3-Star Hotels in Porto District, Portugal

Last year I had the most wonderful stay at Menina Colina, and was excited to return. Unfortunately I now wish I had reserved elsewhere, as it has been nothing but a disappointment. Prices are so much higher than a year ago, but I thought I got what was a good deal on the garden room. Turns out it is greatly overpriced for what is offered, as it has none of the exquisite design or attention to detail that the interior rooms have. It also seems to be neglected in terms of maintenance. The coffee machine was leaking, and after reporting it, it was made out to be my fault as I was using it incorrectly. I had to physically show a member of staff the leaked water for them to agree to replace it. I was really annoyed that they felt that they needed to demonstrate to me how it works rather than just replacing it immediately. The next disappointment was that the room was initially not serviced at all, and no explanation was given. When you are paying $165 for a mediocre room (not even including breakfast), one would at the very least expect the bins to be emptied. The bathroom also had a terrible smell that permeated the room, and mosquitoes were a problem too. Management did offer me lunch or attendance of their fado show, but none of these arrangements fitted into my busy programme. I thought a small financial compensation would have made more sense. That did not happen, and nothing further was mentioned or discussed on check-out. The final issue was the online check-out which they require. When I tried to complete it, my bill was for my entire stay, although 3 of the 4 nights had already been paid months in advance. So my conclusion is unfortunately that Menina Colina’s standards have dropped significantly, and that it is overpriced for the lack of attention to detail that is evident in several areas.

I recently spent four nights at Aparthotel Oporto Sol, and while my stay was overall okay, it came with a few drawbacks. First, the location is a bit outside the main area of Porto, which required some extra effort to get into the heart of the city. While the surroundings were quiet and less crowded, I did find myself relying on public transport or taxis more than I would have liked. One of the main issues was the absence of air conditioning in the bedroom. During my stay, the temperatures were warm, and it made things uncomfortable at night. Opening the windows was not an option due to the presence of mosquitoes outside, which meant I struggled to find a comfortable sleeping temperature. On the positive side, the apartment itself was spacious and generally clean. The amenities were adequate for my needs, and the staff was friendly and helpful, albeit a few blocks over. I appreciated the kitchenette, which allowed me to prepare some of my own meals during my stay. In summary, while my stay at Aparthotel Oporto Sol had its merits, the lack of air conditioning and its location outside the main area impacted my overall experience. If you're sensitive to heat or prefer to be in the city center, you may want to consider other options. Otherwise, it serves as a decent accommodation for those seeking a quieter spot.

There are a bunch of negative reviews. I would disagree with that if you consider the area, the price and the room. Don't except more that you paid. Meanwhile, the cleaning is everyday. AC is also there. The price more than fair for this room.

I don't know what some people are thinking, this place isn't close to anything. Even the bridge is three or four stops away, and yet some reviews call it convenient – those people should really be more responsible. The hygiene is terrible. I saw reviews mentioning the showerhead hose spraying water everywhere and thought it was an isolated incident, but the shower in my room was also unusable, spraying water all over the place. Breakfast was also very perfunctory. The only thing worth praising was the freshly squeezed orange juice; everything else was utterly useless. Every day, the towels had dirty marks. The elevator walls and floor were filthy. Last year, I stayed at the same hotel brand in Geneva, and it was so much better than this one! Service: Not a single staff member cracked a smile; it felt like I owed them a fortune! Definitely do not recommend! Do not recommend! Even the duvet cover was put on inside out, which gives you an idea of how poor the management is 👎

We had a truly perfect stay at Jam Hotel Porto. From the very beginning everything felt easy and welcoming. The room was in excellent condition, almost like new, very modern and thoughtfully designed. It was always clean and perfectly tidy which made it very comfortable to come back to after a day in the city. What made the stay really special was the lovely lady at the reception. She noticed that I was celebrating my birthday during our stay and organized a birthday muffin to be brought up to my room. It was such a kind and personal gesture that I did not expect at all and it honestly made my day. Overall it felt like a place where people really care about their guests, not just in a professional way but in a warm and genuine way. I would happily stay here again without hesitation.

Pros - Location - easy access to Porto downtown area (3 metro stations to Sao Bento) - I choose travelling by metro as walking uphill and downhill in Porto is really tiring! - Room size as well as toilet - spacious enough even for two people, facilities - I like the kettle for boiling hot water. - Water from the shower very powerful and comfortable. - 2 bakery cafes nearby for taking breakfast (with reasonable price), one Chinese restaurant nearby provides hot food. Cons - Did not expect there was nobody at hotel front desk upon my arrival. With the help of a kind lady, I could communicate with the hotel staff via whatsapps and was able to check in without problem. ( I would like to say thanks to that kind lady) - No elevator, staying at lower floors is preferrable. - the room floorings had a cracking sound while walking, may be the building was a little bit old.

Great hotel located literally near Porto airport! Amazing staff who are super helpful at giving suggestions of places to eat and places to visit, spacious rooms and breakfast available. The shuttle is an added bonus as well! Can't fault this hotel and will always come back here! 🇵🇹

Nice clean comfortable hotel rooms. Shame that they accommodate too many children. In all fairness I was there for 3 nights the first 2 very good but on the last night, they must of put all the children on my floor. These children are at an age were they simply don't have the brain capacity to think. They were banging doors making noise till around 5 in the morning thus meaning I struggled to sleep. I did call down to reception to notify them earlier in the evening, to state I believe there is going to be a problem with these children through the night, obviously nothing was done because the noise continued. I understand that it's all about filling up the rooms, because it's more money for the hotel but if they are going to have youngsters, maybe it should just be an hotel for them only . In the future for future guests these children need supervision, this is surely the only way this would work if you are too continue to accommodate all different age groups.

Clean and well-located, but AVOID the basement ‘double room’ The hotel is clean, well-maintained, and in a great location with friendly service. However, I stayed in the basement-level ‘double room’. It’s located at the front of the property, directly at street level, with two small windows facing the pavement — making it difficult to get fresh air or natural light, and quite noisy due to passing pedestrians and cars, even with the windows shut and earplugs in. The photos captures many of the other room types charming features, which can be misleading for the double room in basement. In this particular room, ventilation was poor due to its position, and a musty smell from the bathroom lingered throughout the space. Given the price of this ‘double room’, it’s better off booking elsewhere — somewhere less charming but more practical — OR booking the other room types I assume are upper-level room to avoid the drawbacks of this front-facing basement unit.