VIP Grand Lisboa Hotel & Spa

It’s an okay place if being near transport matters. The airport, train station, and metro are all convenient, and for the price it’s decent value, though I’m not convinced it deserves five stars. My 12th-floor view was lovely, but dirty windows got in the way. Breakfast had a good range and nice fruit, though the quality was average and the juices came from a machine. The bed was low and quite hard, the sheets felt paper-like, and there were no outlets beside the bed, shaving mirror, or iron in the room. There are just two elevators, and they’re slow, stopping on every floor at busy times. With no parking at the entrance, picking up or dropping off can get stressful when cars start honking. Nothing wow, but it works for a convenient stay.

The gym was probably the worst I’ve come across in a hotel. Some equipment was broken, padding was torn, the rowing machine’s monitor was dead, and the treadmill was so noisy it felt unsafe. That’s a poor showing for a place calling itself five stars. Breakfast was disappointing too: a basic spread, supermarket-looking pastries, stained dishes, dirty placemats, and coffee machines already messy early in the morning. On day two the scrambled eggs ran out and took nearly half an hour to come back. Eggs are the bare minimum at breakfast. The furniture was cheap and uncomfortable. The room itself was dark, dated, and poorly cared for. There was no ceiling light, the lamps were weak, and no outlet by the bed. The furniture was old and neglected, and there was no iron, ironing board, or even kettle. In the bathroom, there was visible mould on the tub walls and tiles. Water swung from scalding to freezing, and the sink barely had any pressure. The elevators were very slow, and there was little attention to detail. I’ve seen the hotel’s repeated copy-and-paste replies to negative reviews about evaluating the situation, but the same problems seem to remain unresolved. I travel often and this was one of my most disappointing stays, especially for a claimed five-star property. It feels more like three stars, generously. I wouldn’t return or recommend it.

We’d booked for December 24 and 25 hoping to enjoy the spa. The listing said the pool was closed for renovation, but mentioned a spa, so we planned around that. At check-in, though, we were told the spa was closed that day. That really upset us. Then I saw the condition of the room’s furniture and lamps, and just wanted to leave. We’d hoped for a nice break, but it was impossible to enjoy ourselves in those conditions. This isn’t a five-star hotel, three stars at most. I was very disappointed and wouldn’t recommend it.

I’d worried about the booking after reading the reviews, but we had a really good few days and nothing to complain about. The staff at reception and the bar were lovely, professional, and helpful. Room service had plenty of food choices, and things generally ran smoothly. I also liked being able to connect my phone to the TV without trouble. The pool was a decent size for cooling off, even if it’s a little shallow and not for champion swimmers. The water was clean and cool, not cold. We went around 5pm twice, and it wasn’t busy, with no kids there. The spa area was nice too. Our room was spacious enough, soundproof, and the AC worked perfectly. Loved the marble bathroom and the hotel’s interior design. The windows really need cleaning, especially if you keep the blinds up. The location was perfect, close to the metro, train station, and lots of good restaurants. It felt safer and more convenient than the crowded, hectic center. The airport was only 12 minutes by taxi, and an Uber cost 6 euros. I’d book again and hope the rating goes up. Thank you 🌺