Family friendly
Family accommodation is well catered for with larger rooms or bungalows available for 2 adults and 2 children and the hotel and staff is very family friendly and offer an adventure club for 8-12 year olds. Just down the boardwalk from the hotel is a small beach on the inside of the breakwater which offers very sheltered waters for swimming or learning to SUP and is great for kids, with lifeguards also on patrol here. The whole area feels very safe and the amenities of a city such as supermarkets and hospitals are nearby. Portuguese people love children so be prepared for free treats and your dearest to be the centre of attention and affection. They say a measure of society is how you treat your young, old and sick. I can say from my experience of visiting the local A&E at 2 a.m. with a very sick baby that Viana do Castelo should get an 11/10. From the hotel to hospital staff, everyone could not have been more helpful or caring. We had to visit the 24 hour pharmacy to get medication after our hospital visit and waited quite a while whilst the prescription was prepared – for the whole duration the taxi driver came with us and turned off his meter, such was his concern for baby. There’s not many places in the world that would happen and I was reminded of when José waved his hand across the city and its environs to explain FeelViana he added it was just not the place or lifestyle but the people that make it so special, he was right.
Hotel health
There is a very holistic approach to your well-being at FeelViana. This isn’t just a great hotel, it isn’t just a watersports centre, it’s a one-stop ‘feel better’ shop. If you weren’t relaxed enough by the people and the place then they have a wellness & spa area, where you can enjoy massages and various treatments using the acclaimed Voya organic products from Ireland as well as a sauna, a Turkish bath and heated indoor swimming pool. There’s also a bespoke yoga studio with wood features, streams of natural light and classes for all levels, even catering for group yoga retreats while we were there. Outdoor yoga sessions, family yoga, SUP yoga, pilates and stretching sessions can all be organised to have you in perfect form for your stay and the hotel also boasts a gym that looks like a professional surfer’s dream setup. As well as conventional gym equipment they have all the functional strength and dynamic balance gear that you normally only see at top sports physio’s or Red Bull’s famed training centre! The hotel also offers personal trainers to really whip you into shape.
