[GONE] Convento do Espinheiro, Evora, Portugal, left SPG 15 Feb 2018 [Master Thread]
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2003
Location: ATL/MUC/SAF/SRQ
Posts: 448
[GONE] Convento do Espinheiro, Evora, Portugal, left SPG 15 Feb 2018 [Master Thread]
Does anyone have an update on this new property?
On the website there are only pictures of the outside of the building, none of the grounds or rooms. The website is only accepting reservations from July 21, so I guess I would be one of their guinea pigs.
I am thinking of going there in the middle of August, but I would hate to get there and the pool not be open, no restaurant, etc....
I will be calling them though.
BTW, I stayed at the Sheraton Porto in May and LOVED it!!!
On the website there are only pictures of the outside of the building, none of the grounds or rooms. The website is only accepting reservations from July 21, so I guess I would be one of their guinea pigs.
I am thinking of going there in the middle of August, but I would hate to get there and the pool not be open, no restaurant, etc....
I will be calling them though.
BTW, I stayed at the Sheraton Porto in May and LOVED it!!!
#2
Join Date: Jul 2001
Posts: 352
Anyone?
Has anyone been there yet? We are thinking about visiting this winter holiday...
#3
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Central CT
Programs: UA MM/1K, SPG Lifetime Plat, Marriott Plat, Hyatt Diamond, HH Gold, Natl Exec Elite
Posts: 1,490
Bumping this thread, have any FT'ers stayed at this property, or in Evora? Thinking about using the 50POR award for 5 or 6 nights at this property.. Is there enough to do within daily driving distance to make this worthwhile?
#4
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Bay Area, CA
Posts: 731
Worth seeing the town
but I wouldn't have wanted 5 or 6 nights here... Just an opinion. It's very historic with a great walled area, but we were on a trip from Madrid, Segovia, Salamanca, etc... and needed to keep pace in order to see all we wanted in Southern Spain, Portugal, Algarve, etc... Depends on what you like and what you want to see.
#5
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Naples, Florida
Posts: 7,419
Check here:
http://www.viamichelin.com/viamichel...MaHomePage.htm
BTW, the drive from Lisbon is easy, a relatively new and empty highway (A6/E90)
#6
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club, Marriott Bonvoy
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Englandshire
Programs: SPG LT Plat, BA G, BD*LG, MG Blue+ ...
Posts: 16,014
Stayed in August last year.
Delightful hotel, a few km outside the Evora town walls, well worth staying for a couple of nights but there's not much else to sightsee in the area so I personally would not have wanted to stay any longer.
And alo bear in mind the temp in August will be around 35-40C.
Delightful hotel, a few km outside the Evora town walls, well worth staying for a couple of nights but there's not much else to sightsee in the area so I personally would not have wanted to stay any longer.
And alo bear in mind the temp in August will be around 35-40C.
#7
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: Rio de Janeiro, BRAZIL
Programs: AA 4MM EXP; Starwood Lifetime Plt
Posts: 2,498
There is a lot to do and see in Évora, provided you're interested in Portuguese history, architecture, etc. There is also the Fialho Restaurant, considered the best in Portugal by some people.
#8
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: Marriott Life-Plat, Hyatt ex-Diamond, Hilton ex-Diamond, UA ex-1K, Avis ex-Chairman
Posts: 235
Stayed there earlier this month for 1 night as part of a road trip around the country. They gave me a HUGE suite with 2 balconies and I was obviously impressed. Extremely courteous staff. I was offered a local liquor at check-in.
Interestingly, they also have the automated/assisted/electric toilet seats that I have not seen outside of Japan. I don't know whether that is available in all rooms though.
I really like this property. If Evora is not enough, then you can use this hotel as a base for the exploration around that part of the country.
Agreed on Fialho. It is a very nice restaurant. Highly recommended.
Interestingly, they also have the automated/assisted/electric toilet seats that I have not seen outside of Japan. I don't know whether that is available in all rooms though.
I really like this property. If Evora is not enough, then you can use this hotel as a base for the exploration around that part of the country.
Agreed on Fialho. It is a very nice restaurant. Highly recommended.
#9
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Stockholm, Sweden
Programs: SK*G, PC Plat Amb, Hertz #1 Gold
Posts: 1,874
Stayed there earlier this month for 1 night as part of a road trip around the country. They gave me a HUGE suite with 2 balconies and I was obviously impressed. Extremely courteous staff. I was offered a local liquor at check-in.
Interestingly, they also have the automated/assisted/electric toilet seats that I have not seen outside of Japan. I don't know whether that is available in all rooms though.
I really like this property. If Evora is not enough, then you can use this hotel as a base for the exploration around that part of the country.
Agreed on Fialho. It is a very nice restaurant. Highly recommended.
Interestingly, they also have the automated/assisted/electric toilet seats that I have not seen outside of Japan. I don't know whether that is available in all rooms though.
I really like this property. If Evora is not enough, then you can use this hotel as a base for the exploration around that part of the country.
Agreed on Fialho. It is a very nice restaurant. Highly recommended.
I agree: Highly recommended!
You could easily stay 3-4 days and enjoy Evora and the wine country surrounding the city but a week seems pretty long.
#10
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Santa Rosa, Ca
Programs: AA Platinum, Marriott Platinum, Hilton Gold, Radisson Gold, Hyatt Globalist, IHG Platinum
Posts: 132
This is a great hotel!
We just stayed here for 4 days last week. What a wonderful hotel. We intended to stay 2 days and ended up staying 4 days. The staff were wonderful and our room was incredible. We were in the Heritage building - my husband saw the rooms in the new part and definitely said the Heritage building was the place to be.
If you go to Evora, an absolute must is to try Quarta Feria. It was a little taverna in town - no menu, maybe 6 tables, you eat what they give you. We went twice. The first day we drove, but the wine was so good, and they give you a wonderful Vinho Licoroso afterwards, so the second time we took the hotel shuttle. It was 45 Euros for two of us, and one of the best meals of a 3 month European trip.
If you go to Evora, an absolute must is to try Quarta Feria. It was a little taverna in town - no menu, maybe 6 tables, you eat what they give you. We went twice. The first day we drove, but the wine was so good, and they give you a wonderful Vinho Licoroso afterwards, so the second time we took the hotel shuttle. It was 45 Euros for two of us, and one of the best meals of a 3 month European trip.
#11
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: South Korea
Posts: 1,167
Any recent stays?
Thinking about a trip here (all the way from the Far East Asia!) during Oct to burn my 5 nights of resort stay... so want to be absolutely sure it is worth the trip halfway across the globe!
Thx in advance! ^
Thinking about a trip here (all the way from the Far East Asia!) during Oct to burn my 5 nights of resort stay... so want to be absolutely sure it is worth the trip halfway across the globe!
Thx in advance! ^
#12
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: Rio de Janeiro, BRAZIL
Programs: AA 4MM EXP; Starwood Lifetime Plt
Posts: 2,498
There are two well-known restaurants in town: Fialho, for some people the best in Portugal, features a huge selection of tapas-like dishes spread out on the table as starters. Then there is the Taverna da Quarta-feira, on the Rua do Inverno (Wednesday Tavern on Winter Street). They offer a fixed price all-you-can-eat system, including even wine and drinks, that features regional cuisine. Both of these restaurants are very popular with Portuguese and foreign tourists alike, so you may have problems with reservations.
If it is all worth a trip half-way around the globe, I am not so sure. If you have time to visit other places in the region, it certainly would be worthwhile. After all, Lisbon and Coimbra are not so far away.
#13
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: South Korea
Posts: 1,167
Obrigado ajnaro. Very helpful.
Yes I am indeed thinking of staying in Lisboa for a day or two before going to Evora, then returning back to Lisboa for another day or two before going back.
Will be sure to check the restaurants you spoke of (if we do end up going)!
#14
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: Rio de Janeiro, BRAZIL
Programs: AA 4MM EXP; Starwood Lifetime Plt
Posts: 2,498
I neglected to mention the most impressive site of all: the Cromeleque dos Almendres, a neolithic monument from around the 6th century BC. You may need a car to get around, although the hotel does offer free rides to and from town in its Bentley.
#15
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: South Korea
Posts: 1,167
Thanks again. I'm 90% sold to this property already. I could use a bit of tranquility and taht seems to be what this resort is all about.