Storytellers Villas

We booked another hotel after the property said they couldn't find a reservation under our name. We never received a confirmation email, and I checked the junk folder too, before contacting them on Messenger. Later, they said they did have our booking but refused to refund us. I'd avoid this place.

I wouldn't stay here again. They advertise themselves as a four-star hotel, but after our experience I have serious doubts, and I even wondered whether the positive reviews were fake. The woman at reception was also cleaning rooms and seemed to be handling everything herself. She was very nice, and I don't blame her, but she struggled with both English and Portuguese. It felt unfair that one person was expected to do it all. I handed over my passport and my husband's, and she returned mine along with someone else's. I had to point out twice that it was the wrong passport. She said she was hot, busy cleaning, and had become confused. The made-to-order breakfast they advertise was deli meat and cheese, and looked disgusting to us. When I emailed about it, they replied that they make things fresh every day and were sorry it didn't meet my standards. The coffee machine in our room didn't work, so we had to get coffee at the café next door. We ate in our room because the breakfast area was apparently dirty, something we weren't told before arrival. Our room wasn't cleaned while we were out for the day. When I raised it, I was told I should have put the door sign out to request cleaning. Nobody mentioned that at check-in, and there was no sign in the room explaining it. In every other hotel I've stayed at, housekeeping knocks if there's no sign. That felt unprofessional and like poor service, and another way to run things cheaply. They also advertise parking, but it's actually the public lot across the street, so finding a space is a gamble. The shower ran out of hot water, and the advertised air conditioning was just a fan. For what we paid, we could have had an Airbnb much cheaper. This is barely a one-star place and not worth the time or money.

We had a great stay. The apartment was spotless, and its kitchen made it easy to cook, reheat, or store food. It had two bedrooms, which suited three adults and a toddler perfectly. The furniture was comfortable, and the beds were firm without being uncomfortable. The location was ideal for us: the hop-on bus stops across the plaza, and historic Sintra is about a 25-minute walk away. There's a BP station with a small grocery store roughly ten minutes on foot. The staff and the cat were both friendly and helpful. We'd highly recommend staying here.

A lovely garden where breakfast is served, cute restaurants nearby, and a very kind, accommodating concierge. The place is quaint and close to the Castle of the Moors. Sintra town is walkable too, though expect hills and plenty of walking.