Hotel Martinhal Lisbon Chiado

Martinhal was our first stop after traveling from Hawaii to Lisbon for Christmas with our three children, and we were welcomed so warmly by the staff. While we handled the paperwork, the kids were taken to the kids club, where backpacks of toys were ready for them. My seven-year-old was disappointed her bag didn’t have a stuffed animal like her little sister’s, so the staff quickly brought her another backpack with one inside and let her keep both. After a 30-hour trip, it was such a relief to have our room ready for a nap as soon as we arrived. A baby cot and other baby supplies were already there. The room was spacious, with a kitchen and some food in the fridge, and there were free flip flops for everyone, even the baby. The location was lovely, with plenty within walking distance. Breakfast was great too, with lots of choice, including fruit, cheeses, breads, sparkling wine, eggs, bacon, and made-to-order omelets. We booked a date night for our two older kids at the kids disco and also used the free babysitting service during the day. For another night out, a nanny looked after our six-month-old, who went right to sleep and was still asleep when we got back. I only wish we’d spent more of the trip at Martinhal. We’ll always remember this visit and hope we can come back soon!

The hotel is so central that it was easy to get around on foot or by Uber, and breakfast was included each morning. Traveling with our 3.5- and 6-year-olds was easy here. They loved the kids club at night, and we also used the private babysitting, thanks Johanna! The little touches help a lot, like bathroom step stools, a stocked fridge with fresh fruit, and child-sized robes and flip flops. I’d recommend it highly. The only downside is that this hotel line doesn’t seem to operate outside Portugal.

The large double beds alone make Martinhal Lisbon Chiado worth it, since they’re quite rare in Portugal, and the location is excellent too. Our 1.5-year-old only went to the children’s playroom once. Lisbon’s trams and other ways of getting around kept him entertained. We loved the thoughtful kid-sized touches, especially the cutlery and unbelievably cute little flip-flops 🥰 He also got a small present on arrival, which was a lovely gesture.

The rooms were huge, which was nice, though we spent most of our time out exploring. My kids were 9 and 11, and the kids club seemed too babyish for them. The location was fantastic, and breakfast was good, but they were slow to replenish the food and used required time slots. For a “5 star hotel,” I expected more from the rooms. There were carpet stains and scratches all over the walls. We called maintenance because the tub filled while we showered, the shower head didn’t work at all, and the regular sink was backed up. They fixed these issues, but room care should be a higher priority at a hotel with that rating. It was a nice stay, but there may be cheaper options in the same area. My mom used points from her Disney vacation that she transferred over. If we’d paid the full price ourselves, we would’ve been very disappointed.