Hotel Rainha Santa Isabel

The mosaic bathroom is beautiful, and the room was nice. It’s a perfect location. The style is a bit old-fashioned, but that’s part of its charm.

We stayed one night in April 2025, two adults and one young child, and had a wonderful experience. The receptionist was super friendly and helpful, sharing lots of information, and check-in and check-out were smooth. The hotel has a lot of character and feels like stepping back into the medieval age. It’s right on the picturesque main street, with a lively daytime feel as tourists head to and from the castle. There are plenty of shops selling souvenirs and handmade items, as well as several restaurants nearby. The village is very small, and the castle is about a 5-minute walk away, with the main entrance around 8 minutes away. Breakfast was okay, with only a few choices, but we enjoyed it. I really disliked the cold lighting in the breakfast room and wish they’d replace it with warmer lights. The main parking area is a 10-minute walk away, so getting trolleys or large luggage there can be difficult, especially when the main street is crowded. That’s not the hotel’s fault, but it can be a challenge. I definitely recommend staying here.

BED BUGS and more!!!!! I was bitten all over after staying here. We sorted the reviews from lowest to highest and found many people complaining about the same recurring problem. That makes it seem the hotel knows about it, but the steps to get rid of the parasite have been ineffective, or perhaps nonexistent. The lift doesn’t work, which is impractical for families with children or babies, and for people with physical disabilities. I had to carry all my family’s luggage up to the second floor by myself. Breakfast was very poor. The location is good, but you can’t reach it by car. Free parking is advertised, but the parking we could find was 600 m from the hotel. It was a very bad experience, probably my worst in Portugal, and it ruined what could have been a great family vacation. After I emailed the hotel management, I got no reply, which left me feeling they don’t care about their guests. Stay away!!!

The booking problem was sorted out only after I showed the man at the desk his own email confirming my reservation. I’d booked directly with the hotel in November for a January stay, but when we arrived, the booking wasn’t there. Luckily, I still had all the emails saved. The town was empty, so they had a room available, and they accepted the fee they’d confirmed back in November. The building is charming but feels in full decline. The lift doesn’t work, though the beds are comfortable and breakfast is okay. Service is nearly nonexistent. I chose the hotel for its location and only stayed one night. If I’d been staying longer, I probably would have looked for somewhere else.