Pousada in Estremoz
Pousada in Estremoz – Hotel Rainha Santa Isabel
The castle of Estremoz is the result of the restoration of the magnificent Palace that King D. Diniz built for his wife, Queen Santa Isabel.
In the sixties, the castle, became a luxury hotel named after the Queen. The Pousada Estremoz, Rainha Santa Isabel, has the finest decor including museum pieces, several rooms still maintain characteristics of the 18th century.
From the private palace gardens and swimming pool, you have the most superb view over the city of Estremoz and the vast Alentejo plain.
We stayed 3 nights (first week of November) and is was a nice experience to be there. The staff was friendly and the dinners in the great restaurant were good. The pool was closed in this period so we can’t say anything about that facility. Breakfast was oke but not very variated but that perhaps because it was low season with only a few guests at the time.
We stayed at the pousada at the end of June and found the staff, the city and the people of Estremoz to be wonderful. We did not eat dinner at the pousada but walked into town. The market on Saturdays is great…great food, great jams & olives, great culture. The people of this town are so nice we loved it. Of course the wi-fi would be great if it was in each room, but I am guessing it’s hard with the walls to get a connection in each room. Yes, the beds were hard and the breakfast was just OK, but the people and the surroundings make it all worth it!
We actually rearranged our driving trip in order to stay at this much touted pousada and while the common areas are quite grand, we were sadly disappointed in most all other aspects. We completely agree with previous comments regarding a much-needed sprucing up. While helpful & polite, the staff would serve guests better with less formality and more warmth. As with all the other pousadas, breakfast was fine, albeit standard fare, and the overpriced dinner was so so. WHERE, we wondered, was all the great Alentejo cuisine we’d read about?
For the four of us traveling from Canada we found our stay very exciting. The history is so well preserved and the legends well publisized about the uses over the years. I particularly liked the courtyard entry with the spectacular view and stunning statue of Saint Isabella holding her roses. Breakfast was plentiful and relaxed. The room we slept in was comfortable and nicely appointed. If I would change on thing it would be to improve the internet system and include Wi Fi in the price of the room. Using the current system is antiquated. Will recommend. We enjoyed the town of Estremoz and sent time in an outdoor cafe and shopped at the market.
Wir haben herrliche Tage im frühlingshaften April in der Pousada in Estremoz verbracht. Eine gut gelegene und sehr empfehlenswerte Unterkunft, die Historie und Moderne auf’s Beste vereint. Wir kommen gerne wieder.
We spent wonderful days in the spring in April in the Pousada Estremoz. A well-situated and highly recommended accommodation that combines history and modernity’s best. We will come back.
My husband and I and another couple stayed at Estremoz Pousada in September and thoroughly enjoyed our stay. All staff were friendly and helpful. My one complaint was the evening meal. We found it very basic. This was my second visit to this Pousada and I would recommend it.
Quite the grandest of the pousadas we have visited (9 now). This former royal palace retains its olde worlde opulence. We had a wonderful stay, despite the hurricane raging outside! The staff could not have done more for us. Our thanks to them all.
We enjoyed our stay at the Poussada in Estremoz, it was friendly and well run but I agree with the previous guest that it was a bit run down, still charming though. And in a wonderful position. I was particularly impressed with the website which was easy to use and very efficient, actually better that the corresponding site for Paradors in Spain.
We are two couples and we stayed at the Castle in Estremoz in late October. We were very excited about the prospect of staying at a real castle. The room sizes and decorations were great, however we found that this pousada needs to be upgraded. The carpeting in the room was very stained (plus the rooms were dusty), the bathroom fixtures, etc. need to be modernized. (Flat screen TVs would also give the rooms a lift)
We love staying at pousadas and have enjoyed our stays at Sagres and Estoi, but would not recommend the one in Estremoz for the reasons listed above. (We were booked for 3 nights, but left after two because the dust was causing some health problems.)
Another suggestion: availability of wifi to guests without the very expensive fee that is currently charged.
Another
We recently stayed at this pousada at the beginning of a ten day stay in Portugal. Jet lagged as we were upon arrival from the US, the staff could not have been more accomodating; the breakfasts were extraordinary, the room superb; front desk staff help make us reservations elsewhere in Portugal and Spain and we enjoyed visiting the town’s restaurants and shops with side trips to Evora, Evoramonte and the apparent birthplace of Portuguese football legend, Luis Figo. The views are spectacular, even better than at our other favorite (Obidos); the pousada is indeed worthy of what it once was, a Queen’s dwelling. Please put this one on top of your list but don’t tell too many others
we stayed here for 1 nigth and enjoied every minute. the pousada is so beautifull, the room was great amd we had a wonderfull view of the town. dinner and breakfast were very good. and ofcourse all the staff members were helpfull and gave us a very good feeling.
We enjoyed every minute. Staff very friendly and helpful. We had an excellent room with lovely view. We explored the tower and chapel, and enjoyed the garden and lovely pool. Thanks to all.
I must admit we were very disappointed with the Estremoz Pousada. It is indeed glorious but very worn. Our rooms were dark with only one small round window that offered a fine view when standing on your toes. The carpets are old and worn as is the bathroom. We ate dinner in the very grand dining room and found the food adequate, the service good but it was all entirely overpriced. I recommend a much needed makeover and a staff a bit warmer and less formal. How can this Pousada even be on the same list as the amazing Belmonte Pousada where we enjoyed every minute?
we stayed 2 nights at the pousada. from the begining reception to the end of our stay we could not have imagined a more wonderful stay the room ,the views from our window the restaurant especially the breakfast were excellant the staff were very attentive 5 stars