area was very pretty but why have a lovely restaurant area with a very pretty bar if the bar is never open? In fact there is no way of buying a drink inside the hotel at all so if you're at the pool all day you'd better bring your own! The rooms are very cute with the painted furniture and beautiful tile flooring and are very clean, and the style of the hotel in general is lovely, traditional with nice furniture and pretty touches everywhere, but the hotel is in desperate need of renovation and soundproofing as I don't think it's been touched since the mid 80s! Saying this though the price I paid was pretty cheap so it was good value for money, just a shame seeing such a pretty hotel not quite reaching it's potential.

To old