Downtown Loulé

Our room was at the back, so it was super quiet, and the location was great for exploring this lovely town. We had a queen-size bed with crisp white linen and two pillows each. There was a claw-foot bath at the foot of the bed, with shower gel, and an open wardrobe. A separate little room had the toilet, sink, shelves, towels, and hairdryer. Wooden shutters and French doors opened onto a small balcony with a table and seating for two. Continental breakfast was delivered to our room in the morning, and checkout was by 11 a.m. The stay was chic and elegant in central Loule. The accommodation is on the building's third level, but don't let that put you off. It has a private door into the entry hall, with bedroom access straight off the hall. There's also a small kitchenette there with tea and coffee facilities and what you need if you order food to enjoy in your room. You get an old-style lock and key when you arrive. Fabulous stay.

The staff were awesome and really friendly, and the location is perfect, right in the heart of the city. We loved our room and will stay in the same one again. That bathtub alone makes us want to come back. It's a big, old-style claw-foot tub with a handheld shower for rinsing off or taking a basic shower. The bed was comfy. We weren't used to the memory foam pillows, but they were fine. We misunderstood and didn't realize you had to request breakfast in advance. I think a basic breakfast of pastry, coffee, and juice could just be left outside the door at an arranged time. They offered to order one for us, but by then we'd gone to a cafe across the street. The stairs may be an issue for anyone who can't manage them. It's on the second floor with no lift. There's a chair lift, but it's very slow and I'm not even sure it works. There's also a medical clinic on the first floor, with many people coming and going wearing masks.

We had room 6 with the balcony, but left after an hour because the bathtub leaked and wouldn't hold water. The hotel couldn't fix it before our original checkout time and wasn't willing to offer a discount. Half the room wasn't usable, and we didn't think that was reasonable or how a host should behave. We did not damage the room, despite what the owner implies. We checked in, tried to fill the bath, and contacted staff right away when it wouldn't fill. Accusing us of damaging the hotel to get a discount is beyond anything I could imagine. I've never experienced anything like it. After a long trip, we'd looked forward to the bath, and we'd spent quite a lot on a taxi to get there. We aren't short of money and had no bad intentions. This is defamation, and that's illegal.

The staff were friendly, and the hotel was nice. The rooms were clean and had everything you need, though the area was a bit noisy.