Vila D'Obidos

We had a five-night stay and, since it was off-season, got lucky with an upgrade to a second-floor room overlooking the castle. The views were the best part. It's easy to reach, there's lots of free parking, and the location is great. Breakfast was very good, with attentive people at reception and in the restaurant. The pool, sauna and Turkish bath were clean and well kept. Also, don't be surprised if the black cat joins you at breakfast. He seems to be part host, part guest.

The staff were nice and very helpful, but I wouldn't recommend this place unless it makes some changes and cleans things up. I'm glad we only stayed two nights, though even that felt like two nights too many. Breakfast didn't earn it another star. The rooms seemed clean, but they were white, with a large window between the bedroom and shower. The bathroom had old yellow marble instead of white tiles, which was at least some color. The bathroom door was badly rotten, the mirror had rust on it, and the room felt humid enough to need extra measures. The furniture looked like it hadn't been changed since 1970. I get the impression management doesn't know, and that the money goes to the owners. The building smells like a big swimming pool, and there's a vaporizer in the lobby trying to cover the odor. Maybe the air-conditioning filters need cleaning now and then. Inside, I found all the shiny white marble floors, white walls and ceilings cold and lacking warmth. The lobby and entrance look great if that's your thing, though the desk is brown. Outside, it's an ugly white concrete building beside a big hall for parties, set in a bare white-stone square. It feels like a waste of nature, and God must be crying over what happened to his creation. The outside pool area has a green fence and a few plants, so at least there's some color and a nicer feel there. The walls aren't white, which is a relief. That was enough to bump my rating to two stars, but the rest brought it back to one.

It's in a quiet spot and the architecture is pleasing, but the hotel is pretty run down and badly needs renovation. Given its condition, the price is why I rate it three stars.

The breakfast buffet was nice, the service courteous, and the hotel is handy for both Óbidos and Peniche. But the soundproofing between rooms could use more attention. I could hear the person next door snoring, and trust me, it was quiet snoring. That's a big no-no for me.