The Oitavos

Breakfast was really great, with lots of choices and a particularly nice fruit bar. There were so many staff clearing dishes that they took ours away a bit too soon. The room was very spacious, with a big, comfortable bed, but felt a little cold in November. The design wasn’t great either: there’s no door between the bedroom and the bathroom and toilet, which would feel really awkward for friends or teenage siblings sharing.

We went for our honeymoon and loved this lovely spot just outside Cascais. The rooms and outdoor areas were very clean, and the pool was relaxing. I’d suggest choosing a room where you can watch the sunrise. It’s so peaceful. Best hotel breakfast I’ve ever had!

The rooms are massive, and the front desk and breakfast staff were nice. But the place feels like a convention centre, with big groups at breakfast, around 200 other guests, and a lot of rules. You can’t take breakfast back to your room or bring in outside food. It looks great in photos, but in person it seemed like it hadn’t been maintained in a decade: peeling paint, rust, dirt and stains everywhere. The room wasn’t very clean, and we had to clean it ourselves to feel comfortable. The gym is a decent size, but no one seemed to maintain it, and all the towels were dirty even after we asked twice for fresh ones. The spa also looked very dirty. The biggest problem was the noise. We could hear every step from the people above us, which woke us up. On the top floor, the air conditioners were loudly humming.

We expected much more from a hotel of this caliber. The experience felt disorganized and unprofessional, and I can’t understand the 5-star rating. On the first night we were cold but thought it might be the climate. The next day, after returning from an event, we found the room freezing at 19°C despite the thermostat setting. We reported it to reception, waited over two hours without a fix, then heard that the staff member who could help had an emergency. No one had told us about the delay or offered a timely room change. The heating was finally fixed on day three, which wasn’t acceptable. The airport transfer was another mess. We’d arranged an early taxi through reception, and it arrived on time, but at the airport the driver said the hotel would pay. Hours later I got a message saying I owed 70 euros because of a misunderstanding. I hadn’t ordered the taxi and shouldn’t have been held responsible for the driver’s assumption. I asked to see proof of the fare, but staff demanded payment before showing a receipt. I paid in the end just to settle it, though the whole thing was handled badly and shouldn’t have happened. I hope they improve their service and accountability. I’d look elsewhere.