Pousada Sao Francisco - Beja, Portugal     

Two of us stayed here for one night in March 2008. We choose the Pousada because it had a high rating in Michelin, 4 red houses. We had a nice room, a former convent cell, which was very comfortable. Reception wasn't very helpful, just gave us a map of the area without any explanations. We knew there wasn't much by way of sights in Beja, and this turned out to be correct. We had lunch in the best restaurant (outside the Pousada) in Beja, the Dom Dinis, which had sport on the television, and pigs ears as a pre lunch nibble. Not smart but OK. The Pousada has large glassed in cloisters, a huge hall (former church?), and a pool with quite a large sunbathing area. Altogether imposing. We went to the hotel bar before supper for a drink, there was no one there, so we went to reception and they said they would find someone to serve us, which they did. When we went for supper we found the person who had had to come to serve us was also the only waiter, a nice guy! And we felt a bit embarrassed. Good meal, local specialities. Only 3 tables occupied. Main courses about EUR22.

We spent 2 nights at this Pousada. The covent is really fantastic but its main problem is its need for renovation and for attention to details... Some examples : non-functioning light in the room, spoted carpets in the room and in corridors, dirty and yellow shower curtain, spidernet on lights, challengeable swimming pool water cleaningness, lack of poolbeds (the pool area looked like a crowded Algarve beach in Auguts)... The global experience is positive, but for 180€ per night, we expected more. Very good breakfast.