Forrester Essence Douro Hotel

4.0 star property
Travelers sip local cocktails by the pool with mountain views at Palacete Barão de Forrester, where regional cuisine complements outdoor relaxation

Choose dates to view prices

At Palacete Barão de Forrester, guests enjoy breakfast before heading to the poolside bar for drinks. O Barão restaurant serves regional specialties for lunch and dinner. This upscale pousada offers a tennis court, coffee shop, and free WiFi for a complete mountain retreat.

Reviews

8.8 out of 10
Excellent

Popular amenities

  • Pool
  • Pet friendly
  • Parking included
  • Free WiFi
  • Air conditioning
The current price is AED 334
AED 354 total
includes taxes & fees
26 May - 27 May

Similar properties

Policies

Check-in

Check-in start time: 3:00 PM; Check-in end time: anytime
Minimum check-in age: 18

Check-out

Check-out before noon

Special check-in instructions

Front desk staff will greet guests on arrival at the property
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools

Access methods

Staffed front desk

Pets

Pets allowed for an extra charge of EUR 25 per pet, per day
Service animals are welcome, and are exempt from fees
2 total (up to 44 lbs per pet)
Food and water bowls are available

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome
Rollaway/extra beds are available for EUR 20.0 per day

Property payment types

Important information

Optional extras

  • Fee for buffet breakfast: approximately EUR 15 for adults and EUR 7.5 for children
  • Pet fee: EUR 25 per pet, per day
  • Service animals are exempt from fees
  • Rollaway bed fee: EUR 20.0 per day

The above list may not be comprehensive. Fees and deposits may not include tax and are subject to change.

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
This property accepts credit cards; cash is not accepted
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios, terraces which may not be suitable for children; if you have concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm they can accommodate you in a suitable room

We should mention

The seasonal pool will be open from May 01 to October 31

Frequently asked questions

Does Forrester Essence Douro Hotel have a pool?

Yes, this property has an outdoor pool.

How much does it cost to stay at Forrester Essence Douro Hotel?

As of 21 May 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Forrester Essence Douro Hotel on 26 May 2026 start from AED 334, excluding taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.

Is Forrester Essence Douro Hotel pet-friendly?

Yes, Forrester Essence Douro Hotel allows pets (limit 2 total) with a maximum weight of up to 44 lbs per pet. There's a fee of EUR 25 per pet, per day. Service animals are exempt from fees.

How much is parking?

Self parking is free at this property.

What time is check-in at Forrester Essence Douro Hotel?

Check-in start time: 3:00 PM; Check-in end time: anytime.

What time is check-out at Forrester Essence Douro Hotel?

Check-out is at noon.

Where is Forrester Essence Douro Hotel located?

Located in the heart of Alijó, this pousada is steps from Igreja Matriz de Alijo, Jardim da Avenida Doutor Francisco Sa Carneiro, and Jardim Publico Doutor Matos Cordeiro. Bread and Wine Museum and Adega de Favaios are also within 3 mi (5 km).

Can I cancel my reservation for free and receive a full refund?

Yes, this property offers free cancellation on select room rates, because flexibility matters! Please refer to the property cancellation policy on our site for more details about any exclusions or requirements.

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Reviews

Reviews

8.8

Excellent

9.2

Cleanliness

7.8

Location

9.4

Staff & service

8.2

Property conditions & facilities
Rating 10 - Excellent. 30 out of 57 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 21 out of 57 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 5 out of 57 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 57 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 1 out of 57 reviews

Reviews

Verified

10/10 Excellent

dennis

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The staff was extremely friendly and very helpful. Dinner was delicious every night!
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveler

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Friendly, helpful staff. Comfortable, spacious room with windows on two sides. Good breakfast. Nice area outside for eating al fresco in the evening. Centrally located.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Marcia

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Very personal, friendly and helpful staff! The room was even larger than anticipated and very lovely views//////11
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2024
Verified

8/10 Good

Vittorio

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
The Host David was so Kind and ready to solve all problems and request. The Restaurant a plus.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Andrea

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Beautiful estate home converted into a hotel. Had a lovely overnight stay. Their restaurant is fabulous. Room was very comfortable. Since we were here in the Fall, the hotel was very quiet. Only a few guests. Service was excellent.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2023
Verified

6/10 Okay

Thomas

Disliked: Cleanliness, room comfort

Not impressed with our stay.

We arrived at the hotel and found that the room did not correspond to the pictures on the website. Renovation work was in process. The room was very dusty. The floor is scratched and the furniture has seen better days. Te bathroom is old style and needs renovation. The air-conditioning did not work. The sleeping with open window was not a good choice as the room was giving on a busy street. Wi-Fi is patchy. After making a complaint, we were not able to change the room, as apparently the hotel was fully booked. The ray of sunshine of our stay was the good evening meal and the breakfast that is served in a nice ambience. Free parking is available at the hotel grounds. Let´s hope that after renovation the hotel gets back to a decent standard as advertised.
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Julia

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Beautiful, beautiful hotel with stunning views and excellent restaurant.
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Eugene

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Loved the hotel
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

donald

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
David at checking was very helpful & spoke good English. Explained a bit of the history of the area from Roman times. Great bar / restaurant in the hotel.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2022
Verified

8/10 Good

Liz

Room clean but would benefit from a bathroom update. Commented on noise because election rally went on till late across road from hotel both nights of our stay. Realise we were just unlucky to have this. Staff friendly and also knowledgeable about Port and where to buy it cheaply. Would love to come back overall.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025
Verified

8/10 Good

Karen

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Too cold to use pool but wonderful to walk the grounds and around town. Staff are so helpful and kind. Especially a shout out to David who treated us very well.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2022
Verified

6/10 Okay

Ton

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities
Good service. Not working airco. Bathroom was a bit outdated.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025
Verified

8/10 Good

Isabel

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Os funcionários muito simpáticos, atenciosos, prestáveis.
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2026
Verified

8/10 Good

Marco

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
La struttura bella e il servizio adeguato. Purtroppo ci hanno dato una camera a nostro giudizio comfort e non de luce come avevamo prenotato e pagato.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2025
Verified

6/10 Okay

Estelle

Liked: Cleanliness
Disliked: Amenities, property conditions & facilities
Le personnel donne un service impeccable par contre l’hôtel est désuet et ne répond pas aux attentes vs le site.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025
Verified

8/10 Good

Isabelle

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, room comfort

Tres belle expérience. Merci.

2 nuits dans cet hôtel élégant et calme. Grande chambre avec vue sur la piscine. Literie un peu ferme. Salle de bains grande et fonctionnelle mais meritetait d'être rénovée. Restaurant très bien lors des 2 diners à la carte : mets savoureux, bien présentés, service impeccable.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

SUSAN

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Very relaxed and welcoming atmosphere right in the heart of this small town. Attentive service, very good restaurant
Stayed 4 nights in May 2022
Verified

8/10 Good

Rainer

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
Armaturen in der Dusche – Badewanne müssten erneuert werden. Sehr schöne Lage und gutes Restaurant
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2022
Verified

8/10 Good

HUMBERTO

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

A repetir.

Excelente. Serviço profissional, simpático e disponivel. Boas condições de higiene, quer no quarto, quer nas zonas comuns.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2021
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Sophie

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Magnifique endroit calme, personnel très à l’écoute et très agréable, cuisine raffinée d’excellente qualité: bravo à la cheffe et à son équipe.
La terrasse qui donne sur la piscine
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2021
Verified

6/10 Okay

Sue

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
No heat in our room. Got moved to a new room, but not very good there, either. Manager was very helpful with tourism info. Breakfast okay, not great.
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2020
Verified

8/10 Good

Barbara

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Lovely Historic Hotel

Large rooms with comfortable beds. Lovely grounds and gathering spaces. Our one dinner there was excellent. Complimentary breakfast very good. Beautiful drive to hotel with amazing views.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2019
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveler

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Close by Centro walked to a very nice local restaurant. Staff were very friendly.
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2019
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Claude

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Soirée très agréable aussi bien le logis que la table !
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2019
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveler

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The rural setting was relaxing and refreshing. The staff went above and beyond to provide quality service. The restaurant was excellent
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2019