Six Senses Douro Valley

Our stay was truly elevated by the incredible dedication and warmth of Simão Freitas. From the moment we met him, he made us feel completely at home — always greeting us with genuine kindness and a smile. It’s rare to find someone who combines skill, passion, and such a personal touch — but Simão does exactly that. Thanks to him, our experience was not only enjoyable, but truly memorable. Highly recommend seeking out any activity he leads — you won’t regret it!

My husband and I booked a trip here and were so excited. We had great communication with the concierge and had dinner reservations and messages set up at the hotel. However, we had a medical emergency that would not allow us to travel so I emailed them 8 hours after the "cancellation period" asking for a medical exception. I provided a medical letter. Then the hotel did not respond to my emails. When I was trying to book more things on property and spend more money they responded immediately, but when I had an issue they refused to respond. I ended up getting in contact with them through a third party and with the medical letter they still refused to refund my $5300 trip (8 hours outside the cancellation policy). As a business owner myself this is such poor customer service and is somewhat heartless.

Love the resort. Had dinner at the resort. Dad was that there was a spider in our wine. Sommelier if you can call him that said it was sediment. I have had wine all over the world and sediment does not have eight legs. Avoid this wine if the. “Somm” recommends it.

This is probably one of the best property to stay in Portugal so our expectations were high for the price charged per night. Views and location were amazing. View from the room was amazing. Food and especially the breakfast was the best we have had in a long time, for the main reason that everything is pretty much farm to table and you do taste the difference. The spa was also worth the experience So why one star less, the room: We had hoped for a better more exclusive room experience in line with the four seasons and the ritz Carlton reserve hotels but that did not happen. Overall, a good experience and we will not forget the food at this place.

We visited during the Christmas holidays and wished we had one more day at the Six Senses. It's a fantastic hotel with excellent service. Our suite was very nice, the treatments were great, the gym was good for a hotel, etc. Highly recommend.

There was a time when the Douro Valley offered something truly rare: authenticity. It was a land of soulful vineyards, river-bound stories, and warm hospitality — accessible not just to elite tourists, but to Portuguese families like mine, who’ve sailed these waters for decades and called this valley a second home. I remember my first stay at Six Senses: a refined experience at €300–€400 a night, which, though high-end, felt justified. The service was exceptional, the setting magical, and the sense of place — intact. Those days, it seems, have long since sailed downriver. Now? Try north of €2,000 per night. For a hotel room. In Portugal. Yes, the amenities are excellent. Yes, the grounds are beautiful. But no, they are not two-thousand-euros-a-night beautiful. Not even close. What we’re witnessing is a sad transformation: the Douro being polished into a version of itself that caters exclusively to global wealth, while quietly — or not so quietly — pushing away the very people and culture that gave it soul. You’ll still find authentic quintas throughout the region: family-run, deeply rooted, and delightfully unpolished — offering wine, food, and true Portuguese warmth at a fraction of the price. But places like Six Senses are leading a different charge, slowly but surely converting the Douro into a new “Tuscany”, where ultra-luxury replaces local charm, and Portugal becomes a postcard for others to enjoy — while the locals are priced out of their own story. As the saying goes, “Price is what you pay. Value is what you get.” And at €2,000 a night, the value here feels more like a carefully curated illusion than anything genuinely Portuguese. I left with one certainty: next time, I’ll choose heart over hype — and stay where the Douro still speaks its native tongue.