Holiday Inn Lisbon by IHG

Getting around was easy, with the metro close by. Our rooms were spacious and clean, and the bathroom had a bathtub. Breakfast was excellent, with plenty of high-quality choices, and the staff were friendly and helpful throughout. Check-in was quick, and we could go to our room in the morning. As a member, I appreciated the late checkout. One staff member also kindly asked how my wife was doing, which felt very thoughtful.

The walls are so thin that every slam from the hallway sounded like it was inside my room, and I could hear my neighbors’ lives all around me. Nearby construction was mentioned, but that wasn’t what bothered me. The rooms themselves feel decades old and need renovation. Things were coming loose: the bathroom door was hard to move, the chair handles were loose, and the mini-fridge made noise without cooling anything. The lobby looks fine, which makes the contrast worse. As a Platinum member I got no upgrade, just one drink voucher. I received the same treatment as a Silver member in Paris years ago, so I didn’t feel much like an “Elite” guest.

The staff were mostly great, but the stay was a bad one. At check-in I was put on a smoking floor without being asked. Smoke from neighboring rooms seeped into my poorly insulated room and made the whole place stink. Cigarette smoke makes me sick, and I couldn’t sleep at night. I can’t believe an IHG hotel still permits smoking in rooms. The hotel is dated and the rooms badly need renovation. The pool was closed, and the gym’s only treadmill was broken. I’ll be complaining to IHG. This place doesn’t meet the standard.

The staff were friendly and the location is nice, but the rooms and equipment are old. We booked for two and there were only enough towels for one. The place feels like a 2-3 star hotel, and at this price I’d stay somewhere else. They should update the rooms the way they updated the lobby.