Hotel São José Porto

My stay wasn’t comfortable, even though the staff were incredibly warm and friendly. I got several bug bites from the bed, the air conditioning wasn’t working properly, and there was hardly any sound insulation. You could hear everything from the rooms nearby and the hallways.

The rooms seemed clean, and the staff were nice. They have AC, too, but I didn’t get much rest for the price. You can hear doors slamming all the time, and there’s no carpet to soften the noise. I asked for a quiet room, but with people coming and going along a full floor, that wasn’t really possible. The mattresses are hard and not very comfortable, and there’s no fridge, coffee maker, or other amenities. The lounge and bar are dark, usually empty, and have a strange old smell.

The hotel is obviously old, but for the price my friend and I liked it. We got a double room with one large bed and two singles, even though we’d booked for two people, which was a nice surprise and gave us both more privacy. The rooms were clean, and the location is great, right by the metro and close to the cathedral, with lots of shops and cafes around.

It’s a clean and nice place in a central spot, in a building with seventies architecture. A few things could use updating, like the room doors, and the staff could use a little more English to serve guests better. There’s a small but OK otopark for 10 Euros a day, an elevator, a lovely spiral staircase, and a welcome glass of wine. The middle-aged woman at reception was very pleasant. Breakfast is 12.5 Euros per person. There may be eggs, but I’d have liked a bit more variety for that price.