Varandas De Lisboa Tejo Guest house

Mr. Saj at reception made things easy for us, always greeting us warmly, and the rest of the staff were kind and helpful too. I also liked having two shared kitchens available for cooking. The rooms were spotless and seemed newly fitted out, even in the older building, which gives it some charm. The location made it easy to get around on foot, with Alfama, tram 28, the metro, the seaside, cafes and restaurants all nearby. There was some noise from upstairs, probably because of the old floor structure, but it didn't take too much away from our stay.

The central location was good, but I'd choose somewhere else next time. We weren't expecting a five-star hotel, but this was below the standard of other budget places we've stayed in. The cheapest room may not reflect the larger ones, but I found it pretty poor. The room was clean and tidy, though the bed and pillows were so uncomfortable we slept badly all week. There was no mirror, and only two outlets for the lamps, so charging anything meant using the overhead lights. We tried sleeping in later, but noise made that difficult too. On Saturday morning, we could hear what we assume was housekeeping staff talking word for word. The doors were loud whenever someone opened, shut or locked them. Better soundproofing would help. There were many drug dealers outside who kept pressuring us to buy from them. I realize the hotel has little control over that, but I wouldn't stay here with children. Staff didn't ask how our stay had been at checkout, or I would've mentioned these problems then.

We had a great four-night stay, and the friendly staff helped make everything go smoothly. They let us check in early after a stressful airport arrival, took care of simple requests like towels and housekeeping, and gave us the information we needed. The location was a perfect, safe base for exploring. It's flat and close to the major sights, and even our Uber and tuktuk drivers said it was ideally placed. Basic amenities are provided, though there aren't any coffee pods. There are several cafes nearby.

I stayed here for 12 days, and my room was always clean and convenient. The bathrooms were shared, but that didn't cause me any trouble. The staff were all kind and cheerful, and Saj in particular was generous and warm. I cooked in the mornings, and the kitchen equipment was all good. I had a lovely time in Lisbon and promise I'll stay here again when I come back.