Archive for the Porto category
Monday, Oct 2nd, 2006
Categories: Porto
The first visit of the day was to the Costa Do Sol, along the Santa Catarina. Being easily accessible, via the nearby Metro stop, we were presented with a modern style hotel with an attractive reception area and good sized, well decorated rooms. The hotel offers good value, close to the shopping district.
The Residencial Estoril, holds a comfortable position, in the pedestrian area of one of Porto’s most commercial streets, Rua de Cedofeita. Family run, this hotel offers a homely atmosphere. It was well decorated with 17 rooms, most with a balcony overlooking an extensive garden area. They also cater for groups and is a main hotspot for travellers.
The next jaunt was to the group of hotels owned by Hoteis Fenix, all being “in” or very close to the financial and business district of Porto. The group includes The Hotel Fenix, Ipanema, Ipanema Park and the Hotel Tuela ranging from the 3 star Hotel Tuela to the 5 star Hotel Ipanema. Each offers a treat for the traveller or a business trip.
Each offering outstanding facilities, very swanky décor and excellent restaurants the Hotels offer excellent value, bearing in mind you can book a room in the Ipenema for as little as £35.00, which also includes a gym, swimming pool and shopping facilities.
This rounded off our trip nicely. It’s been a splendid few days in a beautiful city. We were mostly impressed by the very friendly nature of the Portuguese people and also the value and quality of the food and drink. Porto is definitely a hidden gem and with Ryanair directing its flights here, there is no excuse to spend a long weekend in Portugal’s second largest city.
Monday, Oct 2nd, 2006
Categories: Porto
The Hotel Menfis is a great hotel for the budget traveller. Situated just outside the central area of the city, it represents excellent value for money with quality facilities. The hotel features air conditioning, cable TV, buffet breakfast and air conditioning.
Next up was the Hotel America at the top end of the Santa Catarina (the Oxford Street of Porto). Run by a very friendly staff, this hotel featured modern décor, on-site car parking, a well-maintained bar and pleasant rooms with an in-built CD/radio and free WiFi. The rooms were reasonably priced being in a good location for any shopping trips, but also accessible to all areas of the city from the nearby Metro stop.
The Resedencial Rex is a good stop for the experienced traveller. Situated on one of Porto’s main squares, Republica, it is in easy reach of the main attractions. The rooms featured art deco furniture with spectacular high ceilings decorated with classical artwork. The Rex also accommodates on site car parking and generally has a “youth hostelly” feel about it, in a good way!
The last visit of the day was to the Residencial S. Marino. In another of the squares, Praça Carlos Alberto, and again close the shopping district around Santa Catarina and the Dos Aliados. The S Marino featured good sized rooms some with a balcony overlooking the square. There was also a garden area to spend time catching the sun or read a book. A good choice for people looking for good value in quieter and attractive surroundings.
Our evening was spent in one of the local eateries across the road from the Pão de Açúcar . Seeing a chef barbequing chicken, we decided to jump inside. Two large meals, five cervejas and a couple of coffees came to a staggering 12 Euros. Something of a rarity in Europe to see such high quality food for very little.
We decided then to explore the nightlife a little. Someone had recommended Sandemans Bar, across the River Douro. So we promptly followed the recommendation and were pleasantly surprised. The route to this side of the river involves a walk through very rustic Hispanic roads and the bar itself sits neatly by the side of the river. There are a number of bars and restaurants along this stretch, Sandmans providing us with a pleasant atmosphere with cheap beers and wines.
Monday, Oct 2nd, 2006
Categories: Porto
Time spent in the morning, pressing the “snooze” button on my alarm meant we were slightly rushed for our first appointment. A quick breakfast and off to the Hotel Malaposta. Situated near the town square, it had a nice, modern interior with clean rooms. All en suite rooms with air conditioning. Breakfast is inclusive with a good choice. The Malaposta is a good balance of quality and price in a great location.
Next was the Hotel Universal, which was again in a privileged location on the main square. This hotel had an attractive reception area, fairly standard rooms but generally had a pleasant atmosphere with friendly staff.
The Grande Hotel De Paris was the next port of call, a flashback to renaissance France with a very Gallic interior. The rooms kept to the theme, with a range of different types of furniture. The walls and tables were decorated with bizarre objects, a gramophone, antique sewing machines and typewriters and (the best one!)… toilet seats. Altogether, the Hotel De Paris would make a comfortable and memorable stay in the heart of the city.
With an hour break, we decided to explore the city a little more. Coming to one of Porto’s many bridges, The Ponte Dom Luis, which crosses over the famous River Douro. I would advise that people with vertigo do not cross, the bridge is very high but presents you with tremendous views over the city.
Residencial Chique is basic accommodation, perfectly situated on the Avenue dos Aliados. Clean rooms with nice views over the square.
Our next visit was a proper tour around the Pão de Açúcar and the Residecial Dos Aliados. Family owned and run hotels, they also own numerous spots in Porto. These being the Café Guarany on the Dos Aliados. Founded in 1933, the café comes complete with a classical pianist and classic décor. They also run the famous Café Majestic, in which they claim J K Rowling wrote the first Harry Potter book and Jaques Chirac have dined.
Pão de Açúcar is a splendid hotel with art deco architecture and décor. The hotel offers many rooms with the same art deco theme catering for couples, groups and familys.They also offer a lovely terrace overlooking the city which catches the sun for most of the day.
The Residecial Dos Aliados is also a commendable hotel. Not quite up to the standards of the Pão de Açúcar, it offers very clean room, friendly staff and a generally welcoming experience.
After the tour of the hotels and we were taken for a drink in the Majestic Café, which also holds a modern art gallery downstairs, which gives local artists the opportunity to have their work on display.
We were then given the Metro experience, which, like the airport, is part of the regenerated infrastructure in Porto being only a couple of years old. Putting the London Underground to shame it has modern stations, clean, airy trains which are also very punctual. We then had a look around El Corte Ingles, which is a huge chain of department stores in Spain and Portugal.
Once back at the hotel, attempts to go for a night time walk around Porto were dashed by tiredness. Ah well, two days left.
Quite impressed with Porto so far….
Monday, Oct 2nd, 2006
Categories: Porto
Another week, another city. This time it’s Porto, the second largest city in Portugal. The home of Port wine and known as the city of bridges.
We arrived in Porto around 9PM. The airport at Porto is fantastic, being only a couple of years old, it looks like the inside of the Starship Enterprise. Being only 10km from the town centre it is fairly simple to get there. We opted for the bus route, having found out later that the metro runs to the airport too, doh!
40 minutes later we arrived at the Dos Aliados, the main square in Porto which is beautifully lit in the night time. Our hotel, Pão de Açúcar, was only 2 mins walk from the square. Under-nourished, we were told to go to the Café Guarany, just round the corner. Looked great, but were told the kitchen was shut. After a slight struggle to find food at 11:30PM we found a nice little café serving steak and chips, very Portuguese!
