I had planned a trip whale watching in the Azores, with New Scientist Discovery Tours. So I decided to drive to Lisbon and do some sightseeing before taking the trip.
Booking offered more than 100 4-star and 5-star hotels in the city. I decided to try for a 4-star hotel in the old city, with parking, spa, etc., and the Lisboa Pessoa Hotel was the only hotel offering these services. Booking rated the hotel a 9.3 (Superb) based on 3961 reviews. Tripadvisor gave it a 4.6 (Very Good) based upon 799 reviews.
I contacted the hotel to be sure its underground parking could accommodate a car more than 5 metres long.
However, I made a few miscalculations. Firstly, I presumed that being in the old city centre I would be near to the major tourist attractions, e.g. museums, etc. Secondly, I presumed that the only problem would be the parking.
In fact the major museums are not near the old city centre, and the road network in the old centre is very narrow and tight. I was lucky to make it into the hotel underground garage.
I was quite surprised at a day price of more than €300 for bed & breakfast, however my ‘miscalculations’ don’t influence my overall review of the hotel. Even taking into consideration that May is in the ‘tourist season’ and I was staying over a weekend, nevertheless, the price was above average. However, the key decision point was the secure parking.
The hotel was very proactive in addressing my email requests concerning the parking, and they allowed me to leave the car there during my trip to the Azores (parking €16 per day).
Reception
First positive was that the porter came down to the parking to ensure that I managed the tight space underground. He took my bags, took me through the check-in, and showed me the room and its features. He was excellent, if a touch “over the top”, but I prefer that to being ignored.
The hotel “is what it is”, it’s “squashed” into an old building in the old city. They have done a great job in creating a modern atmosphere, with parking, spa, and rooftop terrace and restaurant. The down side is a small reception area, no natural light in the corridors, and rooms a bit on the tight side (but perfectly functional).
The room
The room was comfortable and functional. Positives were that the mini-bar was free and replenished daily, and the sheet and towels were excellent quality. The decor was fresh and modern, and the cleaning was perfect (if a bit slow). Also the lighting and plug options were perfect. Wifi was fine.
Negatives:-
- Firstly, the wall-safe was too small to take a laptop.
- The seat was uncomfortable and the table too small to be useful.
- I found the bed a bit soft, I prefer a harder mattress, with a topper. But I liked the extra-hard cushions on the bed (not good for sleeping but great for “sitting-up”).
- No Nespresso machine, but there was a water heater and the usual coffee-tea options.
- The bathrobes were far too small, but the slippers were nice.
The porter was quite enthusiastic about the Juliet balcony looking onto the main street. I can’t say I was totally enamoured with the view.
On the other hand, it was very “typical”. The house in front was not tiled, and like every house in the street, it had its washing lines ready to take the daily washing.
The bathroom
The bathroom was also a bit tight but functional. Amenities were good quality, but the toilet paper was thin, and the cold water pressure was low. The face towels were a nice addition.
Breakfast
Breakfast was well prepared and complete. I enjoyed the fruit selection, the choice of butter (salted and unsalted) and breads, and the coffee selection. I couldn’t find any orange marmalade.
Seating was nice with little alcoves, and views over the city.
The Spa
The spa was included with the room, which was a big positive. They did a good job squeezing in a plunge pool, sauna, steam room, and relaxation area. The sauna, as usual, was not sufficiently hot, but the steam room was perfect.
Often you find these spa spaces empty, but here it was clearly very popular.
Conclusion
This is not a reflection on the quality of the hotel itself, even if I found it rather expensive. But given the narrow streets and tight parking, I would prefer to find a more modern hotel with easily accessible parking. And I see no real advantage to staying in the old city centre, given that the museums, etc. are spread out over the city, and Uber is an easy option.
