Overall atmosphere
Six Senses Douro Valley is a gem, so elegant and conscious living without getting mad at hard core wellness. My entire stay felt very luxurious without becoming too bling bling. The best part is the staff, everyone is very friendly and passionate at what they do. It truly feels like a home, with a relaxed and casual atmosphere. There are two very friendly dogs (Aqua and Foxy) living at the property, which gives even more this cosy feeling. It might be a no-go for many people, but to me, they were such an added value. They brought so many laughs and smiles, that everyone was looking forward to seeing them again. They couldn’t come everywhere, but they were allowed to come to the Wine Library. (a casual restaurant).
Activities
Every day, there were approximately 6 different activities scheduled. The majority of them are included in the stay; only a few are available for a fee throughout the week. I liked how they were all different and not just about sports. The hotel teaches what they are good at in many workshops, which is truly amazing. We get to speak with enthusiastic staff members, which is very interactive and enriching. Guests can learn how to make their own flatbread, tonic, yogurt, and other foods (like the delicious ones we can taste at the restaurant). The Alchemy Bar, a core concept of the Six Senses brand, was a standout. Christina, who is very inspiring, assisted us in creating our relaxing balm and roll-on. Like all the other workshops, it’s very well organized, the staff is very attentive and passionate about what they do, and everything is personalized.
Food
The food was delicious, fine and flavorful. We had the opportunity to meet the chef, who makes every effort to use locally sourced, organic, and non-GMO ingredients. Everything is made from scratch, and the menus change on a regular basis depending on their available resources. The hotel grows a variety of herbs, vegetables, and fruits. They maintain their own organic garden (that we can visit). They also make their own honey.
I'm a vegetarian, almost vegan, so my options were limited compared to meat and fish eaters. Portugal is a country that consumes a lot of fish and meat. Vegan options are limited, but vegetarians have plenty of choices. The breakfast was my favorite meal, it was incredible, with so many healthy options. At the buffet, there were delicious home-made gluten-free bread, coconut yogurt, rice-hazelnut milk, etc. To add even more options, I could choose other dishes on the breakfast menu too. Some options are changing every day.
Wellness
Conscious living is all the way present, I loved that! Organic tea station, kombucha and detox juices available on self-service, healthy mini bar, organic and local cosmetics, etc. it’s really about the lifestyle. It’s all about the nature, living in a healthy way and being respectful – all of this in a luxurious setting.
When talking about wellness, I need to write a few words about Javier, the Spa Director, who is such a big personality! He is a wellness passionate and could talk for hours about how important it is to take care of oneself. He is especially responsible for the biohacking corner of the hotel. Talking to him is true therapy, I truly believe that it could change the life of many people. If you’re going at Six Senses Douro Valley, you’ll probably meet him – you’ll understand what I’m talking about…
All the programmes of the hotel start with a wellness screening which enables the team to give you recommendations and customize your meals, your activities and other aspects of your stay. It’s an analysis of 45 of your biomarkers. In total, 45 of your biomarkers were examined. It makes it very evident which aspects of your physical and mental health require assistance as well as how they are related. I think it gives the visit a lot of value and adds a lot of depth and insight.
Sustainability
I could really feel the brand's conscious values, especially the one of sustainability, while I was staying at Six Senses Douro Valley. Every single member of staff brought it up during the conversation. It's the first time I've stayed in a hotel that cares so much about the environment. Every department of the hotel, from the spa to the kitchen, is constantly improving to reduce the impact on the environment, while also trying to educate their guests on the topic. The Earth Lab is definitely an inspiring place in the hotel, where we can learn many entertaining stuffs about how we can behave more sustainably. For instance, during one of my workshops, we discovered how to create candles out of discarded cooking oil! I guarantee it doesn't smell like french fries. To come up with innovative ways to recycle items that the kitchen can no longer utilize, the team is always experimenting. The Earth Lab is, to me, one of the reason to choose Six Senses over other brands. We can tell that the staff at Six Senses Douro Valley genuinely cares about their guests; this goes beyond just the group management.
The Property
The Six Senses Douro Valley was once a family home surrounded by vineyards; now it is a wellness hotel surrounded by vineyards. I could sense the hotel's history, especially in the restaurant and outside area. It's truly magical.
The rooms are spacious, comfortable, and modern. Because a good sleep is a core concept of the Six Senses philosophy, there are numerous pillow and mattress options. I appreciated how serious they are about this, and you can tell because beds are extremely comfortable. The bathroom is open, which I don't necessarily prefer, but there was plenty of space, so it was fine. I liked the amenities and healthy options in the mini bar (nuts, organic grissini, organic orange juice, kombucha etc.). The entire hotel is very modern and I could communicate or turn off lights using the Six Senses app. The room also has an iPad control. Personally, I enjoyed the excellent Bluetooth speaker.
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