Rubens Hotels & SPA

The spa has two lovely pools, one heated indoors and one unheated outdoors, and breakfast was very tasty. The rooms are clean, comfortable, and easy to get around in, so they work well for groups of friends or family. It's a very comfortable hotel near Porto. Reception service was really friendly, with a special mention for Ines. For dinner, I'd look beyond the restaurant on site. It's not affiliated with the hotel, and there are better options nearby. I'd certainly come back!

The welcome from the staff was genuinely lovely, but a few things made the stay less comfortable. Our room felt too dark, and we had to run the tap for several minutes before getting hot water, which seemed wasteful. The bathroom door was awkward to open and shut. Breakfast and the restaurant menu didn’t offer much choice, and housekeeping didn’t come until after 6 PM. I also noticed water marks in the shared areas and poolside pillows that weren’t very clean. Some attention to these details would make a real difference.

The staff were friendly, but I wouldn’t recommend the rest of the experience. We paid €392 for two nights at a four-star hotel, yet the room looked nothing like the photos. There was no minibar in the fridge, and the bathroom was tiny with poor soundproofing. Don’t be taken in by the pictures. I’d suggest the five-star Ipanema in Porto instead: it costs less and has amazing rooms. Hilton Garden Palace was also €266 for two nights, with outstanding rooms and a hotel.

I was meant to get my room at 3:00 pm, but didn’t receive it until 6:30. I’d booked two beds and was given a room with one. They offered no fix, then left me waiting an hour without an answer. On top of that, the wardrobe was broken. That felt disrespectful, and the service was more like what I’d expect from a one-star hotel.