Blissful Suites Porto by gaiarooms

The apartment is a long way from the main sights, and it’s up a hill. Walking toward the centre is fine, but getting back up is hard. It’s on a busy road with traffic around the clock, so there’s a lot of street noise. The only ground-floor apartment had a stale, rotten smell from the kitchen sink. The curtains and sofa had soaked up cooking smells, and the sofa was stained all over. The fridge was broken and noisy on top of the traffic. A good night’s sleep was hard to come by. We messaged the hotel on WhatsApp about it; they acknowledged the problem and said they’d fix it, but never did. Check-in was another hassle: I needed a digital key and had to check in before arrival, but they kept emailing a broken link. I finally managed through WhatsApp. I wouldn’t choose this for a family with kids. It might suit a very fit couple on a budget, since it cost 30% less than places closer to the centre.

The apartments are spacious and modern. Our unit also had air conditioning, indoor parking and a washing machine, which were great extras.

The rooms are clean and have everything you need, and I’d recommend the place. Online service is available 24/7, and they try to help quickly, even with small questions or problems. It’s near the city centre, and taxis are reasonably priced. There can be school noise in the mornings on weekdays, but it didn’t bother us. Parking in the garage may be tricky with a big car.

Very clean and spacious, with good amenities and a modern, chic feel. There’s parking and an elevator. The only small downside is street noise on the first floor. Otherwise, a very good place to stay.