Casa da Carqueja 1

A godlike view.

The location is the strongest point. There are nice rooms and a living room, but the place is in very poor repair. The sofa is uncomfortable, the kitchen has very few utensils, and the bathrooms are extremely old.

The balcony view is incredible, and the apartment is very spacious in a lively historic neighbourhood with an impeccable location. It’s an old place, but the paintwork doesn’t tell the whole story: it was clean and had everything I needed for a comfortable stay. For the price, it was perfect. The service felt like warm Portuguese hospitality, attentive, kind, responsive, and meticulous. If you’re driving, be aware that the historic centre’s streets are very narrow and one-way, so parking is extremely difficult. Talk to your host about parking before you arrive, and they’ll help find a spot near the accommodation.

The apartment didn’t look like the photos, and it was all very old and run down. It was very cold, the doors inside were in bad shape, and one handle came off in my hand. The balconies were deteriorated and seemed at risk of falling. The beds were uncomfortable, and the water heater couldn’t provide enough hot water for all five people one after another.