My comment today is a well-considered reflection on the events from December 31st to January 1st, where all conditions seemed set for a normal and fitting experience for this time of year, but it turned out to be disastrous.
To provide context for the readers, Quinta dos Lobos is home to three entities: the estate itself, which leases its property to the hotel and the restaurant that operates on the premises, offering meals of various types.
For this New Year’s Eve, we decided to escape the hustle and bustle of the Cascais area and the high standards of Lisbon, opting for something more secluded in the hills of Sintra, among valleys and castles, with its historic properties of great cultural value. We chose Quinta dos Lobos, which seemed ideal for such an evening—something more intimate yet reminiscent of royal court times, adapted to the present day.
At reception, we were informed about a possible sophisticated dress code for the event, which seemed fitting. However, this was not enforced for the approximately 20-22 external guests of the dinner, among 55-60 in total. The first unfavorable sign appeared here: a yellow flag, indicating a lack of communication regarding expectations.
The party was supposed to last no longer than 2 a.m., and we were told there might be some noise on the first floor where we were staying. We accepted this, given the special nature of the occasion. However, this did not occur. The noise lasted until 3 a.m., and I had to request the party to end at that time. Surprisingly, most of the noisy guests were not hotel residents but invited by staff members. This was a significant red flag, showing a serious level of irresponsibility by those in charge or, at least, by the responsible parties present. I was disappointed.
Afterward, the party concluded, and one of the managers immediately apologized for the obvious disruption. However, the damage had already been done. What should have been a perfect night was spoiled by clear immaturity.
Moving on to the next day:
Breakfast, which was not included and had to be paid for separately, was nothing short of disastrous. It is worth noting that this hotel has eight spacious rooms, with a maximum capacity of about 30-35 guests. The larger rooms can accommodate up to four people, including adults and children.
As for breakfast, it was woefully inadequate, with a sparse table, and they failed to replenish the products. In fact, I made a point of notifying the reception about my delayed arrival to help them prepare, but it made no difference. I repeat, it made no difference. Due to the complete disorganization and lack of staff, I ended up making my own coffee using the machine available on-site. This marks a second red flag: a lack of gratitude or consideration for the first day of the new year.
In summary, we really enjoyed the Quinta, which was very comfortable, warm, and featured exemplary room decoration details in good taste. As for the hotel, I would rate it a 3- or a C-, due to the lack of care and the many apologies offered. The restaurant’s New Year’s Eve dinner could have been much better. The staff was untrained and not properly attired. As for the food, only the main course and drinks were acceptable; everything else was subpar. And, of course, the overall immaturity displayed during the aforementioned incidents was disappointing.
The purpose of my comment is to encourage significant improvements.
For the Quinta property, the pedestrian access from the hotel to the parking lot should be renovated, making it more accessible for those walking uphill. It is not recommended in conditions of high humidity.
For the hotel, I suggest more care and honesty with guests. More transparent!
For the restaurant, in addition to the previously mentioned points, I recommend closing the second door to prevent the constant cold draft during dinner. My guests stayed all dinner with jackets!!!
Mistakes are acceptable on some occasions, but not on special days like this one.
Regards / Cumprimentos,