Chloe C.
Google
We stayed at Aethos Ericeira for 5 nights. The hotel itself is beautiful – the design and aesthetics are lovely, our room was really nice, and the staff were all very friendly and kind. Breakfast included was excellent, the gym is well equipped (treadmill, bike, rowing machine, weights), and the sauna with ocean views plus a cold plunge is a great touch. The free electric bikes were also a highlight – really fun to take out.
That said, a few things took away from the overall experience. Prices for food and drink felt very high – for example, the cheapest glass of wine was €14, two poolside coffees with service automatically added came to €15, and a burger (no fries) was €23. We don’t mind paying a premium at a nice hotel, but here it felt more exploitative – as though the hotel can charge what it wants because it’s secluded and there aren’t many alternatives nearby. After that first dinner, we decided to drive into town each evening instead – far better value and still really good food.
We also noticed quite a few flies, both at dinner in ONDA and around certain spots by the pool. It did put a dampener on what was otherwise a nice setting, especially given the cost of dining there.
Other small points: the pool is beautiful but shallow, so not really for swimming. Ericeira is well known for surfing, and while the €200–250 price for a private lesson isn’t unreasonable, it would’ve been nice to see a cheaper group lesson option for beginners. Also worth noting: the shower wall in the room is glass with a privacy screen – fine for us, but might not suit everyone.
To be clear, the downsides aren’t things the staff could change – they were genuinely great throughout our stay. The flies seemed like a temporary issue, and the prices are more likely set at a corporate level. Still, it did leave us feeling that for longer stays, you really do need a car so you can escape the hotel pricing and enjoy Ericeira itself.
Overall, it’s a lovely hotel with great staff and facilities, but it’s hard to shake the sense that guests are being overcharged simply because of the location.