On our trip to Portugal Theresa and I stayed in three commercial airB&Bs. Two of them, including this one, were almost as pleasant as it is staying in apartments which were temporarily vacated for us. Perhaps what distinguishes them from the one place I pinned far less savagely than I should have Is that the hosts met us when we arrived. Another thing was the amount of stuff available to use in the kitchen. Each of the nice places had multiple pots and pans, tea, coffee, and other things that, even if we didn’t use them, we’re available. In contrast the place I criticized Had only three pans.
Here are four items to be aware of. One, the bars across the street are active until 4 o’clock in the morning. Because our place was offset some from the street front, they did not bother me, but they kept Theresa awake. The one night that we sacrificed ventilation for quiet they posed no problem for either of us. Two, The higher of the two steep flights of stairs up to the apartment lacks a handrail. My ancient legs kept me in constant terror, especially when descending. Three, the tapas bar immediately across the street serves food which is only ordinary, but charges the prices of a quality restaurant. You are much better off going Uphill and visiting the tapas place on the same side of the street in the same block. Four, the nearby laundromat injected its own detergent into our clothing, and the detergent carried a heavy, putrid industrial perfume, which persisted despite two washings in the apartment to get it out. I write this having returned home to the United States and having washed the affected clothing in a machine with free and clear detergent strengthen by washing soda, and with vinegar in the rinse, but there still is a mild lingering scent. Of course, neither of the second two points reflects in the slightest on the lodging.