Pousada Vista Verde

Vista Verde is a pousada run by local people and I'm happy to report that they showed me an exceptional level of warmth and hospitality during my stay. I had booked a superior room with a traditional fireplace (logs piled up ready for my welcome) - the price was excellent - but they also offered me a free upgrade to a family suite, which I accepted. Rooms have strong, reliable wifi, which I find helpful. Breakfast was one of the nicest I've had, very fresh delicious cakes and the pao de queijo were still warm out of the oven (my compliments to the kitchen staff!) Cunha can sometimes get chilly at night but the rooms have lots of big fluffy blankets. Rooms are spacious and quite impressive, also including a fridge for drinks (and stocked with reasonably priced refreshments). The enormous family suite has an upstairs and downstairs, connected with a charming spiral staircase, and a very large verandah affording magnificent views across the hills. If you were visiting with a family, Vista Verde has facilities for all ages. Two play areas offer children the chance to enjoy swings and slides in a safe, secluded area but within watchful sight. The pousada also has an area with some very big rabbits! Adjacent is a very extensive leisure facility, with swimming, sauna and activities (see photo map I've attached). The pousada also put me in touch with Matt, a knowledgeable local happy to arrange anything in the Cunha area I wanted. All was offered with no pressure. The best part for me was the genuine warmth and hospitality offered by Nathália, who is in charge. (If you don't have much Portuguese, no problem: she carries her iPhone google-translate in her hand ready to clarify and language problems!) The staff at Vista Verde went to great lengths for me and I am most grateful. Even small things, such as a bag with some apples and refreshments I had lost - they were keen to check with the bus driver and search in case I had left it somewhere (yes, they eventually found it!) Vista Verde is at the entrance to Cunha, so if arriving by bus you can simply ask the driver to stop when you see the sign on your right (as I did). It is set back from the road on a hillside. If you want to go into the town centre, it is an interesting one but uphill! Nathália gave me a free lift into town as well as driving around a little to help with orientation. Honestly, these people could not have been more accommodating. When I left I felt I had made new friends and will return in the future.