Porto River

“Perfect views, kind staff and attention to details”

We chose Porto River for a 4-night stay to celebrate our special anniversary, and it couldn’t have been a better decision. From the moment we arrived, the staff was incredibly kind and attentive, making us feel truly welcome. What made our stay unforgettable were the thoughtful little details — a … more

We chose Porto River for a 4-night stay to celebrate our special anniversary, and it couldn’t have been a better decision. From the moment we arrived, the staff was incredibly kind and attentive, making us feel truly welcome. What made our stay unforgettable were the thoughtful little details — a handwritten card with warm wishes and beautiful flowers waiting for us on the morning of our anniversary. These gestures made us feel genuinely special. Our room had a perfect view, adding even more magic to the experience. Overall, we couldn’t have chosen a better place for such an important occasion. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a memorable and heartfelt stay in Porto.

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“Service above and beyond. Thanks Pedro!”

What a lovely place to stay! I arrived from having missed my train stop from Lisbon and an almost dead phone. Pedro received me at the front desk with already a number of messages from my friend that lives there in Porto. She and Pedro were already on a first name basis. He was keeping her abreast … more

What a lovely place to stay! I arrived from having missed my train stop from Lisbon and an almost dead phone. Pedro received me at the front desk with already a number of messages from my friend that lives there in Porto. She and Pedro were already on a first name basis. He was keeping her abreast on whether I had arrived (it was getting dark) and checked in. On top of that, my airline had lost my luggage, and I had a tour early in the morning the next day. I mentioned this in passing to Pedro and how I will miss the breakfast of that day. Lo and behold, when I came back from dinner, Pedro had spoken to the kitchen staff and prepared me a to go bag for the next morning! SO thoughtful and so comforting after the day from hell I just had. Pedro made sure I had something on hand to eat the next morning as my tour started early and it was a full day. I was unfamiliar with the area and quick eating options for the morning. Without Pedro's thoughtfulness I would have starved until lunch. From there, Pedro and the rest of the front desk staff assisted me in locating my bag and made sure (within their abilities of course) that I received the missing bag before I checked out of the hotel. The hotel is really beautiful, the room as spacious and clean. Despite being in a very busy area, there is a "stop time" at 10PM in the River Front that allowed for a quiet sleep at night. The views are breathtaking and many points of interest are conveniently located from the hotel. Thanks Pedro and staff! Truly unforgettable service. Muito Obrigada!

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“Thoroughly Recommended!”

We stayed for 4 nights and loved the Porto River. Rooms were roomy and spotlessly clean. Staff very welcoming, friendly and helpful.ideal location for everywhere. Thoroughly recommended.

“Not as good as it thinks it is”

There are many good things about Porto River Hotel. Most notably the position by the river and the views from the front facing apartments. Bed was comfortable and apartment was clean. There are quite a lot of less than ideal things, I raised these with management and don’t think anything will chan… more

There are many good things about Porto River Hotel. Most notably the position by the river and the views from the front facing apartments. Bed was comfortable and apartment was clean. There are quite a lot of less than ideal things, I raised these with management and don’t think anything will change, so detail them to inform your stay. There is no welcome pack, as is usual in self-catering apartments (eg no local goods, snacks – always appreciated after a long journey). There were two apples, two chocolates and a small bottle of sparkling wine. The only other things left in the room, during the stay were two biscuits, on some days. Tea bags were not even topped up during our week long stay. There is a pay for use mini-bar. There is a detailed and inaccurate ‘Hotel Directory’. There is no useful local information, eg a map, recommendations of restaurants, supermarkets, things to do etc. The only storage for clothing etc. is a small rail – there are no shelves or drawers. We literally had to live out of suitcases for a week. There is a safe, but this is not big enough for a small (14inch) laptop. There are very few electricity sockets – difficult to install more in an old building, but wish I had taken a trailing extension cable, so that I could use things in a convenient place. Maintenance issues were either corrected, without an apology or not put right at all (eg window shutter that would not stop open and bathroom lock jammed). Breakfast was good, although very limited selection. Hot food cooked to order and buffet regularly topped up. The most disappointing thing about our stay was that we did not feel either valued or welcome, apart from at check-in. We were made to feel very uncomfortable when we asked for anything and never received (what should be standard), apologies for inconvenience when things went wrong (which of course they do). The icing on the cake was at check-out, I was asked if we had used anything out of the minibar and I said no. The receptionist then telephoned housekeeping, asking them to check! Totally unacceptable. Management said that this is for guests own benefit – there is no doubt that questioning my honesty did not benefit me. Overall, I would recommend Porto River for a couple of nights, because of the location, but not for longer, mainly due to the lack of storage and the indifference of staff.

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