Six Senses Douro Valley

The resort is located in a breathtaking location in the Douro Valley. It looks as breathtaking as in the marketing pictures. A lovely staff and gorgeous surroundings. The food is amazing and the breakfast buffet is out of this world. The pool area was gorgeous. The only issue we noticed the slipperiness of the stairs going in and out of the pool. Several guests fell and it could have turned out badly. The room (416) had a gorgeous view down the valley, but the furnishings were just ok. Considering the price tag, one would have expected nicer furniture and a better room layout. It was quite poorly designed. The bathroom shower had mold in it. The robes were tiny and didn't even fit me (5 foot 6; 126 pounds). Not trying to be a stickler, but considering the heft price tag, it wasn't at the level we expected. The Alchemy class was fantastic and the staff in general was super helpful and knowledgeable.

Our stay was truly elevated by the incredible dedication and warmth of Simão Freitas. From the moment we met him, he made us feel completely at home — always greeting us with genuine kindness and a smile. It’s rare to find someone who combines skill, passion, and such a personal touch — but Simão does exactly that. Thanks to him, our experience was not only enjoyable, but truly memorable. Highly recommend seeking out any activity he leads — you won’t regret it!

My husband and I booked a trip here and were so excited. We had great communication with the concierge and had dinner reservations and messages set up at the hotel. However, we had a medical emergency that would not allow us to travel so I emailed them 8 hours after the "cancellation period" asking for a medical exception. I provided a medical letter. Then the hotel did not respond to my emails. When I was trying to book more things on property and spend more money they responded immediately, but when I had an issue they refused to respond. I ended up getting in contact with them through a third party and with the medical letter they still refused to refund my $5300 trip (8 hours outside the cancellation policy). As a business owner myself this is such poor customer service and is somewhat heartless.

What a beautiful hotel! Everything was nearly perfect! The rooms are lovely (although our river view room didn’t really have a view of the river because of the trees). We did have a terrace however which was lovely in the morning with the sun (shaded in the late afternoon) If you want a proper river view I think the rooms on the higher floors without a terrace might be a better option. The bed was one of the most comfortable we’ve ever slept in with down pillows ….. The food overall was excellent and the breakfast was amazing with so much choice. The service was occasionally a little sporadic with items being forgotten. A beautiful pool area with a lovely bar and restaurant (again slightly sporadic service) and the staff were lovely. A great 4 day stay…..

This is probably one of the best property to stay in Portugal so our expectations were high for the price charged per night. Views and location were amazing. View from the room was amazing. Food and especially the breakfast was the best we have had in a long time, for the main reason that everything is pretty much farm to table and you do taste the difference. The spa was also worth the experience So why one star less, the room: We had hoped for a better more exclusive room experience in line with the four seasons and the ritz Carlton reserve hotels but that did not happen. Overall, a good experience and we will not forget the food at this place.