Apartment in the historic center of Porto

I stayed in 3T. São Bento is about a 15-minute walk away, though there isn't a metro station very close. The third floor is quiet, away from the other tenants coming and going, and there's decent privacy for a shared place. The beautiful solid-wood staircase is three storeys high and really hard to climb. The half bathroom setup was clever. The bedroom ceiling worked for someone 5.3 feet tall. The bed was comfortable, the white towels and linens were fresh, and I liked the full-length mirrors downstairs. The sofa bed quilt had no cover, and I wondered if it was washed after each guest. I asked the owner for a cover and got no reply, so I assumed I was meant to use it as is. Hugo usually replied promptly to messages. When I left home before confirming my arrival details, my phone connection failed and I lost contact. A shopkeeper nearby helped me look up Hugo and get in touch, and he arrived quickly. He was a bit unhappy when he realized I wasn't the guest he'd expected, since I hadn't replied with my arrival information. Make sure to answer the email with those details before leaving home. There was what seemed like renovation work nearby and a dog barking, so those noises are something to consider. The cleaner should air out the room while cleaning, since the living room windows and bedroom skylight can be opened. The place has most things needed for a comfortable stay, and knowing what suits me, I'd stay again.

The house itself is beautiful, but poor cleaning and upkeep nearly ruined my vacation. It was damp and cold, smelled musty, and had signs of fungus. This felt like tourist apartments run to make easy money. I contacted the owner, who was pleasant, but charged me for cleaning and tourist taxes without giving a receipt. Despite my complaints, she offered no details. For them, it seems to be easy money. I won't post photos because I don't want to hurt the business any further.

The room was roomy and comfortable, with a good bed, a large bathroom, a well-equipped kitchen, and a hot shower. There wasn't really anything missing. We got quick replies when problems came up during what was already an unlucky holiday, but nobody is on site. We stayed three nights and the room was never tidied, since cleaning isn't part of the upfront price and would have cost extra. There's no luggage storage there either, though a paid service will pick up your bags and bring them back when you leave. It's a very comfortable, spacious room, just good to know these things in advance.

The area has plenty of shops and supermarkets, and the apartment is fairly central on a quiet street without much traffic. The entry code made getting in easy, even with a late-night check-in. At night, though, be a little careful: the adjacent street has women dressed quite provocatively who seem to be working there. Cleaning wasn't great. Over our two days, the water we mopped up from the floor was black. The beds were uncomfortable, the floor creaked, and there weren't many dishes.