Casa Mãe Lagos

We loved staying in the winding streets of the old town, and the hotel is beautiful, trendy, and stylish. We slept really well and liked having a pillow menu. We also did a private sunset boat tour with another traveling couple. The views were stunning, and the boat driver knew the area well. The pool was a little too cold when we visited, and our spa massages were just okay. When you park, feel free to leave your luggage in the car, since it’s a bit of a walk. Hotel staff will come get it for you. We also highly recommend Madame!, the organic wine bar in town. The owner was friendly and knew a lot.

The pool, private patio, and morning yoga or pilates were among the amenities we loved. The peaceful grounds have a garden and an eco feel, and our large room had indoor plants and thoughtful touches. We were a 10-minute walk from the city center and a 10-minute ride from the beach. The grill master did a great job with the steak on barbecue night. My mother and I splurged on four nights in a cabana for my birthday, and while we loved most of the stay, it was expensive for the service I’d expect at a five-star hotel. The reception staff seemed young, bothered, and didn’t greet us, except for one friendly and helpful woman. Some details were a bit janky: our front door knob was broken, the shower doors didn’t close all the way, and there were ants crawling on the bed. The rooms are designed more for couples, with the tub out in the open and a glass shower, so there isn’t much privacy. That could work well for a romantic getaway. It’s a great choice for a special occasion, but I’m curious why they ask about the occasion on all the platforms if they don’t acknowledge it. At our next hotel, which cost half as much, I got a cute birthday display and a handwritten card when we arrived. Otherwise, we loved our stay, but I’d stay elsewhere for the price if it weren’t a special occasion. Still, credit where it’s due, five stars overall.

We stayed in the Oeste cottage, a large, bright room with a terrace overlooking the gardens. It was extremely quiet. The restaurant food was so good that we almost didn’t want to leave the hotel, though we did walk to dinner in the old city a couple of nights. Casa Mae is a gem within Lagos’s historic walls, with lovely gardens and a wonderful restaurant. The rooms are large and well appointed.

Portugal has been polite and accommodating, but Casa Mae was not. I was charged for a stay that never happened. Once I learned about the booking, I contacted them to say I wouldn’t be in town and needed to cancel. Assistant manager Miguel told me to email them to cancel, without giving me any other information. I trusted that was all I needed to do. Instead, the email reply cited a cancellation policy I hadn’t known about and said my card had been charged for the full stay. Miguel could have told me that on the phone. There was no explanation or care. I contacted him again to ask why he hadn’t mentioned it and to seek a resolution for the $3,000 taken from my account. Through my tears, Miguel said the stay could be refunded, but he couldn’t decide that and I’d have to speak to his manager. I asked to speak with the manager and was told to call back at 3pm. When I called then, they only said they’d call when she was available. I never got a call. Instead, an email arrived in the middle of the night repeating their cancellation policy. I don’t expect a business to make exceptions for everyone, but this was handled very poorly. I won’t recommend Casa Mae as a place to stay.