This place is wonderful, highly recommended, especially for large families. The view over the Douro is magnificent, probably the best of any place we've stayed around the world. One can just sit there for hours looking out the windows (all the bedrooms look out onto the river valley), or while eating at the table outside--or even from the pool! The inside has a nice mix of rusticity and modernity, comfortable but definitely in character with the Douro Valley region. It is an easy drive to the train station for convenient trips to Porto, which always working well (much better than driving in--don't even think of that!). The glories of the Douro Valley begin mostly from this area and go east on roads that wind quite a bit--don't expect fast travel through this valley. Lots of vineyards all over the place to visit, taste, tour, etc. And lovely Porto is close enough for easy day-trips. Our host Francisco was great, very attentive but not intrusive in the least. He certainly knows the history of the house, it being his family's (lots of great old family portraits around). Overall an unforgettable experience and highly recommended.