Hotel Cristal Setúbal

We spent two nights here while visiting from Canada. The beds were really comfortable, and I was happy to see they use duvets. Breakfast was included and fit for a king, with fresh-squeezed orange juice, too. I’d highly recommend the Cristal Hotel. 10-10

The room was fine and the staff were all nice, but the breakfast really let the place down. There were plenty of choices, yet it felt like they’d gone for quantity over quality, and nothing seemed very fresh. I’m surprised others have praised it. The hotel itself feels like a fairly standard business stay, and the area around it isn’t very nice.

Breakfast was a strong point, with a wide buffet selection and attentive, helpful staff. The hotel is comfortable and sits in a quiet residential neighborhood. Parking was the stressful part: the garage entrance is narrow and twisty, especially difficult with a larger vehicle, and getting out felt even worse. Staff warned me when I arrived, which helped me plan, but I left the car on a nearby street the second night after finding a space. That worked out fine. It’s a good option in the area.

The location is quite far from the main town, in a residential area, so tourists should keep that in mind when choosing where to stay. There’s a small gym on site, enough for a basic weights routine. The rooms look lovely, feel modern and clean, and have plenty of storage, though the bathroom design is awkward: the door nearly hits the sink, and getting out of the shower or bath is a bit of a climb because of the glass panel and the way it opens. Soundproofing could be better, and the old-fashioned dryer has very little power. They only provide tiny boxes of water, but I appreciated having a kettle for tea. Breakfast was good enough, though the coffee wasn’t great. Service was good but not especially warm or friendly. The hotel manager did kindly help me with train information.