Pousada da Ria - Charming Hotel

Very beautiful hotel beside the lake. Accessible to nature forest and park. Good breakfast and dinner with very good service. Room is big and new.

We had a Superior Room with view and balcony onto the the Ria de Aveiro lagoon. Whilst the room was generously sized and offering comfortable accommodation the decorative condition was poor and in need of maintenance. This was particularly acute in the bathroom with bare plaster and pealing paint showing through. This was pointed out to hotel management who explained that they were aware and that maintenance was planned at the property in the off-season. We found bar prices very high - much cheaper to go down the road to one of the local beach-side bars. Ditto the restaurant - good, but expensive. The breakfast buffet was very good with a good selection of fresh food provided. Perhaps more of the local Portuguese produces, such as cheese and meats could be provided? Overall we enjoyed our stay.

The Pestana Group has normally a very high standard and excellent hotels. They have an historic background and are managed well. The RIA is not. It urgently needs better management and an investment in the hotel. The restaurant is bad and far below Pestana Group level in cooking and service. The team is friendly but on amateur level. They need training. The hotel has potential. The Team wants to deliver and achieve good results. Pestana Group should invest in upgrading it - if not it damages the brand level of the Group.