I'm an American journalist doing a series of articles on cycling in Portugal and Spain for several American magazines, and always looking for unusual lodging to share with readers. Sleeping in a castle is a different option. Great experience.

Figuring out exactly what type of room you're going to actual get can be confusing. I recommend spending extra for a superior room with view - so you don't get a room with little natural light or view - it does make a difference. And while the hotel tried to provide timely information before arriving, many of the links couldn't be opened on my end. I don't know if I got lucky, but very happy with room I ended up with, with a huge balcony overlooking the pool.

Stunning castle - looks just like the pictures with a lovely pool actually in the ‘moat’! Plenty of sunbeds and shade around the pool. Staff super friendly and helpful (except Lidia) Dinner was good. Drinks very reasonably priced.

Welcome was poor by a lady named LIDIA who was unfriendly and unhelpful; arriving at 2pm, we had previously been told our room might be available from 2:30pm - no, she said, only 4pm. Our baggage was then dumped outside our room ‘to be’ where we stood for a while until we were let in by a cleaner!! The room was ready at 2pm and Lidia hadn’t even bothered to check. Suggest she attends a Customer Training course and is not allowed to work anywhere where she interacts with the public. Breakfast was poor - lots of choice but mediocre quality. Cleanliness could be better on the terrace; bird droppings on seats and rail.

This glorious castle was a revelation from the moment we saw it as we approached along the long driveway all the way through exploring the rooms and courtyards inside. The ambiance was great, the staff were extremely helpful and friendly, the food in the restaurant was delicious and the room we stayed in was extremely comfortable and modern whilst retaining many of the original features of this historical building. Didn't use the swimming pool but other guests did and it looked very inviting. Very good breakfast buffet with a wide choice of foods. Highly recommended! We will definitely be back for another stay here!

Room was very large with excellent light. Shower and bathroom were of a good size. So many different areas to sit and relax, read etc. Pool was good and had an attendant. Easy to get food. Loved being able to order off the 'canteen' menu and sit anywhere you like. So many birds and bird chatter. Loved exploring the property and saying hello to the Guest's dogs.

Lots of equipment sitting around that can ruin the aesthetics. Would be best put into storage, out of sight. Eating on site is quite expensive. Expensive to taxi to and from - you really need to have a car.

The breakfast was superb with an excellent choice of pastries, fruit and meats. There was also a choice of fruit juices.

At evening meal my daughter ordered a pasta dish. Sadly when it arrived she found seven small flies in the dish, I think they were fruit flies. We complained to the staff and the dish was promptly changed, - sadly the pasta dish replacement had four fruit flies in it. We appreciate the difficulties of preparing meals in such hot weather and that fruit flies are small and difficult to see, but a little more care is required

The included breakfast was fantastic and served in a wonderful part of the castle. Dinners there were exceptional and upscale. There is also a cafeteria-bar that serves many of the same dishes as the restaurant if you don't want to wait until 8:00 pm. The setting of this place is simply one of medieval elegance on a property that has a dry moat around it and vineyards all around that. It's a really spectacularly beautiful place. The entire castle is really a museum of sorts.

The property inaccurately advertises "entire unit located on ground floor," which is simply not true, and it is very misleading for anyone with any mobility problems. There are many stone stairways throughout the property that require some ability to negotiate. In addition, the wi-fi is not fantastic. The first room we were assigned had no signal whatsoever, but we were moved to another room where it functioned adequately.

The property is stunning! What a treat to stay here! So much attention to detail. The castle provides a taste of what it was like living in a castle long ago combined with all the comforts that we appreciate today. We are horse people and love seeing the wild horses running free on the property. We enjoyed the Estate wines and the winery. Pilar and the staff so courteous and knowledgeable. Our dinner, one of the best we’ve ever had. Great dining room. The entire experience exceeded my expectations by leaps and bounds.

The property is wonderful. Nothing not to like.

Everything went well once we arrived. The magnificent yet comfortable castle set amongst superb grounds, including vineyards is a sight to behold. Staff very friendly and efficient. Room comfortable and spacious. Bathroom immense and freestanding shower thankfully constructed with 4 walls and a sealed door, so no soaking the floor! Breakfast excellent with wide choice of foods. Dinner includes regional dishes at reasonable price. Good wine list.

Be careful with hotel direction for arrival. The exit they recommend relates to N-630, not A-66. The dining room lighting could be dimmed somewhat to enhance the atmosphere.

I loved the experience of staying in a castle. It was quiet, comfortable, and the food was delicious. Because it is a castle, there are things that are a bit inconvenient: the height of the doorways, access to areas can be tight, but its a small price to pay to have this authentic experience.

We each bonked our head at least once on a doorway, despite signs and warnings! They are all too low and seem to be designed for much shorter humans. Apparently, people were shorter 1000 years ago when this castle was built.

Staff was very diligent, professional, knowledgable, and nice. The food was excellent and not very expensive.

Sometimes the family reunions brought little kids who were very noisy, but other than that everything was quiet. The castle is very old, of course, and that's why it is so charming. So don't expect super modern furniture. The beds were ok, but the pillows weren't very confortable. Keep in mind that there aren't any elevators and lots of stairs to get to any room.