I traveled to Portugal in May, and I had a wonderful stay in Penafiel, at Solar Egas Moniz. The owner and staff were extraordinarily welcoming, friendly, and helpful. The hotel is a charming manor house with a beautiful stained glass window and offers a quiet and peaceful local experience. The hotel is located 1 km from the Cete train station, and approx. thirty minutes by car to Porto. I stayed in a bright and comfortable room in the main house. It contained a nice, firm bed, exposed brick wall, cable/satellite TV and free Wifi, and a beautiful view. There is a library, wine room with snacks, and a cute wood burning stove in the house. Breakfast and dinner were served in a delightful dining room; the food was really delicious and the service excellent. The surrounding property includes a garden, outdoor swimming pool, and a children's playground. It was quite lovely. The owner and her employees provided exceptional guest service, anticipating and full-filling all of my wishes and needs. They were so attentive and considerate. Everything possible was done to make my visit perfect. I can't recommend Solar Egas Moniz more highly! Thank you Iva and Joana for a delightful and memorable experience!
Tips: If you need to do laundry (and who doesn't when traveling with a suitcase full of dirty clothes), there is an extremely good laundress in Penafiel.
There is a really nice taxi driver that services the hotel (Fernando)
There is a new, good, casual restaurant in Penafiel.