Alegria 283

Check-in was a nightmare. I got in late, followed the instructions, and found there was no key in the lockbox. The guy at the number on booking.com seemed completely lost. He kept asking me to confirm my booking for 20 minutes, then asked whether I was sure the accommodation was in Porto and not Lisbon. He was extremely incompetent and then acted as though he had hung up. I called back, went through another 10 minutes of “verification,” and after nearly an hour he said he couldn't help. I had to find a hotel at the last minute at 1am. Worst check-in I've ever had. Avoid at all costs!

We had already paid when, just twelve hours before arrival, we were told the apartment wasn't available anymore. They offered another place several kilometers away in a different neighborhood. The message came at 11pm, and nobody answered our questions or concerns, not even the following morning. Thankfully, Booking.com helped resolve it by canceling the reservation and refunding me.

We stayed in the attic unit. At first glance it looked very nice and had been renovated well, and the price was low. But the bed was in poor shape, with springs digging into our backs, and there was no mattress protector. The apartment was well located but noisy. We had trouble reaching anyone by phone, and the access code they sent was wrong. There was no extension cord for the air conditioner, no dish sponge or washing-up liquid, and only a tiny dish towel. There was nowhere to hang towels in the bathroom, and the kitchen lights didn't work. Even at a low price, a basic level of comfort should be provided.