Santo Thyrso Villas

The room was clean and breakfast was good. Everything else was fine, though the hotel could use some improvements. The ventilation, or whatever it was, switched on early in the morning just below our windows, which was a bit annoying.

As soon as we checked in, the smell in the room appalled us. It was a mix of body odour and some kind of cleaning chemical they seemed to have used to cover it up. The air conditioning wasn’t working properly, and opening the window didn’t help in our street-facing room. By 8 pm that first evening, we asked the front desk to check us out and refund us. They contacted the manager, who agreed, but said we had to cancel through Orbitz because we’d booked through a third party. When we opened a refund ticket, Orbitz customer service said they needed to confirm with the manager. After three days, we got an email saying hotel management couldn’t be reached and hadn’t approved the refund. There were renovations going on in the building during our supposed stay, and the door locks didn’t work either. Whenever guests came back, staff had to let them into their rooms with a master key. I understand this is a small town, but a hospitality business still needs to consider its guests. It felt like they just wanted to make money, despite the hotel and rooms not being fit to host anyone. I wouldn’t recommend this “hotel” to anyone staying in Santo Tirso.

The staff were really nice, and the terrace has a good view. The beds are comfortable, though the extra bed is small, and the garage ramp is very steep. It’s a three-star hotel, so don’t expect too much. Our first room smelled of cigarettes, but after we complained right away, they moved us to another one. They only serve breakfast, no lunch or dinner, and breakfast wasn’t very good. We had to ask for more eggs because they weren’t replenished, and the orange juice didn’t really taste like orange juice.

The receptionist helped me map out a running and cycling route and pointed me to a really special restaurant, ferro velho. I also had no trouble checking out late and showering after a long ride, and there’s a free garage right beneath the hotel. I only stayed one day, but choosing this central hotel was a good call. The rooms work well for a short visit, breakfast gave me a nice boost, and there’s a bar for a drink before bed. The staff were capable, friendly, and focused on guests. I’ll definitely come back.