Six Senses Douro Valley, from about 800 euros, suits a spa-led occasion, with ten treatment rooms but nowhere to eat nearby without a car; The Vintage House Hotel, from about 210, suits a first Douro trip by train, with river balconies in every category but the Standard, and no spa.
The spa oneThe place to go when the Douro is the holiday and the spa is the reason, not a day trip from Porto.
€€€€From about €800 a night
Choose Six Senses Douro Valley if
The catch
Rates are the highest in this edit and reviews question value at peak; guests also report a service charge added to the bill.
The classicThe Douro hotel to choose when you want the river at your feet, a balcony to watch it from and no car at all.
€€From about €210 a night
Choose The Vintage House Hotel if
The catch
Rooms are classic and comfortable rather than smart, and a steady thread of feedback mentions tired fittings and air conditioning that struggles in July and August heat.
| Best for | Six Senses Douro Valley | The Vintage House Hotel |
|---|---|---|
| Best design hotels in Porto | On the list | Not on the list |
| Best spa hotels in Porto | On the list | Not on the list |
| Best value hotels in Porto | Not on the list | On the list |
| Best quiet hotels in Porto | On the list | On the list |
| Best hotels with a view in Porto | Not on the list | On the list |
Six Senses Douro ValleyThe Vintage House Hotel
Six Senses Douro Valley
The Vintage House Hotel
The verdict
Six Senses Douro Valley, from about 800 euros, suits a spa-led occasion, with ten treatment rooms but nowhere to eat nearby without a car; The Vintage House Hotel, from about 210, suits a first Douro trip by train, with river balconies in every category but the Standard, and no spa.
Questions people ask
Six Senses Douro Valley, from about 800 euros, suits a spa-led occasion, with ten treatment rooms but nowhere to eat nearby without a car; The Vintage House Hotel, from about 210, suits a first Douro trip by train, with river balconies in every category but the Standard, and no spa.
Go for two or three nights with the spa and the vineyards as the point, ideally in May, June or the September and October harvest. Sleep in a Quinta River room facing the Douro and budget for the transfer. A self-contained wine-country resort where the spa and the kitchen are the holiday and Porto is a day away. It is the biggest spend in this edit and the least connected to the city, and that is exactly what it is for.
It has indoor and outdoor pools. There is no beach; the nearest is a drive away.
For a first Douro stay with the river in front of you and no driving, this is the sensible classic. Take the train, book a balcony you will actually sit on and keep expectations on the fittings realistic. A classic riverfront country house rather than a design hotel: the balcony, the train and the boats are the point, and it costs less than the valley's newer resorts.
It has an outdoor pool. There is no beach; the nearest is a drive away.