Hotel Girassol

A very clean, comfortable and quiet room, and the toilet was spotless too. The staff were friendly and really helpful, and reception is open 24 hours. There’s an excellent restaurant right next door. A good place to save money and spend your time exploring the city.

The decor is a little dated, but the place was clean throughout our stay. For such a low price in this location, that’s a reasonable compromise. The breakfast was simple but filling: croissants, bread, butter, jam, yogurt, fruit, milk and coffee. Staff were very attentive and spoke English for guests who don’t speak Portuguese. We had a great stay in Porto. The location is excellent for restaurants and public transport, and nearly all the things to do in the city are within walking distance. Good value for money.

The location was a big plus, with plenty of places reachable on foot. The rooms weren’t too small, and the cleaning staff did a great job, always leaving lots of towels. There are steps at the hotel entrance, though, so it could be difficult if you can’t carry heavy luggage or manage several stairs. A marathon took place in the area and roads were closed to cars, so check that in advance if it matters to you. I had a lot of trouble with the shower. The tub wouldn’t drain properly and water backed up, even after I reported it and was told it had been fixed. The water temperature changed randomly, which was especially upsetting in winter, and the hair dryer didn’t work. Neither did the Wi-Fi. The draining issue really grossed me out, and without Wi-Fi I used up my limited mobile data.

The room was as expected and clean. Some older, vintage-style furniture gave it a nice touch. The location was really convenient, right in the centre and close to the train station, with Flix bus station about 8 minutes away. The price could have been a bit lower, but given the time of year and everything else, it was fine. The service was especially good. We met several receptionists, and every one was extremely nice, helpful, responsive and attentive. They spoke all the languages we needed.