Hotel do Paço By VimaHotels

For the price, this was a really nice surprise. The air conditioning worked better than in most 4-star hotels I've stayed in, and the firm bed was very comfortable for me. The bathroom was roomy, and the simple room had everything I needed for one night. Breakfast was very good, hostel-style, with strong Wi-Fi and street parking too. It's a charming place for a short stay, maybe two or three nights, and a handy base for getting to Braga and Guimarães, with shopping and other entertainment nearby. A few things could be better. The TV reception was poor, the bedside lamp didn't work, and there was no shampoo. The shower gel was really hand soap, so regular use would dry out your skin. Previous guests had smoked in the bathroom. The hotel can't fully control that smell, and it takes days to clear, but they should fine people who smoke inside, since it's against the law and spoils things for future guests.

For the price and star rating, it was a very good stay. The staff were nice, the bathroom was clean, and there was parking. I liked the hard mattress, and having a car made the location work well. It might be harder to find without one. Breakfast was basic, but fair for the price. One frustrating thing was that the check-in location changed after 6 pm and nobody gave us a heads-up. There was no shampoo in the bathroom, either. And the person at the info desk kept talking about the city at 1 am. Seriously?

At least the place was easy to find. Getting any sleep was another matter. The room was tiled, as was the rest of the building, so every little sound carried. The mattresses and pillows were rock hard, which I know some people like, but I don't. The room had two tiny lights, and the windows were shut behind the shutters. When we opened them, we found ourselves facing a major road with traffic until 2 or 3 in the morning, plus a dog barking across the street. It all started again at 7. My wife and I barely slept. The place was incredibly dark. There was a stair light, but you had to use a switch at the bottom, so going downstairs at night meant needing a flashlight. Breakfast was mediocre too, with no eggs and a pretty ridiculous selection of cereal and milk.

Being able to bring animals is a big plus. The decor is lovely, the room feels fresh, and the staff are adorable. I'd happily recommend it and will definitely return :)