Santa Eufémia Covilhã Hotel

There’s no restaurant, but the hotel is near a mall with a food court and shops, including Continente. The breakfast was nice, a bit like an English breakfast, and I really liked the coffee. There were also cereals and pastries, plus a gym and sauna. I checked in online, so getting my key card was quick, and the receptionist gave me useful tips about the area. My room had a lovely balcony view.

Quiet rooms and a good breakfast. For the price, it’s a really good option.

The bar area was nicely decorated, and we got a warm welcome. Parking was free and felt safe. Breakfast was adequate, nothing special, and I was surprised there wasn’t any wine at the bar. The rooms felt a little small and could use a few basics: a full-length mirror, a fridge, tea and coffee facilities, and maybe a couple of balcony chairs.

I picked this hotel because of the sauna, but it was closed for renovation at the time. We came back this year, and it wasn’t as good as last year. The biggest disappointment was finding the sauna still closed after 12 months. If the hotel says it has a sauna, it should make it available. The room was clean, tidy and comfortable, and the staff were friendly and warm, but breakfast options were poor and included canned food instead of fresh. My bath had two broken tiles, and although the shower worked well, it was noisy. The manager should check these things. Even with two stars, the hotel is more comfortable than some three-star places.