Praia do Canal Nature Retreat - Small Luxury Hotels of the World

Prachtig hotel met alles erop en eraan in een idyllisch kader, in het midden van de natuur. De kamers zijn ruim en zeer verzorgd. Het eten is zeer lekker en het ontbijt is op en top verzorgd. Het personeel is bijzonder attent en behulpzaam. EEn droomplaats om te onthaasten. Wij komen zeker terug!

This part of Portugal is very rural, and I know this is one of only a few hotels in the region. It definitely doesn't feel like a 5 star resort but l also know that service in rural parts of Portugal is difficult due to staffing. That being said, the beds are very uncomfortable (way too hard), the pool is very cold (even in July), the staff is not well trained, and the entire place needs a facelift. HOUSEKEEPING; I assume the hotel is understaffed bc we had to ask for housekeeping. We were out of our rooms 7-8 hours a day between 9-4p yet returned to rooms without housekeeping. Housekeeping arrived within an hour of being asked. There isn’t turndown service. A housekeeper knocks around 6p to ask if more towels are needed. FOOD: The breakfast spread is nice and there are many items available on the a la carte menu. Dining staff is pleasant but untrained as mentioned in other reviews. We had one dinner at the hotel which was delicious but again, untrained wait staff. SPA: We tried to book massages on the first day of our 3 night stay and the spa was supposedly completely booked. I assume that was due to staffing issues and not due to the number of available massage rooms. If you want a massage or any spa treatment during your stay, book before you arrive. Note that the ocean is far (not walking distance) from the hotel. It can be very windy and chilly at night and in the mornings so pack layers.

The Praia is wonderful, it was our second visit and we look forward to coming again. The rooms are incredibly well equipped and the staff are very polite and attentive. The only drawbacks are the restaurant which is good but not five star, and the approach roads which are a little like a rally. However, it is well worth the effort just for breakfast!

Modern sleek hotel in a nature park with great walking and views of the Atlantic in the far distance. Very private and great place to relax. We did not use spa or gym. A few concerns: Road in is rough in places. Lots of small things needed work - doors not sliding closed properly, hot water not there, random alarms. Biggest disappointment was the so-called gourmet dining room with over-priced skimpy meals. Breakfast were excellent though.

Everything was great! The only thing I’d wish for is that breakfast would start a bit earlier than 8am, but that’s not a biggie. My husband and I loved it there and we will be back for sure!

We stayed a week at the hotel. The staff were very friendly, and the room and other facilities and breakfast buffet were brilliant. What could improve a longer stay (like ours) is more food options for the evening (more casual dining options too), clearer roles for staff serving in the restaurant (some confusion there), and a heated outside spa pool. Other than that - really great!