Santa Maria Vacations from $845

Two adults, room with a river Douro view, and view of the Dom Louis bridge. Lovely river promenade walk and short stroll to cross over to Gaia wine cellars. We paid E 18 for parking. Breakfast E 15 p/p was basic but necessary considering there are no stores or bakeries nearby. Bed, mattress and linen were comfortable. Good size bathroom and nice shower. Welcome gift of wine and water bottles was a nice touch. Friendly and helpful employees. Cons: room was small, hard to move around (we are average size) without bumping into the furniture; massive chair/armchair at the desk was the main obstacle to moving around comfortably. No toilet brush. Lumpy pillows offered no head/neck support. We stayed in four hotels in Portugal and not one offered hair conditioner, so pack your own.

The whole experience could not have been better. From the warm welcome from the staff and their assistance throughout our stay, to a beautiful room, great restaurant and perfect location. Highly recommended.