My stay started very well, with an excellent experience at reception. The member of staff who welcomed us was extremely friendly, attentive and helpful, which created a very positive first impression. I also noticed the same friendliness from different members of staff during the evenings, especially when I returned to the hotel after going out. This was definitely one of the highlights of my stay.
However, over the course of the stay, several points caused some discomfort.
The room does not get completely dark, as the blackout curtain does not cover the entire window. This becomes particularly noticeable in the morning and makes it more difficult to sleep properly. The sound insulation is also not the best. Every day, noise starts around 7–8am, either from other guests moving around or from the cleaning staff, which makes it difficult to sleep a little longer.
Another issue is the bathroom shower enclosure, which does not contain the water properly. After taking a shower, a considerable amount of water ends up on the bathroom floor. Apart from being inconvenient for the guest, I imagine this also creates unnecessary additional work for the cleaning staff. I stayed at the same chain's hotel in Santo Tirso, Portugal, and this was not an issue there.
At breakfast, the tables are frequently left dirty, and the way guests are checked in — “Is it for breakfast? What is your room number?” — can feel somewhat abrupt, particularly because of the way the question is delivered by the person there. At the Santo Tirso hotel, my experience was much more natural and welcoming in this regard.
I also missed some small complimentary touches that I had at the Santo Tirso hotel, such as water in the room, a small chocolate, snack (peanuts) and a coffee machine. These are small details, but they do make a difference to the overall guest experience.
On the positive side, the daily room cleaning was exceptional, genuinely spotless. This was definitely one of the strongest points of my stay. I also appreciated the reception machine available to guests with cold water. Having easy access to cold water was a nice touch and something I particularly appreciated.
Regarding the location, being close to the airport is certainly convenient for guests who need that proximity. However, the surrounding area has some abandoned and occupied buildings, which creates a certain feeling of insecurity, particularly when leaving a car parked on the street.
Overall, there are some very positive aspects, especially the friendliness of the staff, the excellent room cleaning and the convenient facilities such as the cold-water machine. However, there are also several areas where the hotel could improve, particularly regarding noise, room darkening, the bathroom shower enclosure and the breakfast service.
As our stay was not primarily because of the airport, I am not sure we would choose this hotel again unless proximity to the airport was an important requirement.
