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We’re off to northern Spain and Portugal in August and planning 3 nights in Porto. There will be 4 of us so I think we’ll save the IC for another time. The CP has connecting family rooms which look ideal. I emailed them to ask if lounge access for a possibility for Spire members and they replied that the lounge is closed but they could offer us a special rate of 245 euros per night for the family suite including parking and breakfast. The member price on the website is 273 euros per night for the same package, so this sounds like a no-brainer.
Has anyone booked direct with an IHG hotel previously, and does it qualify for points/qualifying nights?Yeah, booking through the hotel itself is elite-qualifying and points-earning.
The CP’s location is quite a bit away from the city center. It’s like a 15, 20 min bus ride (or you can take the metro but it’s like a 5-10 min walk to the station). On the other hand, you are at the ocean relatively quickly (like 15 min bus ride).
During my last stay, elite recognition was good. Booked the lowest category and received a junior suite. Proper welcome present, too.
You should be aware that the Portugese are not big on breakfast. In Porto, you can have an authentic Portugese breakfast for less than 2 euros (consisting of “um cafe”–an espresso–and a pastel de nata or similar). Several cafes are in the immediate vincity of the CP.
Other downside of the CP Porto is that it’s starting to show its age. No serious issues, it was still okay. But you def notice the difference to a new-built CP.
Thanks – we’ll have a car but also happy to use public transport. I did a year of Portuguese at uni so can just about make myself understood these days. It sounds a bit like Spain, breakfast can be a cortado standing up in a cafe or my son’s favourite, churros con chocolate! My Dad’s family is from Vigo so I’ve been back and forth across the border many times but never as far as Porto to date. Now you can’t fly direct to Santiago de Compostela from our local area any more we thought it was finally time to visit.
If the rate is too low it may not qualify for points. €245 vs €273 doesn’t sound like it would be too low, but I suggest getting written confirmation from the hotel that it will qualify so you have some backup if f it doesn’t credit automatically
Has anyone stayed at the HIE Porto?
It looks better location (central) than the CP – it’s a more modern hotel and breakfast is free (I know…. I don’t have high expectations).HIE is 10k points per night.
IC is 33k per night for the wknd I want.I don’t like overpaying for hotel for few nights – anyone got any good reasons NOT to stay at HIE?
Can’t answer that but we have a couple of nights booked at the HIE Portonor, which is a bit nearer the airport, new and even cheaper on cash and points! I think I did look at the Porto city one but the location looked a bit grim to be honest. There were plenty of reviews on Tripadvisor (far inferior to HFP, I know, but good for flagging up repeat issues).
IC Porto for me the best and usually the only decent option (although I do have a 19k points booking with standby upgrade to presidential suite at Crowne Plaza).
Non-IHG, you could try relatively new Hilton Porto (very good!) in Gaia on the side of the river or the new Tapestry collection in the city centre near cathedral (though rooms look quite small). Didn’t like the Curio – Boeira Gardens.
Non-IHG, you could try relatively new Hilton Porto (very good!) in Gaia on the side of the river or the new Tapestry collection in the city centre near cathedral (though rooms look quite small). Didn’t like the Curio – Boeira Gardens.
Thanks meta – I used awardmapper to check the hotels and I don’t think the Tapestry hotel shows.
Unfortunately it doesn’t seem to be open when I go in February.And NL you’re right about the location of the HIE. Seems quite Central but google street view has put me off.
I’m looking at booking Porto for early June too (with the wife)
The Tapestry hotel isnt even open yet (think it opens late March) hence why it doesnt show on some travel site (doesnt on Amex annoyingly). You can book on the Hilton site/app.
I think ill end up booking that as it’ll new and is a great location, plus ill hopefully get the upgrade and breakfast with Gold.
The Curio on the other side looks a wonderful hotel but its a fair way to the central sites and is an AMEX hotel collection so you get the perks, but i think its just too far away for a quick tourist stay.
The Curio – looks can be deceiving… it’s done up on the cheap and they struggle with staff because they have not been open long enough. It’s more of a relaxing stay type of place and not for the first timers.
I know I am biased as it’s my favourite city hotel in Europe, but if you can, go to IC Porto. It also has a very good location and they’ve renovated most of the rooms again recently too which, I believe, is a second refresh/renovation in 10 years.
Can’t answer that but we have a couple of nights booked at the HIE Portonor, which is a bit nearer the airport, new and even cheaper on cash and points! I think I did look at the Porto city one but the location looked a bit grim to be honest. There were plenty of reviews on Tripadvisor (far inferior to HFP, I know, but good for flagging up repeat issues).
Anna, you might already know, but lovely Viana do Castelo has its Romaria in mid-Aug: great fun!
17-22 August this year.
I’d recommend the fireworks (midnight at Sunday – Sunday to Monday, that is), and the various parades, including the one on Friday afternoon with the women carrying the exquisite pieces of gold weighing at times several kilos.
Official website is here: https://festasdagonia.com/en/Michael – we went to Viana a few years ago and took the funicular up to an amazing abbey (IIRC). Might call back.
If you ever have reason to be near the border at Minho, Valenca do Minho is a real curiosity – a entire town made up of little shops and stalls selling everything from tablecloths to fossils. It’s set within a fort from the Napoleonic era which is still impressively intact. I’ve been several times over the years and never seen anything like it anywhere else. The views over the Rio Minho and over to Tui cathedral on the Spanish side are incredible as well.The fortress in Valença is a bit older than that: it comes from the war between Spain in Portugal in the mid-1600s, when Portugal regained independence.
The funicular in Viana goes to the Santa Luzia church: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/santuario-de-santa-luzia- This reply was modified 55 years, 4 months ago by .
Michael – we went to Viana a few years ago and took the funicular up to an amazing abbey (IIRC). Might call back.
If you ever have reason to be near the border at Minho, Valenca do Minho is a real curiosity – a entire town made up of little shops and stalls selling everything from tablecloths to fossils. It’s set within a fort from the Napoleonic era which is still impressively intact. I’ve been several times over the years and never seen anything like it anywhere else. The views over the Rio Minho and over to Tui cathedral on the Spanish side are incredible as well.¡Apuntado!
Last time we went my son was about 10 – we bought a couple of beautiful Art Deco trinket boxes which had been made to commemorate the launch of Titanic and a 65 million year old megalodon tooth. Seriously never found anywhere like it!
Has anyone stayed at the HIE Porto?
It looks better location (central) than the CP – it’s a more modern hotel and breakfast is free (I know…. I don’t have high expectations).HIE is 10k points per night.
IC is 33k per night for the wknd I want.I don’t like overpaying for hotel for few nights – anyone got any good reasons NOT to stay at HIE?
Has anyone stayed at the HIE Porto?
It looks better location (central) than the CP – it’s a more modern hotel and breakfast is free (I know…. I don’t have high expectations).HIE is 10k points per night.
IC is 33k per night for the wknd I want.I don’t like overpaying for hotel for few nights – anyone got any good reasons NOT to stay at HIE?
Yes stayed there in November. Very good location – close to a metro for airport and walkable to the quayside and main station. We got upgrade as spire elite to to rooms that had a large terrace balcony with views over Porto.
Thoroughly recommend the two Pestana hotels in Porto especially Pestana Brasilia. Central and easy route on the metro. And reasonable Breakfast
I’m off next week – in the end I decided on the Mercure Aliados, using some hotels.com vouchers from covid cancellations.
very central location near Sao Bentos and close to the IC, modern hotel think 1 year old, swimming pool (ok, reasonably small and it’s Feb) and good reviews.
Paid about £80 pn, including breakfast …. IC was £180 without breakfast.
Will report back!
Good luck and let me know how many sheets needed per wipe.
Thanks
Few weeks late, but reporting back.
Porto was great for a weekend. Very hilly, but quite compact.
The obvious options at the time were IC Porto, crowne plaza, Hilton Gaia, HIE and the mercure. The Hilton Canopy wasn’t open at the time – but the location looks good, modern building.
I stayed at mercure Alidos – a new hotel (2021 I think), great location very close to IC, (small) swimming pool, nice outdoor terrace, great breakfast. Paid £80pn Inc breakfast. Don’t regret it at all. 2 minute walk from Sao Bento railway station, and about 5-10 walk from the metro which goes to the airport in 30 minutes for a few euros. Rooms were nice – very modern – USB ports everywhere, chromecast on the TV, Safe big enough for a laptop, small desk, empty mini fridge, tea and coffee. Breakfast was really good – especially the cooked sausages, bacon, eggs etc.
For anyone staying at the IC, be aware there is big excavation work immediately outside The hotel. They are building a new metro line and there are quite a few works ongoing around the hotel. Can’t image it affects inside the hotel – but the views over the square won’t be anything to post on Instagram. I walked past several times and it took the shine of what I assume is normally an impressive frontage.
I didn’t go and look at the Hilton Gaia but I ruled it out before I went based on the location (south side of the river). However in hindsight I don’t think it’s that far away. There are bars and restaurants both sides of the Douro river – so you’re probably 5-10 minutes walk from the river maximum. It’s onnthe same side as the Port warehouses and museums. Most of the other ‘sights’ are on the opposite side of the river though, so it’s probably 20-25 minute walk to the main town. Taxis are cheap though – most under 5eur.
I went to find the new Hilton Canopy. It’s not marked yet from the outside, but going by the pin in the Hilton app, I could see the frontage. The building looked semi-occupied on the upper floors which I thought was bizarre. It’s just up the hill from the Sao bento station, opposite the cathedral and next to the bridge. Think that will be a good location.
If any runners, can recommend Porto Running Tours. Good way to see the sights and burn off some calories…. Before eating the pastels de nata.
For IC Porto, if you’re Ambassador and/or Spire, they’ll put you in the rooms on the right side (looking from the square) which have views of the Clerigos tower, so unless you’re looking to the side, you won’t notice the works. Also didn’t hear anything, but yes it can have an impact, especially if you want to open the juliet balcony in Junior Suites.
- This reply was modified 55 years, 4 months ago by .
For IC Porto, if you’re Ambassador and/or Spire, they’ll put you in the rooms on the right side (looking from the square) which have views of the Clerigos tower, so unless you’re looking to the side, you won’t notice the works. Also didn’t hear anything, but yes it can have an impact, especially if you want to open the juliet balcony in Junior Suites.
I’m not sure where exactly the rooms are, but the works are all around that side too – it’s quite a mess! The only side that’s not impacted is the side nearest Sao bento.
Are they all the way on the street leading to Clerigos tower? I last stayed in November and the works were already starting, but these rooms (junior suites) are almost on the corner of the building so you couldn’t really see it unless you leaned. Things might have evolved though.
They do also have rooms facing the other side, but not as good of a view.
Few weeks late, but reporting back.
Porto was great for a weekend. Very hilly, but quite compact.
Thanks for the review, any particular recommendations from your weekend? Looking at it for a 3-4 day break, would that be enough time for a non-rushed visit?
Good to hear the new Hilton would be in a good spot, prices seems decent at the moment.
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