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Cheaper
Average
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About
3.5
#1 of 1 hotels in Bussaco
Location
4.6
Rooms
3.2
Value
3.6
Cleanliness
3.9
Service
4.0
Sleep Quality
3.7
See why so many travelers make Bussaco Palace Hotel their hotel of choice when visiting Luso. Providing an ideal mix of value, comfort and convenience, it offers a luxury setting with an array of amenities designed for travelers like you.
You can take advantage of some of the amenities offered by Bussaco Palace Hotel, including a 24 hour front desk, a concierge, and room service. In addition, guests can enjoy free breakfast during their visit. As an added convenience, there is free parking available to guests.
While staying in Luso, you can check out a popular Italian restaurant like Maria do Barril, which is serving up some great dishes.
If you’re looking for something to do, São João Fountain (0.6 mi) and Convento de Santa Cruz do Buçaco (0.0 mi) are a nice way to spend some time, and they are all within walking distance of Bussaco Palace Hotel.
We’re sure you’ll enjoy your stay at Bussaco Palace Hotel as you experience all of the things Luso has to offer.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
HOTEL STYLE
Quiet
Romantic
Languages Spoken
English, French, Spanish, Portuguese
Location
Mata do Bussaco, Bussaco 3050-261 Portugal
Name/address in local language
Palace Hotel Bussaco
1,149 reviews
Getting there
Somewhat walkable
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travelers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
Now, what to write about Bussaco Palace hotel. Mixed feelings really. The building itself is extraordinary; elaborated facades and arches, beautiful common interior areas, a pure jewel as a structure in pseudo-Manueline style. The setting is wonderful. A lushy forest ideal for long walks to enjoy the nature. Pity the gardens surrounding the hotel look a bit abandoned. Regarding the indoors... while the common areas are fantastic (i,e. reception, stairs, restaurant etc) the rooms suffer! And it was quite a surprise because for such place you expect the rooms to be at the same standard. Especially when the receptionist leads you until the elevator to hand you over the keys, you get prepared for a really nice room. Well, no! Already the wooden door of the room doesn't "sit" well on the entrance, with unequal gaps all around. Yes, it's a historical building but it seems it's been a century to change the doors. The room inside is simple. The bed is nice and the furniture BUT, the windows are cracked, some with paint already peeling off, wallpaper at certain places is torn, the ceiling at the entrance is like a piece of wood misplaced through the years. Toiletries in the bathroom are of bad quality, really cheap and one of our towels had a hole on it. No bathrobes or slippers or safety box or minibar in the room. Very basic amenities for a 5* palace hotel that they should provide without considering them as extra luxury. Heating in the room was not working and that is why they had already a small oil heater on the side. It was a rainy and windy night and we could feel the wind passing through the windows. It's really a shame and disappointing that the rooms are in this condition for such a hotel. These kind of rooms you can find in an old 3* hotel. Breakfast was ok, it could be even better but what they offered was fair. The dinner at the hotel was very good though extremely overpriced! Expensive wines, main dishes and desserts. I found it unfair for the guests, that the hotel feels comfortable charging so much for the dinner with prices aligned to the "label" of the place (being a Palace Hotel), but the amenities they offer and the standard of the rooms are really low class. Staff at the restaurant and the breakfast was nice and friendly while at the reception left us totally indifferent. At the check-out we were not asked how was our stay and I think the don't ask because they know the answer. All my top marks go for the architecture of the building and the setting. The rest need much improvement and that is why I rate the place with only 3*. Hopefully, until next time the company managing the place will respect the history of the building itself and elevate the standard of the rooms while reviewing also the prices for eating in the hotel.
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Date of stay: January 2022
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Buccaco Palace Hotel – Luc This is an incredibly unique and special hotel in many aspects. The hotel is located high in the mountains (at least high hills) with outstanding views surrounded by amazing gardens. This hotel was built in 1885 and converted into hotel in 1917 and represent a palace-like decoration / design, rooms, lobby Bar and other unique halls and rooms. As it was a palace in the past centuries its architecture is impressive and gives you the feeling you are actually hosted in royal place. The architecture, views and the gardens are so impressive that all the rest gets less attention. We ordered two rooms for our Family (4 adults). The rooms are with old-time furnishings to suit the period of the hotel / palace. The rooms are not big and again, the intention is the experience. From each room or bath you have exist to castle-like terrace with amazing view. Bathrooms are very big but for some reason designed horribly and seems very neglected. The room lack WIFI, charging sockets and beds were not that comfortable and not very big. No table at all. That is the main downside if this place – it seems understaffed and not well maintained as hotel, but again maybe the experience is the surrounding and less the hotel facilities.
Breakfast is rich and includes all necessary ingredients. There is restaurant in the hotel for A la Cart dinners – very expensive and not justifying the price. Service in the restaurant was lame. Service of the hotel was ok, again, as I mentioned it seems understaffed…
Do NOT miss the gardens, as usual in Portugal it is all uphill and downhills, but it is amazing gardens with total tranquility and serenity.
To summarize, the place is amazing, so come and see the palace / hotel and the gardens but set your expectations about level of the hotel…it is not 5 starts level.
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Date of stay: October 2022
Value
Cleanliness
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The palace is breathtaking from the outside. While it is listed as a five- star hotel it pales with other palace type hotels. It was fun staying there and I don’t have complaints about the money or food, although the buffet breakfast could be a bit higher quality. I like to eat salad with my breakfast and the leaves were rusty.
The bedroom looks quite lovely upon entering but upon closer examination, there is wood rot along the windows. The bathroom is big but very old. It needs to be updated. The bathroom always smelled musty and mildew. The bathroom definitely needs to be updated.
If I was in charge of this hotel, I would update rooms, dust curio cabinets, have real flowers/plants in the entry and not artificial arrangements.
Since it is 5-star, I would provide a chocolate on the pillow at night, provide more than one bottle of water for two guests. A few small washcloths in the bathroom would be nice. The trash an is rusty and needs to be replaced.
The staff seems friendly and wants to do well but it just seems worn and not well taken care of,
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Date of stay: October 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
You arrive and your breathe will be taken away: such a majestic old palace, well in shape , set in a magical environment. Take the path to the Coimbra gate and admire the golden light at sunset letting its mosaics shine. Take a tea and chocolate "pao de ló" cake by the fireplace in the afternoon, listening to a gentle piano music. The dinner in the restaurant pays tribute to Portugal's traditions in the finest way and is served in an impressive royal decor you will never forget. Please don't do a 5 stars modern interior design, but leave the rooms unchanged (you feel like travelling in the past, when Agatha Christie and Winston Churchill stayed, inspired by the unique setting). I do not share the negative comments about the rooms, as all mine were clean every time I stayed. Some stains on carpet ? Yes, but it was clean ! Hot water, all working well, heater in bathroom, amenities etc. If you are able to see , appreciate and feel Beauty and Magic of Life, you will be conquered by this most impressive location, where spirit, history and romanticism meet. I have booked a family reunion with 7 rooms for the near future.
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Date of stay: January 2020
Value
Cleanliness
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Surprise for me on our 43 wedding anniversary. The Palace is spectacular in all its glory standing with formal garden area surrounded by historic enclaves and ancient woodland. Amazing walks and views. The interior has some superb period furniture decoration and paintings and do please take note of the craftsmanship of the floors walls and celings. The staff were welcoming and helpful whilst not being over attentive. Dinner was an absolute 5 star delight and on returning to our room we discovered a bottle of sparkling wine on ice with fruit and a chocolate fondue a beautiful way to end an evening. The buffet breakfast was fit for a king with every taste and culture catered for. You could if you were particularly finicky find some faults but just remember this is an historic building and must have exceptional maintenance outgoings. Just go and enjoy the whole experience I for one look forward to my next visit.
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Date of stay: March 2020
Rooms
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We had heard a lot about how beautiful the hotel and its gardens were so we decided to go and look for ourselves and it didn’t disappoint. When it was constructed in the 1900s it must have been amazing, the King and Queen of Portugal must have had some fantastic parties and balls there. Unfortunately time and a lack of money has got the better of it in places but that didn’t spoil it one bit, in fact it adds to the ambience. For a small fee to enter the grounds you can spend a whole day exploring the wooded forest, the grounds immediately around the hotel and when you go inside be prepared to be amazed and as you look at the mosaics of the battles that were fought you can almost feel that you are there, they are so beautifully done, corridors, dining rooms, sitting rooms and hallways are all adorned with them. We took lots of photo’s and they reflect them but only seeing them in person does them justice. I hope you enjoy looking at them as much as we enjoyed going.
BeeseyDave 😎😎🐝🐝
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Date of stay: January 2020Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
If this hotel had a school report it would simply say "Could do better". I always try and give a fair assessment so I will start by saying the beauty of this place is it's history, stunning architecture and amazing natural surroundings. It was a joy to walk the grounds and spend time in the stunning communal areas but things went downhill sharply the minute we turned the key in the door of our £200 a night suite. Ridiculously outdated fixtures and fittings, peeling paintwork, signs of water infiltration and some almost comedic and very dubious stains on both the carpets and the furniture. The service in the bar and quality of the food from the not inexpensive restaurant were equally disappointing with at least two of the meals inedible and, when we raised our concerns to the front desk staff, one of the bar staff came to reconstructed with us! This may be a "palace" but 5 Star it most definitely is not.....and I haven't even mentioned the horribly neglected (but once beautiful) grounds and the very mediocre half bottle of wine that set us back €38 over dinner. This place is jaw dropping....but for all the wrong reasons as it clearly lacks proper management. If the management have any query with this review then please come and see me as I'm here until Wednesday morning and am staying in Room 119.
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Date of stay: July 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Traveled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We arrived at the hotel with very high expectations, after all it is a palace, right? So unfortunately we arrived on a special day that takes place once a year. This annual event captured the heart of all employees. and lasted almost until 5:00 p.m. We went for a walk for a few hours in the beautiful surrounding gardens, but even when we returned the event was not over yet. During all this time the staff who were busy with the event and looked tired and simply could not give the hotel guests a minimal heartbeat. Beyond that, it is also important to know that the hotel is very minimal in terms of the services it provides, apart from the reception area there is no wifi in the hotel and in the rooms. The room we stayed in was indeed large, but very minimalistic, outdated and unremarkable. I write this with sadness because the structure is simply amazing and with so much unrealized potential. Another comment regarding the food in a few words "pretentious and tasteless".
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Date of stay: March 2023Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Room Tip:Just visit the place, walk in the gardens and sleep somewhere else
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I felt privileged to stay in a palace hotel for a fairly reasonable cost, and reveled in the gorgeous period details inside and out. We originally booked a room in the lowest price category, but it was cramped and moldy-smelling, so we upgraded on the second night and had a delightful experience. While there is no wifi in the sleeping rooms, the service in the beautiful main level lounge was great, so everyone congregated there in the evenings, which I found sort of charming. To me, the breakfast was outstanding, with more variety of cheese, baked goods and fruit than most hotels on our trip, and I appreciated many nice touches on the buffet such as bubbly (for those who wanted to start the day with mimosas) and hot water for tea-drinkers. The service at dinner was very attentive but the limited menu seemed pricey. Our bathroom was clean and everything worked just fine, and the reception staff was very accommodating. I liked having an "antique" experience and appreciated that old parts of this facility have been conserved (including the lift that might date from 1960 or so), giving me a trip into the past. Of course, not everyone values the older innards of aged buildings, and some prefer them to be vintage on the outside but totally new on the inside -- so decide what experience you want. We hiked some paths in the national forest around the hotel which were lovely even on a drizzly day.
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Date of stay: October 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Traveled with family
Room Tip:If budget permits, avoid booking a room in the lowest price category so you can stay in the...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
What a disappointment this stay was ! The building it's gorgeous, full of history and charm, but calling this a 5 star hotel is complete scam. The rooms are small, old and not maintained. There is no wifi other than in reception, not even in the dinning room. Rooms have no heating. The restaurant is pretentious but the food has no special quality. If you want quality Portuguese food, find any other restaurant across the area. The wines are over expensive - you can find most of them at any other restaurant for a third of the price. Breakfast is not delivered with attention - cold coffee, bad pastry, rotten fruits. Nothing that resemblances the very good Portuguese food. Staff is friendly, but the overall place lacks maintenance and organization. For everyone looking to know this place, yes, visit it for admiring the building, but avoid the hotel. It's basically a scam
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Date of stay: October 2021Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Room Tip:Avoid the hotel. Visit the grounds and the building. Very expensive and not worth your money
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
There are more places to choose from in the Bussaco area.
PRICE RANGE
$114 - $144 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
bussaco palace luso, hotel bussaco palace
LOCATION
PortugalNorthern PortugalAveiro DistrictBussaco
NUMBER OF ROOMS
64
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
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