Octant Évora

The property, rooms and views are stunning and Ana from the Spa is lovely. However the front of house are not very helpful. I booked a meditation session 24h in advance, when arriving to the spa I was informed it wouldn’t take place due to the gym being in use and the lack of staff (I know they had their xmas party the night before). Nobody warned me ahead of time and they said I should try the massages (basically saying spend money). The lady at the spa said she would have to prioritise treatments before the session (they profit more out of it). If they knew no one would be around do not include the meditation service on your activity schedule! So pre warning if you come here looking for wellness and are enticed by the activities, be warned that it may be cancelled last minute without a heads up! They also have bikes on site however not suitable for the terrain. I had to walk half my trajectory as they were city bikes. Mountain bikes for adults are a must!

I have to tell you about my experience because it was close to perfect, I contacted the hotel prior for a anniversary surprise and the reception were the nicest I’ve ever met, prepared everything for me and helped me all the way, even pumping the balloons the cleaning ladies came in to make the job quicker. The dinner was super romantic, the nature was to die for, even in the winter this is a highly recommendable place. Easy to find, free parking, good location, they have everything you may need. It’s more a resort than a hotel and the quality is one of the bests in portugal! Super pleased, will come back in the summer when I can use the pools outside. The inside pool could’ve been warmer and a recommendation to the hotel, would be nice to have a jacuzzi outside or inside, that would make a big difference Thank you for a great experience

A special place to stay, a treat, lovely rooms, good size and comfortable, we had a room away from the pool which meant not hearing the many families with small children. We were not aware of kids clubs etc on offer but now know that it is a child friendly hotel and encourages families. We only had breakfast, really good buffet and sat outside, no one else did, so very peaceful. A good 15 minutes out of Evora to travel for a nice dinner. Probably best for families with young children and romantic couples as offers dip pools for adults only !

Evora, IOO, has a huge flare of hype trailing behind it. Technically, it's a half-a-day mid-Portugal city with little to see and even less to recall. Apart from wine tasting. We are confused with the selection of this hotel's locality: poorly paved road, very few trails to walk around. That might be compensated by the Furnas's "water park", but it fails short to a closed Bano de Turco, small sauna and really small pool. In short: nothing to do in, as well as outside. If you decide to travel around, beware: all roads go through Evora. You are doomed to repeat the same route time and again. EM 534 is virtually non-existent: passable only to local farmers on tracktors. Service is excellent. So are the rooms. Couple of architecture / design issues: spa is technically in a separate "unit"; if it rains, one has to return to the main building over the slippery path. Dominance of wood theme is obvious: from inconvenient wooden pincers in the restaurant to equally clumsy chairs in the room and the deck. Food raises a question: any reason chefs hate the fruits of their labor? Why cook something people do NOT eat? We are referring to so called "full english breakfast". This is a working class meal of some Birmingham docks. This is NOT england, we are NOT dockers. So, why keep cooking what very few, if any, asks for? Summary: a bleak shadow of its Furnas's sister. (see our review of Octant Furnas for the details). Hope this helps.

I recently had the opportunity to stay at Octant Hotel, and while there were some notable positive aspects, there were also areas that left much to be desired. Let me share my experience with the hosting services, dining, and pool facilities. Starting with the hosting services, Octant Hotel provided a pleasant and comfortable stay. The rooms were clean, well-maintained, and offered a cozy atmosphere. The hotel staff at the front desk were friendly and accommodating, ensuring a smooth check-in process and attending to any inquiries promptly. However, it's worth mentioning that we encountered an issue with the room phone which remained unresolved throughout our stay, even after requesting a fix. Our first dinner experience at Octant Hotel was unfortunately disappointing. The restaurant staff seemed overwhelmed and disorganized, resulting in slow service. It took a significant amount of time for our orders to be taken, and even longer for the food to arrive at our table. The wait staff appeared forgetful and confused, often mixing up orders and failing to address our specific requests. To our surprise, they even served us warm wine and forgot to clear our plates. Such low standards are unexpected from a 5-star hotel. The language barrier posed a major challenge during our dining experience. The staff's proficiency in English was lacking, making effective communication difficult. This led to misunderstandings and further delays in getting our orders correct. Improved language training for the staff would greatly enhance the overall dining experience for guests. However, my partner and I believe in second chances, so we decided to experience the "Chef's Table" dining option the following day. I must say that it was an extraordinary culinary journey that left a lasting impression. What truly elevated the experience was the exceptional service provided by a staff member named Manuel. From the moment we arrived at the Chef's Table, Manuel's professionalism and efficiency were evident. He warmly greeted us and attentively guided us through the entire dining experience, ensuring that every detail was taken care of. Manuel's ability to anticipate our needs and preferences was remarkable. He was attentive without being intrusive, always ready to offer assistance or answer any questions we had. His genuine enthusiasm for the cuisine and his willingness to go the extra mile in ensuring our satisfaction made the entire dining experience truly exceptional. Moving on to the pool area, my experience was below average at best. While the pool itself was clean and well-maintained, the size was disappointingly small. This limited the number of guests who could comfortably enjoy the pool at the same time. Additionally, there was a notable absence of staff around the pool area, resulting in a lack of assistance or service. Guests had to leave the pool to find staff members for any needs or requests, which was inconvenient and detracted from the overall experience. Despite these shortcomings, I must acknowledge that the hotel's overall ambiance and facilities were pleasant. The hosting services and accommodations provided by Octant Hotel were satisfactory, creating a comfortable and enjoyable stay for guests. In conclusion, while Octant Hotel offers a decent hosting experience with comfortable rooms and friendly front desk staff, there are areas that need improvement. The slow service, forgetful and confusing staff, and the language barrier encountered during dinner were significant downsides. Additionally, the small pool size and lack of staff presence around the pool area took away from the overall enjoyment. Addressing these issues would greatly enhance the experience for guests and elevate Octant Hotel to its true potential.