Comments Pousada in Vila Vicosa
Pousada in Vila Vicosa – Hotel Dom Joao IV
Pousada de Vila Vicosa, D. Joao IV, is set in the former Convent of Chagas de Cristo in the historical village of Vila Vicosa. Very characteristic with its intricate themed rooms, full of legends and tales.
This Pousada is a luxury hotel, that has kept intact the convent cells, the retreats and the oratories built by the nuns. You can also appreciate the exquisite conventual recipes.
One of the most interesting features of the buildings is the marble doorway. Italian influences combined with the tradition and tastes of local architects.
Below are some comments of guests who recently stayed in Pousada in Vila Vicosa.
Our four night stay at Pousada Vila Vicosa was excellent. What a levoly place. We had a very peaceful room overlooking the gardens and enjoyed it very much. The staff were very helpful and kind and couldn’t have been nicer. We loved the wall paintings which evoked the Pousada’s past. Thank you so much.
We stayed at the end of March, 2011. The Pousada is einxpteocal, beautiful, clean, well appointed, and the grounds were lovely. We had excellent assistance from the very pleasant staff. Although we were passing through, we had time to stroll the grounds, the surrounding plaza, & the the beautiful main street, where everything is made of marble curbs, cobblestones, fountains, benches really lovely. On the way out of town we passed mountains of marble stones, slabs, scraps in giant piles a very interesting drive. We would certainly stay there again if we get the opportunity.
There’s smoething missing in the Alentejo. And smoething missing from the Pousada in Vila Vicosa.It’s beautiful, great service and the food was fine, if not special.What is missing is people. And that’s mainly because the Tourist Bureau does not do a good job for the Alentejo. Most people in England are unaware of the area, there is very little publicity generated and so much overlooked.Overlooked, too, from D.Joao IV. There was very little information in this Pousada or any of the others we have just stayed in. It’s not enough to print out a map of the village. There was no indication of music it would have been good to know what was on and where. It would have been good if reception knew what was on and where. We didn’t want to spend every night eating meals it would have been good to find music, festivals, classical, jazz, performances of anything.You are undersold. More publicity needed not just for the pousadas but the region, what to see, what’s on. We felt abandoned and the extraordinarily attractive surroundings of the pousada were not enough. We visited villages and towns that we had never heard of but, with many, nobody seemed to care and there was little effort made to involve us. Even some with Tourist Information treated us as though we were troubling their day (only some).It was the same with other pousadas, at Evora, at Palmale. Distinct lack of information, a brochure for pousadas and a print-out map of the town. We left brochures in our rooms from the tourist offices in the hope that it might occur to anyone in the pousadas to do the same thing at least provide the same brochures as the tourist office.So much more could be done and then the pousadas would not be half empty and cutting staff (the poor manager of the Palmale pousada had no-one to carry baggage except himself).So get it together, be more pro-active, don’t just toss out the same old blurb year after year. There is so much more to bring the jaded English and other nationalities to the pousadas and to the Alentejo. It just feels that there is no imagination at work.
My wife and I stayed here for two nights in early September 2011. As with most Pousadas the building is beautiful, particularly the marble staircases. The location of the hotel, next to the palace, is stunning
Our room was huge, but he wooden floor creaked very loudly and the bathroom fittings were old and badly needed replacing.
Staff were very helpful.
There’s something missing in the Alentejo. And something missing from the Pousada in Vila Vicosa.
It’s beautiful, great service and the food was fine, if not special.
What is missing is people. And that’s mainly because the Tourist Bureau does not do a good job for the Alentejo. Most people in England are unaware of the area, there is very little publicity generated and so much overlooked.
Overlooked, too, from D.Joao IV. There was very little information in this Pousada or any of the others we have just stayed in. It’s not enough to print out a map of the village. There was no indication of music – it would have been good to know what was on and where. It would have been good if reception knew what was on and where. We didn’t want to spend every night eating meals – it would have been good to find music, festivals, classical, jazz, performances of anything.
You are undersold. More publicity needed not just for the pousadas but the region, what to see, what’s on. We felt abandoned and the extraordinarily attractive surroundings of the pousada were not enough. We visited villages and towns that we had never heard of but, with many, nobody seemed to care and there was little effort made to involve us. Even some with Tourist Information treated us as though we were troubling their day (only some).
It was the same with other pousadas, at Evora, at Palmale. Distinct lack of information, a brochure for pousadas and a print-out map of the town. We left brochures in our rooms from the tourist offices in the hope that it might occur to anyone in the pousadas to do the same thing – at least provide the same brochures as the tourist office.
So much more could be done – and then the pousadas would not be half empty and cutting staff (the poor manager of the Palmale pousada had no-one to carry baggage except himself).
So – get it together, be more pro-active, don’t just toss out the same old blurb year after year. There is so much more to bring the jaded English – and other nationalities – to the pousadas and to the Alentejo. It just feels that there is no imagination at work.
We stayed at the end of March, 2011. The Pousada is exceptional, … beautiful, clean, well appointed, and the grounds were lovely. We had excellent assistance from the very pleasant staff. Although we were passing through, we had time to stroll the grounds, the surrounding plaza, & the the beautiful main street, where everything is made of marble… curbs, cobblestones, fountains, benches… really lovely. On the way out of town we passed “mountains” of marble… stones, slabs, scraps in giant piles… a very interesting drive. We would certainly stay there again if we get the opportunity.
Our four night stay at Pousada Vila Vicosa was excellent. What a lovely place. We had a very peaceful room overlooking the gardens and enjoyed it very much. The staff were very helpful and kind and couldn’t have been nicer. We loved the wall paintings which evoked the Pousada’s past. Thank you so much.
Estive na Pousada D. Jo~ao IV pela primeira vez com um casal amigo dos Estados Unidos. Todos nós ficamos encntados. Os americanos nem se fala. Muito obrigado por todos.
Antonio Baltasar Silva
We stayed here for a night in March 2010. The plousada is beautiful. The staff was friendly and had great senses of humor. The rooms were well appointed and lovely. We wished we could have stayed longer. Next time we visit Portugal, we shall definitely stay at the pousadas.
We stayed for one night at this pousada and enjoyed it very much.The reception staff was very friendly,the room was very large and confortable.The restaurant was very quiet but what a great meal we had.We would come back.
WE visited the Pousada originally back in 2004 and it was absolutely wonderful, excellent food in the restaurant, great service.
We returned for 2 nights in Sep 2008 and found a great difference in the service and also in the restaurant which was buffet style, compared to the lovely meals and service we had on our original visit. Quite a disappointment to us.
What a lovely location for a pousada, perfect for travelling North from the Algarve.
The receptionist (Lilia) was charming and very helpful and informative.
We enjoyed our meal in the restaurant with superb service from the waiting staff.
Again, our bedroom was very clean and comfortable – what we have come to expect from Pousadas of Portugal!