Airbnbs and hotel rooms are not the same. For possibly a bit more space and a lower rate, Airbnb renters are sacrificing the careful attention that hotels give to the comfort of the bed, bedsheet thread counts, the room’s lighting or blackout options, temperature control, a scent-free environment, soundproofing, and a soothing shower experience. Most Airbnb hosts provide the cheapest option so they can check the box. But on occasion, it’s rare, very rare; you come across an Airbnb host who understands what 5-star hotels understand; your home is your sanctuary, so care must be paid to all the noted areas so the guests can thrive on their holiday.
João’s place is that rare gem. And Norvinda is so very precious! She is a wealth of knowledge of all that you could possibly want to know or see in Porto. Her kindness and generosity warms your heart. We already miss her.
We stayed at João’s place for 7 nights. And you cannot beat the location. It is smack in the middle of all….the action. All the great restaurants and attractions are a short jaunt away. You literally step outside the building and into a sea of great food choices. The nearby park provides lovely evening strolls; you are surrounded by gorgeous architecture; there are many bakeries nearby, along with ATMs, mass transit, pharmacies, underground parking structures, museums, live performance halls, taxi stands, a Hop-on-Hop-off station, and last but not least, the library where JK Rowlings found her inspiration for Harry Potter.
We are so grateful for this; the bed was firm and supportive. Over the course of 4 weeks, this was the first time we could get a quality night’s sleep. All the other Airbnb’s mushy mattresses killed our backs.
This is another really rare feature; the apartment was structurally soundproofed. Yes, you read correctly. We did not hear every utterance of a neighbor or the festivities in the streets. In fact, during our stay, there were 3 days of concerts right outside the building, and we were not disturbed in the slightest. It was so quiet we thought we might be the only ones in the building until we ran into a family with 2 young children one day. This is likely because the building was upgraded not long ago so everything is very modern, beautifully designed, and accommodating of people’s desire for privacy.
Smoking is prevalent throughout Portugal, and in every other Airbnb, we could not escape the smoke or potpourri used to cover up the smoke. Except here. We’re used to breathing clean, fresh air, so scent-free was a very welcomed relief.
Coming from a low-flow water state, the pleasures of a nice hot shower are a faint memory. João’s place brought it all back. It was so soothing, especially if you’ve been galivanting around town all day. The water was hot, the pressure was strong, and the space was roomy.
And if sleeping in is part of your holiday wish list, as it is ours, the blackout shutters do an admirable job of letting you decide when your day will begin.
If it isn’t already obvious, we highly recommend João’s place for your Porto visit. You will be grateful for such a restorative home away from home. And like us, you will likely fall in love with Norvinda.