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Forrester Essence Douro Hotel

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Forrester Essence Douro Hotel

locationVila Real, Porto and North of Portugal

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About Forrester Essence Douro HotelAbout Forrester Essence Douro Hotel

Location

This hotel complex is situated in the centuries-old village of Alijo at the heart of the Douro wine-growing region. Lying amidst the famous ‘quintas’, small estates where port wine vines are grown in terraced fields, the hotel is ideal for those wishing to discover how one of the world’s most famous wines is produced. It is some 4 km to the village centre.

Facility

The hotel has 21 double rooms, which are located on 3 storeys and are reachable by lift. English- and French-speaking staff at the reception desk in the lobby are ready to assist you with check-in and check-out. Services such as a baggage storage service, a safe and a currency exchange service ensure a comfortable stay. Wireless internet access in public areas allows guests to stay connected. The tour desk offers assistance with booking excursions. The hotel has a range of facilities for guests with disabilities. The hotel has wheelchair-accessible facilities. A fireplace creates a cosy atmosphere. There are a number of shops as well. The grounds of the hotel feature a playground and a lovely garden. Additional amenities include a TV room and a playroom. Guests arriving by car can park their vehicles in the garage (no extra charge) or in the car park. Further services and facilities include room service, a laundry service, a coin-operated laundry and a hotel shuttle bus. Complimentary newspapers are available. A fax machine is available for guests' business needs.

Rooms

Air conditioning and central heating ensure that rooms maintain comfortable temperatures. Rooms have a double bed or a king-size bed. Extra beds can be requested. A minibar and a desk are also available. Guests will also find a mini fridge included among the standard features. An ironing set is provided for guests' convenience. There is a direct dial telephone, a television with satellite/cable channels, a radio and WiFi (no extra charge) in the rooms. A hairdryer and bathrobes are provided in the bathrooms, which include a shower and a bathtub. As a special feature, bathrooms are also stocked with cosmetic products and background music. Wheelchair-friendly rooms with wheelchair-accessible bathrooms are also available. The hotel has family rooms and non-smoking rooms.

Sport

Guests can enjoy a refreshing swim in the outdoor pool area. A short break or an entire afternoon on the sun terrace, which features sun loungers and parasols, is time well spent. The pool bar serves a selection of refreshing drinks. For guests who wish to keep active, cycling/mountain biking and tennis are available. Water sports offered include sailing, and canoeing is available for a fee. Sport and leisure facilities at the hotel include a gym, badminton and billiards. Parents can unwind while the kids can participate in an entertainment programme full of fun activities.

Meals

Dining facilities include a café and a bar. A number of specialities await guests in the air-conditioned, non-smoking restaurant. Catering options include bed and breakfast, half board and full board. In addition to breakfast, the hotel also offers lunch and dinner à la carte. Diet meals, gluten-free meals, vegetarian dishes and children's meals can be prepared on request. The hotel also offers special catering options.

Payment

The hotel accepts the following credit cards: American Express, VISA, Diners Club and MasterCard.

Amenities at Forrester Essence Douro Hotel Amenities at Forrester Essence Douro Hotel

  • Facilities

    • -

      24-hour reception

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      Air conditioning

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      Bar(s)

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      Café

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      Car Park

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      Conference Room

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      Currency Exchange

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      Disability-friendly

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      Foyer

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      Games room

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      Hotel Safe

    • -

      Laundry Facilities

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      Laundry Service

    • -

      Lifts

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      Playground

    • -

      Restaurant(s)

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      Restaurant(s) with non-smoking area

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      Room Service

    • -

      Shops

    • -

      TV Room

    • -

      Wifi

  • Hygiene

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      Contactless payment

    • -

      Hand sanitiser

    • -

      Protective masks for guests

    • -

      Social distancing regulations

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      Use of commercially available disinfectants

  • Meals

    • -

      à la carte Dinner

    • -

      à la carte Lunch

    • -

      Full Board

    • -

      Half Board

    • -

      Special Diet

    • -

      Special Offers

  • Sport/Entertainment

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      Badminton

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      Billiards/Snooker

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      Canoe

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      Children's Entertainment

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      Cycling/Mountain Biking

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      Gym

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      Outdoor Pool(s)

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      Parasols

    • -

      Sailing

    • -

      Sun loungers

    • -

      Sun terrace

    • -

      Tennis

LocationLocation

Map preview

Around this property:

Tourist Centre

100 m

Shopping opportunities

100 m

Public Transport

100 m

Bus Station

100 m

City Centre

100 m

Forest

3 km

User Rating & ReviewsUser Rating & Reviews

  • Valuerating
  • Roomsrating
  • Cleanlinessrating
  • Servicerating

Excellent

81

Very Good

66

Average

45

Poor

11

Terrible

2

Recent Reviews: 205

  • User:PennyJazzy

    Trip type: Couples

    Convenient central town hotel

    rating12 Oct 2025

    Check in was quick and efficient. we were only staying on a bed and breakfast booking. However we were offered the use of the hotel restaurant for evening meal, if we required it.The rooms were very spacious but tired. There was tea, coffee making facilities and bottled water available free as well as toiletries. The hotel swimming pool looked very clean and inviting.The buffet breakfast was excellent with plenty of choices for continental and cooked.Our pre-arranged packed lunch was also very good

  • User:Tourist44226457241

    Trip type: Couples

    Fawkty Towers

    rating06 Oct 2025

    The hotel interior was tired and dated. The rooms were clean but the bathroom was shabby. The coffee machine did not work and neither did the heating.The worst part was the service at dinner. We were booked in at 8.15 but on arrival (although two tables were free) we were asked to wait in the bar for 5 minutes. We waited 45 minutes before we were invited to our table. During this time we were not offered anything to drink. We sat at our table for 35 minutes without a menu or offer of drink before a tray of olives, cheeses, bread etc arrived. Our complimentary glasses of wine were eventually brought to our table by the maitre D. Every drink ordered by the customers had to be brought from the bar 30 metres away by the maitre D. The meal was mediocre with melon and prosciutto to start, a rice and prawn dish ( which was very tasty) and a piece of cheese cake which appeared to be heated in a microwave. The buffet style breakfast was really good. The receptionist doubled as one of 3 waitresses. Many people including a Portuguese couple, who were celebrating their 30th wedding anniversary and were declined a glass of champagne, thought the service was very unprofessional. I have complained to Douro cruises who organised the night’s accommodation.

  • User:AliceSpringsIreland

    Trip type: Couples

    Good choice. Would recommend.

    rating25 Sept 2025

    Loved this hotel. Peaceful & quiet and spotlessly clean. Staff extremely helpful and fluent in English speaking. Bathroom is outdated but fully functional. Breakfast, evening meal and service very good. Outdoor swimming pool with beds and free parking on site.

  • User:Alison M

    Trip type: Couples

    Surprise concert!

    rating18 Jul 2025

    We were quite happy here - nice rooms although rather dated bathrooms good restaurant, pleasant personnel. But, in the afternoon, we heard some musical warming up and that evening, there was a very loud public concert which lasted well after midnight. It was impossible to sleep, even with windows closed and ear plugs in. What a pity! And the same thing seems to be happening tonight. We chose this hotel for it's promised quiet. I'm afraid we won't come back.

  • User:AgedMan

    Trip type: Couples

    Adequate and confortable.

    rating04 May 2025

    Firstly, this hotel is no longer owned by the Pousada (Portuguese Government) and is now operated by a private company. I am told the same staff remain under the new ownership. We stayed two nights at this hotel. First impressions are the interior is a little dated in places. That said, it did have the best [powerful] showers of or 10 night stay in Northern Portugal. The staff are friendly and helpful but the hotel does "close down" at midnight each evening and there is no front desk staff or any staff as I could determine in the property so if this is a concern for some travellers, be aware. I would say the hotel is a comfortable place to stay in a town with few options. The breakfast was again adequate but I found that to be the case in all the hotels we stayed in as opposed to in Spain where the breakfasts are sumptious especially in the Pardores. My comments about the restaurant are seperate.

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