Carmo's Boutique Hotel - Small Luxury Hotels of the World

Have you ever pulled into a hotel and the second you get there- you feel like you should run away as fast as you can? Well- this is that kind of place. Book here at your own risk- I should have read the trip advisor reviews before booking and wasting money and time and aggravation 1- the reception was beyond un welcoming- we were not treated nice at check in and we appeared to be the only guests at the hotel 2-the hotel and grounds looked nothing like the photos advertised- 3- the room stunk and whatever industrial strength chemicals used to clean the room caused an immediate reaction to a skin breakout 4- the dining room was in the same lobby as check in and in everything smelled bad- like a bad roadside inn from 1964 in the poconos with the same depressing musty oder all around we ran out of the place within 5 minutes of arrival as it was run down/ smelled bad// was noisy and next to a main roadway and the staff was beyond rude at check in - it was a scary place that was no way close to what was promised on the false advertising website we booked for 2 nights- asked for a refund on one night and were laughed at - they told us go ahead and post a bad social media review- we dont care and that summed it up- they don't care stay here at your own risk- you have been warned!

I just wish I had read more reviews before booking this place, since everything the negative reviews describe is exactly right, especially in relation to the manager / owner’s attitude, poor value for money and general lack of quality in all the services provided. This is NOT a 5 star hotel. We encountered several problems including a faulty elevator, shower and AC, an ant invasion, extremely poor selection of foods for breakfast (on the second day the only cake served was the leftover of the previous day cake) - but the worst was the management lack of professionalism when politely confronted with these issues. She simply dismissed them and even lied when answering our google review saying the ant invasion was due to our child’s diapers (!) - not only we obviously didn’t have dirty diapers in our luggage, but also anyone with kids probably knows that ants are not attracted to dirty diapers! We were celebrating a special date which was ruined by this terrible experience.

We stayed at this quirky and luxurious hotel for 3 days while in the Minho region. This boutique hotel is high end with eccentric decor and top notch service. The hotel is centrally located, and the perfect location to explore the area. We dined in one night. Meal was traditional Portuguese and absolutely delicious. They make the dinner especially for you, and it did not disappoint. Morning breakfast was yummy with lots of hot and cold choices. Exploring the grounds was fun, especially visiting some of the owner’s personal collections. During the warmer season, the pool looks relaxing. The bed in our room was one of the most comfortable I have ever slept in. Made me not want to get out of it!!! Room was comfortable and had everything we needed. The staff at the hotel were so wonderful and offered to tend to whatever need we may have had. If you’re in the area, you want to stay here. It is a truly unique gem, and you’ll feel like a welcome and distinguished guest. I cannot recommend enough!

Stylish mid century modern architecture. Glass, concrete and interesting geometry. Decorated with flair. Extremely welcoming and attentive staff. Surprisingly excellent meals delighted our large group of sophisticated travelers. Excellent choice if you are visiting the region. I find the “small luxury hotels” brand to be consistently on target and Carmos was no exception - first rate boutique country hotel.

It is a very unique hotel. The staff are wonderful, friendly, and very eager to please. They go out of their way to make your stay enjoyable and the accommodations are quite comfortable. I had a very nice massage, however it did not match the description advertised of what it was supposed to be.

Spent three nights here in early July, and we will certainly be back! This resort is located in a beautiful area of Portugal, and the property is comfortable, fascinating, intriguing, and ever-surprising. Nice pool, surrounded by beds with pillows! Food is amazing, served in a beautiful dining area. The breakfasts are remarkable, and we had one evening meal that was memorable (I had the lamb, and the dessert selections were exceptional). Make sure you take all footpaths on the property, so you don't miss any of the quirky decorations such as the Christmas-themed casitas and the miniature horse. Yep, a mini! Make time to visit the lovely town of Ponte de Lima. When we return, we'll book our nights in one of the "tents," because it looks like fun!

I had a wonderful stay at this authentic 5-star hotel. The homemade food the wine tastings, spa treatments, and guided tours to nearby locations such as Geres, Douro Valley, and Guimaraes were exceptional. I truly felt like I was on a nature retreat with privileged access to the best of northern Portugal. The proximity to Porto, the beach, and other stunning places made it even more enjoyable, as everything was just a few kilometers away. The friendly and welcoming staff made me feel right at home. The atmosphere was relaxed and professional, creating a warm and inviting environment. It was a truly delightful experience, and I highly recommend this hotel to anyone seeking a tranquil and authentic getaway in the midst of nature.

Relaxed atmosphere with spotless rooms and delicious dinners. We stayed a week and really made ourselves at home. The staff is wonderful. Take a "tent room" overlooking the pool, with an outdoor terrace. I agree with another reviewer who said it was hard to describe this place. I think that's part of its charm.

At SLH your expectations are high, you are looking forward to it. Carmo's boutique hotel has not lived up to anything. This 'bunker' (literally a pile of concrete blocks stacked on top of each other) is enormously dated. The whole hotel is full of curiosities and 'art'. That could be nice, but really everything is yellowed and dusty. Even the dried flowers have seen better days. The concept probably was a lot of fun once. The hotel building itself has a number of rooms, which we did not see from the inside, and a number of Glamping tents outside, including a free-standing bath and beautiful views. Beautiful seats and daybeds have been created everywhere. We had booked such a tent for three days. The first thing we noticed when entering the tent was the pungent smell that hung there, which we initially hoped was a cleaning smell and that it would disappear, unfortunately this was not the case. The shower, toilet and sink were sort of trashy claustrophobic cubicles. The floor throughout the tent was skewed. The master bed had seen better days, and the bunk bed our son slept in moved anxiously with every move he made. Collapse is imminent. Everything in the tent was based on two people, while there were three of us. The directions in our accommodation were in dirty sticky plastic u-files, not renewed in years. There were notes with penalty clauses throughout the hotel: €150 if you lose the key to the safe. If you 'steal' the umbrella €20. Even by the pool was a note with warnings. The lady at the reception holds a powerful position, which has little to do with hospitality. You definitely don't feel welcome. The tour she gives is brief and anything but complete. We tried to unravel the puzzle of our electricity network ourselves, but we couldn't figure it out, we couldn't turn on the lights, among other things. In the end we were helped, don't ask how. We decided to make the most of it, but it didn't feel like a luxury vacation. After one crappy night, the hotel is on a very busy N-road, we decided to leave. They might be able to have done something about the pungent air, but all the other issues would not be easy to resolve. My husband tried to get in touch with the hotel manager, the lady at the front desk promised we would be called by the manager the same day. We have messaged every day to this day but still have not received a call. There is no dialogue.