Hotel a 3 stelle in Distretto di Porto, Portogallo

Last year I had the most wonderful stay at Menina Colina, and was excited to return. Unfortunately I now wish I had reserved elsewhere, as it has been nothing but a disappointment. Prices are so much higher than a year ago, but I thought I got what was a good deal on the garden room. Turns out it is greatly overpriced for what is offered, as it has none of the exquisite design or attention to detail that the interior rooms have. It also seems to be neglected in terms of maintenance. The coffee machine was leaking, and after reporting it, it was made out to be my fault as I was using it incorrectly. I had to physically show a member of staff the leaked water for them to agree to replace it. I was really annoyed that they felt that they needed to demonstrate to me how it works rather than just replacing it immediately. The next disappointment was that the room was initially not serviced at all, and no explanation was given. When you are paying $165 for a mediocre room (not even including breakfast), one would at the very least expect the bins to be emptied. The bathroom also had a terrible smell that permeated the room, and mosquitoes were a problem too. Management did offer me lunch or attendance of their fado show, but none of these arrangements fitted into my busy programme. I thought a small financial compensation would have made more sense. That did not happen, and nothing further was mentioned or discussed on check-out. The final issue was the online check-out which they require. When I tried to complete it, my bill was for my entire stay, although 3 of the 4 nights had already been paid months in advance. So my conclusion is unfortunately that Menina Colina’s standards have dropped significantly, and that it is overpriced for the lack of attention to detail that is evident in several areas.

I recently spent four nights at Aparthotel Oporto Sol, and while my stay was overall okay, it came with a few drawbacks. First, the location is a bit outside the main area of Porto, which required some extra effort to get into the heart of the city. While the surroundings were quiet and less crowded, I did find myself relying on public transport or taxis more than I would have liked. One of the main issues was the absence of air conditioning in the bedroom. During my stay, the temperatures were warm, and it made things uncomfortable at night. Opening the windows was not an option due to the presence of mosquitoes outside, which meant I struggled to find a comfortable sleeping temperature. On the positive side, the apartment itself was spacious and generally clean. The amenities were adequate for my needs, and the staff was friendly and helpful, albeit a few blocks over. I appreciated the kitchenette, which allowed me to prepare some of my own meals during my stay. In summary, while my stay at Aparthotel Oporto Sol had its merits, the lack of air conditioning and its location outside the main area impacted my overall experience. If you're sensitive to heat or prefer to be in the city center, you may want to consider other options. Otherwise, it serves as a decent accommodation for those seeking a quieter spot.

Tutto bene. Il problema è stato trovare l'hotel: non c'era un cartello grande e gli appartamenti sono dall'altra parte della strada. La metropolitana è a 100 metri e offre un accesso diretto all'aeroporto. Il centro città è a due fermate. La camera era bella e pulita, ma i materassi non erano molto comodi. Buon rapporto qualità-prezzo.

La posizione di questo hotel è imbattibile: proprio accanto alla fermata del tram e a un grande magazzino, il che lo rende estremamente comodo. La camera era pulita, moderna e confortevole, il che è stato un grande vantaggio. Tuttavia, la colazione è stata deludente. La scelta era limitata e le uova strapazzate erano decisamente troppo cotte, quasi gommose. Un po' più di attenzione alla colazione farebbe un'enorme differenza.

La camera era molto spaziosa, con tavolo e sedie da pranzo, oltre a una cucina completamente attrezzata con elettrodomestici, incluso un forno. C'era anche un grande televisore e una zona doccia separata. La receptionist, una gentile ragazza con gli occhiali, è stata estremamente disponibile in ogni aspetto: mi ha persino aiutato a organizzare l'intervento di un tecnico per rimuovere il lucchetto metallico attaccato alla mia valigia, cosa di cui le sono molto grata. Vorrei ringraziare anche il tecnico, così come un altro membro dello staff della reception che mi ha gentilmente permesso di effettuare il check-out posticipato. Il personale qui è incredibilmente gentile. Sebbene la scelta per la colazione non fosse molto ampia, il cibo era di buona qualità e delizioso. Il personale nella sala colazioni era attento e si prendeva cura degli ospiti, rifornendo prontamente tutto ciò che finiva. Il servizio di pulizia ha svolto un lavoro eccellente, mantenendo la camera pulita e ben organizzata. Nel complesso, sono rimasta molto colpita dal mio soggiorno. Ogni membro dello staff ha offerto un servizio eccezionale e una calorosa accoglienza.

Pros - Location - easy access to Porto downtown area (3 metro stations to Sao Bento) - I choose travelling by metro as walking uphill and downhill in Porto is really tiring! - Room size as well as toilet - spacious enough even for two people, facilities - I like the kettle for boiling hot water. - Water from the shower very powerful and comfortable. - 2 bakery cafes nearby for taking breakfast (with reasonable price), one Chinese restaurant nearby provides hot food. Cons - Did not expect there was nobody at hotel front desk upon my arrival. With the help of a kind lady, I could communicate with the hotel staff via whatsapps and was able to check in without problem. ( I would like to say thanks to that kind lady) - No elevator, staying at lower floors is preferrable. - the room floorings had a cracking sound while walking, may be the building was a little bit old.

L'hotel dista circa 7 minuti a piedi dal terminal ed è facilmente raggiungibile a piedi. I sistemi di navigazione pedonale tendono a essere inaffidabili in aeroporto, ma le mappe online funzionano perfettamente. Una stazione della metropolitana (a pochi passi dall'aeroporto) è praticamente proprio fuori. La camera è arredata con gusto e spaziosa, con persino un piccolo balcone che si affaccia sulla strada. L'arredamento non è certo vecchio, ma alcuni sono un po' traballanti, come un rubinetto traballante, e piuttosto essenziali. La pulizia era adeguata, ma non perfetta. L'eccezionale cortesia del personale contribuisce in modo significativo all'impressione generale positiva. Nel complesso, consigliato per un pernottamento prima di un volo mattutino.

La stanza era piccola e accogliente e la tazza sembrava essere racchiusa tra due strati di stoffa, a differenza di quanto accadeva in Cina, dove veniva posta nella coperta della trapunta. La cosa è stata un po' confusa. C'è un dettaglio molto interessante nel bagno. C'è un piccolo fiocco sul rotolo di carta igienica. C'è un piccolo foro sulla testina dell'irrigatore. Se lo si blocca con la mano, il flusso dell'acqua cambierà. La varietà della colazione è accettabile, ma è sempre la stessa ogni giorno.

Clean and well-located, but AVOID the basement ‘double room’ The hotel is clean, well-maintained, and in a great location with friendly service. However, I stayed in the basement-level ‘double room’. It’s located at the front of the property, directly at street level, with two small windows facing the pavement — making it difficult to get fresh air or natural light, and quite noisy due to passing pedestrians and cars, even with the windows shut and earplugs in. The photos captures many of the other room types charming features, which can be misleading for the double room in basement. In this particular room, ventilation was poor due to its position, and a musty smell from the bathroom lingered throughout the space. Given the price of this ‘double room’, it’s better off booking elsewhere — somewhere less charming but more practical — OR booking the other room types I assume are upper-level room to avoid the drawbacks of this front-facing basement unit.