Hotel Yeatman

Located at the port houses side of the river with a spectacular (I think best ever) city view to old Porto. Hotel owned by a port wine family, lots of the room is “sponsored” by a port house offering port wine related decoration and information in the rooms. Also the different floors and lifts have port wine themes. Very nice. For the rest a classy, traditional design.

As for the Aquapuro hotel, I again found out about a special promotion with lower rates, including breakfast, spa discounts, free parking etc. a couple of days before arrival. Upon reservation, they had promised me to make me aware of any such offers, which they did not, but when I found out myself, they changed the rate, so that I would pay around 430 euro for a jr suite per night, around 150 euro less than the rate that I booked for. Upon arrival, we had, however, decided that we would splurge on a better room for our last stop, and asked to see one of the grand suites (The Taylor’s suite) and then the top suite (the Bacchus suite). While the latter was more spectacular in terms of view, terrace, fireplace, special bath tub etc., it was open plan and more for a couple, so we preferred the Taylor’s suite which had a fantastic over-the-top bed in a huge barrel, large wardrobe, separate sitting room with sofas and coffee table and a nice bathroom with separate loo, shower etc. and a covered private terrace. A bit dark (large windows only in sitting room). At one stage mid day we found glasses, water and a welcome card plus knives and forks in the suite. Nothing else. Only much later – when we arrived back after a late dinner – they had brought cured ham, sweets and a bottle of sparkling wine. Very nice, but late… No coffee making facilities in the room.

Pool is beautiful and decanter shaped with a fantastic view. Not many loungers around there, though, so it was sometimes full… Service was OK, but not more than that. Orders took look, drinks were forgotten, but the young trainee that served us was really nice and friendly, so we almost forgot about the mistakes. My spa experience was a disappointment: I had booked a massage for 1700 hrs. Since we wanted to go sightseeing before dinner after the treatment, I tried to change to an earlier appointment, but this was not possible as they were fully booked. The spa information folder recommended an early arrival, and I was at the spa reception 25 minutes before my scheduled appointment. At that time, I was told that there would be a 10 minutes delay. I told them that I was in a hurry, and they promised to make sure that my treatment would start on time. At 1710 (10 minutes late) I asked what was happening and was told that my theraphist was “almost ready” as the previous customer had arrived too late. At 1715 I went to the reception to cancel my appointment. They apologized but did not offer me any kind of compensation. I never went back. Gym was very good with lots of modern equipment and also pilates and jogging “classes” many days. Did not try these, though. An indoor pool and saunas available as well, but did not try.

Breakfast was the best we had. On top of the “normal” selection, there were many nice extras, even caviar, sparkling wine and a large selection of cheeses, cakes and eggs any style. Very good. Two lunches at the pool were tasty and offered some variation to the normal club sandwiches and salads. A plus. The last night we had dinner in their one star Michelin restaurant. Good service, food and wine, but we were not overly impressed compared to the two previous dinners that we had in the old city in the restaurant DOP by Rui Paula (no Michelin star) which was really very, very good – so good that we went there twice. Also we found it too dark in the restaurant in the Yeatman. A good thing there was, however, that they offered a special menu for kids in the Michelin restaurant. Our son is a little gourmet, but Michelin style food decoration and ingredients might not always be according to his wished. Here he was served a tomato/mozzarella salad as a starter and then a pasta dish as a main course, as well as getting all the wonderful little pre starters etc. that we got.

Very good arrival service with separate check in. The lady showed us all the hotel, two different rooms, explained everything etc. Housekeeping varied: Some days perfect, one day forgotten turn down, often not removing used glasses. Room for improvement. Service at restaurants good, but also here not perfect. Sometimes we had to look for someone to give us coffee instead of this happening automatically, nobody remembered our preferences as I am used to from luxury hotels etc.