Dear Lisbon - Charming House

We found the room much too cramped for the price. There was barely room for our two small suitcases, nowhere to hang clothes, and very little space overall. We had booked the street-view category, but I wouldn’t choose it again because the room felt so small and plain. The location worked well, with restaurants nearby and many attractions within reach, though there are hills to walk. What really made the stay, though, was the lovely staff. We enjoyed chatting with them each day. Breakfast was good too, with different fruit each morning and the best hotel scrambled eggs I’ve had.

The staff were so thoughtful. They made my birthday special and helped us figure out the city. Breakfast was delicious, especially the croissants, and sitting outside in the backyard pool area was such a nice vibe. When we couldn’t get to breakfast, they packed sandwiches and juice for us. The rooms were clean, and the shared spaces were lovely for relaxing. Highly recommend :)

The breakfast was the letdown. There was barely a crumb of bacon on the first day and none after that. Staff kept saying more was being made, then admitted it wasn’t when I asked again. The choices were meagre and weren’t replenished, and the coffee selection was very limited. The hotel itself is on a quiet side street, with restaurants, bars and cafés nearby. Our first-floor room was spacious and looked onto the courtyard. Staff were friendly, though some of their suggestions for places to visit sounded a bit rehearsed.

We paid extra for the two loft rooms because they were bigger, but I wouldn’t recommend them if you want a warm shower. On the first night, around 9pm, we waited an hour for hot water. I let it go, thinking perhaps it was a Christmas Day issue. The next morning, at 9 or 10, my room still had no hot water. Reception said they’d called someone to fix it, and the receptionist kindly showed me an empty room one floor below where there was hot water. The location was great, no complaint there. Still, I’d expect at least a drink or breakfast as an apology, and there was nothing like that.