Grande Do Porto hotel

Comment

I found it easy to find hotel,and the map was very helpful

Top Tip

bus tour very good, lots of reasonable restaurants close by.

Comment

The room facilities are a bit dated but the rest of the hotel, the great and friendly service makes up for it. Bring earplugs: the street can be a bit noisy!

Top Tip

Cafe Majestic down the road serves a fabulous hamburger "of cow". The missus liked the handbag/ leather shop on Rua santa catarina, next to the entrance to bilao metro station.

Comment

Great location, on the main shopping street, though need to look up a bit to see the sign! The lobby & dinning room very grand (3 star). Room was very tired and on the small side (only 2 star).

Comment

Location was great - walking distance from Bolhao underground, on direct line from airport. We want to visit Porto again - when it is not raining would be ideal, but would use same hotel again.

Top Tip

Buy Andante ticket from airport and it covers pretty much all transport (1 day or 3 day). Comfortable shoes needed - lots of hills/steps. No signs on some of underground stations - and none on the top level of the Funicular, but worth finding as it saves a lot of steep steps.

Comment

good but not much smiles !

Comment

Hotel spotlessly clean and very easy to locate from the Metro - just around the corner from the Balhao stop. Bedroom was very small but adequate for a short stay and linen and towels changed whilst we were there (4 night stay), however, parts of the hotel are very dated which doesn't do justice to its previous grandeur. Though staff were helpful we came across an elderly lady who had obviously fallen down the stairs, was very distressed and in much pain and the staff response to this left a lot to be desired. She had hurt her back, was holding her chest and also had hurt her shoulder (probable fracture) - they addressed this with a first-aid box? What they intended to do with the contents I can't imagine. After managing to make ourselves understood because of language difficulties they finally called an ambulance and she was taken to hospital - further enquiries revealed that she had been admitted so obviously had suffered some injuries that required further treatment. She was travelling alone and I was concerned about the way the staff handled this episode - but other than that can't complain - budget priced hotel, excellent location though in the centre of town which was very noisy at night and in the small hours.

Top Tip

We enquired about local restaurants on our first night there and were directed to an excellent one just around the corner (The Tripeiro). Struggled for the next two nights to find decent restaurants and on the last night went across the river to a new restaurant on the riverside. Excellent food, service and atmosphere and incredibly cheap. Other than the Tripeiro don't waste your time in town centre restaurants - the best ones are in and around the area of the wine cellars. MUST DO's - an informative tour around a wine cellar and at least one of the four busy tours - well worth it.

Comment

The room was a little basic although it was cheap. However, the opulence of the ground floor made up for it. My companion and I sat about on comfy sofas in the magnificent lounge and the dining room was beautiful. The staff were wonderful, particularly the barman, who made us cocktails. We didn't have a meal apart from breakfast although I asked for cake with a cup of tea and I was presented with a wonderful array of goodies.

Top Tip

We ate in 3 restaurants, one local to the hotel (the barman recommended this) and 2 by the river. All served lovely food, particularly the salt cod variations, and very generous helpings. The view from the Luis 1 bridge was beautiful. The port cellars by the river were interesting and we had a tour and tasting at one and ended up buying some port. We also had a river trip. All in all a lovely few days.

Comment

Though this hotel is not on the river at the Ribiera it is an easy walk to everything in Porto and across the river.

Top Tip

Porto is great for a long week-end and eating along the river is a must.