This was a lovely spot to stay on our week long trip to Porto! The view never got old. Tastefully decorated. It felt nice & homey when we got back from our long days out. Thank you Marta for letting us check in early! I rely heavily on reviews, so let’s get down to it:
We loved the historic area. There are stairs right down to the river just a few feet away (next to a lovely bakery cafe where we had our morning coffee), plenty within walking distance. Decent transportation options. No train station though… they’re probably more reliable than buses/trams - we wasted a lot of time waiting for ones that never came and ended up taking taxis.
The hills are no joke! It may say a quick “10 min walk,” but it definitely didn’t feel like it. We are fit New Yorkers who walk everywhere all the time, but our flatland legs were crying for mercy by the end of the trip lol. The street is narrow but still accesible by cabs if you need em. I recommend Bolt or Free Now - Uber was always the most expensive (but sometimes there’d be none available on all apps or up to half hour wait). I’m not sure about parking if you have a car. It’s also on the top floor of a walk-up. I’d rethink this spot if you have mobility issues.
I read a few reviews saying the walls are thin. I waved them off. I live in one of the loudest cities in the world, how bad can it be? I’m a heavy sleeper, and I came armed with earplugs. We lucked out with a considerate group that partied until 2am every night. We could hear them word for word, yelling at one another across the room. I’m not sure of the exact layout, but it sounded like they were above us. It was… unbelievably loud. Like bowling ball dropping contest loud. The stomping actually made the ceiling shake. Earplugs didn’t help much. I don’t think that unit is affiliated with this one, but it did seem like another bnb (voices changed towards the end of our stay). We’re tolerant of noise, and we just went to bed after they quieted down because we were on a chill schedule. But if you’re sensitive to noise or have a packed itinerary that starts early in the morning, you’d be gambling here.
The bed is a firm full. My friend and I are relatively smol, so we were fine. But it might be cramped for some. The couch is comfy for sitting but I wouldn’t sleep on it. No AC (standard Europe) so it got a bit toasty on the warmer days (even in September), on few nights we had to keep the windows open to sleep (which meant morning sun & outside noise). There are no screens on the windows. I squished some bugs, nothing crazy. The shower head holder was broken but the water pressure/hot water was strong. The wifi was SLOW. We just used our phone data. We had everything we needed in the kitchen/bathroom.
There’s a charge for leaving dirty dishes. Sure, no problem. But neither of us had ever stayed at a place where you’re required to take out the trash. With no instructions on… how to. We didn’t realize until right before we had to leave for the airport. It was early morning, so the host didn’t respond. Thankfully, a neighbor came out of the apt next door, and we asked her where to take them (dumpster at the top of the hill). Not a big deal, but that was weird.
Ok, that’s all the nitty gritty that I can think of. Despite the inconveniences, we’re still easy to please. All we wanted was a clean, affordable place with a view. And it delivered! I hope the details I provided will help you make a more informed decision. Happy travels!