Hotel Relais & Chateaux a Santar

We stayed here for our wedding night, and while parts of the property are well thought out, the overall experience didn’t meet expectations for the price and rating. Positives first: the hotel is beautiful and tastefully designed. The spa is a highlight—well kept and run by a warm, professional attendant. The saltwater pool is nicely maintained and a thoughtful touch. However, service overall lacked consistency and polish. A number of small missteps throughout our stay accumulated into an experience that didn’t meet 5-star standards. At the pool—during a heatwave—we couldn't get service for nearly 2 hours. No one was staffing the bar, though it was stocked and locked with a tick chain—odd, especially since there’s an honesty bar inside. I tried calling reception, bar, room service—no one picked up. It felt like I was filling in for missing staff. Eventually someone came and we could finally order drinks. At breakfast, I had a frustrating exchange. I asked for sliced bread or a knife to slice the rolls, and the server replied defensively, saying I should slice the bread at my table and return to toast it—but I only had a butter knife… Breakfast overall didn’t meet expectations. Ingredients were good, but offerings were limited. One morning, there were no eggs at all on the buffet. Hot items were available on request (for sustainability), but with just one staff member, service was slow and inaccurate. Waiting 15 min for coffee or wrong egg orders isn’t aligned with luxury standards. By contrast, breakfast at Solar de Vilar Seco—where we stayed just before—was luxurious and abundant, with premium cheeses, international options, and stunning variety. Chef Gilbert deserves praise. Our room was fine by 5-star basics but felt small and underwhelming for the price and the setting (a former royal manor). Again comparing with Solar de Vilar Seco: rooms there were bigger, airier, and restored with original 18th-century details, creating a far more luxurious feel. There were also some odd quirks. Guests have to ring a bell and explain themselves multiple times—even to re-enter from the garden or spa. I get the intent is security, but the execution felt intrusive and didn’t match the relaxed vibe expected in a place like this. The service tone, while not rude, felt more guarded than warm. Staff rarely smiled, and basic interactions—from front desk to breakfast to housekeeping—lacked the ease and attentiveness that define luxury hospitality. Service should anticipate needs, not react to them—and here it often felt reactive and flat. Finally, a personal note: we mentioned this was our wedding night on our booking, a detail many hotels mark with a small gesture. I’ve had handwritten notes, a treat, a spa perk, even upgrades—all of which make a guest feel seen. In this case, nothing. I mentioned it again at check-in—it was brushed off. This isn’t about freebies; it’s about feeling that the hotel values your special moment. That was completely missing.