ekscrunchy

Four Seaons or Bairrio Alto Hotel. These are available for my dates in early November; Avenida Palace is apparently already booked. Location is paramount here. I am in family medical semi crisis here at home and do not have the time that I usually take for planning, so all advice is so very much appreciated.

I've not been to Lisbon and have little idea of the city's layout.

Please, I will also need advice on booking flight (or take bus??) from Bilbao to Lisbon, and of course, will need much info on eating in Lisbon!

Many thanks to all!!

sandralist

Sorry to hear not all is well at home. Would think 4 Seasons is quite incovenient for most people's tourist itineraries, but taxis in Lisbon are quite cheap, so it might not be an issue if reviews for 4 Seasons outclass those for your other choice.

For eating, I will only urge you not to miss Bom Jardim and the best bacalhau a braz you can find. It has to be high quality to be good. I loved mine on the terrace of the York House Hotel (where I did not stay -- I rented an apartment) but people who spend more time in Lisbon than I do might have a long list of places to sample quality bacalhau a braz.

yestravel

Can't speak to the interiors of the rooms as I have not stayed at either. We did spend considerable time on the wonderful terrace of Barrio Alto Hotel as our apt in Lisbon was just a few blocks away. I will say that the staff were very hospitable and I loved the location. We enjoyed good drinks and tapas. The area does have a fair amount of walking up and down hills to get places, but not too bad. There's a metro stop right near by.

We had a very good tasting menu at Restaurante 100 Maneiras. We had a nice casual meal at Cantinho do Avillez. José Avillez is one of Portugal's most famous chefs we were told. He also has a more upscale restaurant, michelin star restaurant, Belcanto. I willl need to look at notes to see where else we had good meals.

Hope your family crisis resolves.

danon

I I stayed next door to Four Seasons...
The location is not that inconvenient. Next to a beautiful park and not far to .Gulbenkian Museum.
I walked into the hotel...seemed very formal.
A few minutes to metro or a 20 min walk down the Avenida .
Taxi from Chiado was less than 10 euros.

Given a choice,Barrio Alto is a better/ more central location.

Percy

Just got back last month and stayed at the InterContinental Hotel.... across from Edward VII Park and near Pombal Square and walking distance to all the major Squares.


Picture #1 in row one was my view from the hotel....all the way down to the Commercial Square and the Tagus River

https://www.google.ca/search?q=Lisbo...w=1371&bih=665

ekscrunchy

Thanks, all. Just watched taped PBS (US) tv show about Lisbon and the host Mike Colameco) dined at Balcanto among other places. Looked great! And Sandra, my friend, I will be looking up bacalhau a braz, you can be sure@@@!!


This is another show in the series, but not the one just on tv here in NYC; but interesting just the same:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRoIaRhqQTo





So location of Bairro AltoHotel is better than 4 Seasons, even if it means walking up some hills? As when I want to wander around and leave partner in room…..which one has more interesting shops and eating places nearby?

http://bairroaltohotel.com/en/





Also. please: I am so sorry to put this out there as I usually do so much reading but do not have so much free time at the moment…..will be booking through Virtuoso which gives me free breakfast and other credits and also possible upgrade.

ekscrunchy

Of interest, for food:



http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/27/tr...miss.html?_r=0

danon

Liebon is extremely hilly...no mater where you stay.
BA is in a livelier area, more cafes and restaurants. Also ,a number of stores
From FS you can walk to Avenida in a few minutes ....many shops (including
designers names. ) and hotels line the street.
I preferred BA/ Ciado area at night . FS area was rather quiet .

yestravel

Lots to see and do around BA. The area around the FS seemed not as interesting to me. However, that said, I spent way more time in Ba area so knew it better. And yes, Lisbon is hilly. I felt like I was constantly climbing which may
not be the case in other areas.

sandralist

Barrio Alto is definitely the more lively area for cafes etc. More like UWS or even GV as opposed to UES. I've nothing against the 4 Seasons and think it would be a kick to stay is such old school splendor. Lisbon -- rather like the someplaces in Italy -- has horizontal plateaus among the steeply vertical hills, and besides, taxis and trams and subways are readily available.

danon

sorry, Chiado

if anything surprised me about Lisbon , it was how hilly the city is and how steep and slippery many streets are.

yestravel

Ah, yes, slippery...I forgot about that. We had a bad rainstorm one afternoon and it was like walking on ice, even without the rain, it was slippery. Just step carefully.

ekscrunchy

eeek, the slippery is scary at this point but I did just book Bairro Alto Hotel for 5 nights in early November. (Much prefer upper West Side to Upper East in NYC; stranded right now in midtown and not so much fun playing nurse! Must think about that uniform with the starched cap!!)

Are there taxis that can take us around if we have problem with sliperiness or hills? I imagine……must take good long look at Lisbon a city of which I know NOTHING! But very exciting!!


Anyway, thanks to all for the input; so booked the Lisbon hotel and now working on flights from Bilbao to Lisbon…….looks like TAP is the most direct…so much hope that I can pull off this trip!!

Have already booked hotels in Getaria and in San Sebastian, and now in Lisbon….working on the ones in Roa/Lerma area…….all of a sudden these medical things just leave you snapped….very difficult but I so much appreciate the help here and will, of course, write trip report!!!!!

sandralist

Taxis readily available everywhere and cheap. My experience is that few drivers speak English, and my attempts are Portugeuse pronunciation of street names wide of the mark. Learned to write down address first to show driver and have map to show.

Polished stone/tile walking surfaces notoriously slippery.

welltraveledbrit

You're getting great advise from everyone. I'd also prefer Barrio Alto to the Four Seasons location. Plus from Barrio Alto you'll be able to walk to many of the restaurants that have been recommended. I'll second Yestravel's food recommendations, we enjoyed many of the same places.

We spent a month in Lisbon during the winter two years ago and had a great time. Just incase it might be useful here's a link to my blog posts including some food recommendations...
http://www.somuchmoretosee.com/search/label/Lisbon

Sorry to hear about the hassles at home and hoping your trip will be a great distraction. We loved Lisbon!

Robert2533

The Lapa Palace is our favorite hotel in Lisbon (www.olissippohotels.com) with service top of the line. You can take a taxi from there to anywhere in the city for next to nothing.

But if you want to stay in the Barrio Alto, then the Bairrio Alto Hotel should do fine. The only problem is that smoking is still allowed in the lounge as of our last visit.

We've found that the Hotel Britania (www.hotel-britania.com) is also an excellent choice in the historic center of the city.

ekscrunchy

Thanks. all..will look into Lapa Palace but thought this was too far out of city.....

More important, how to fly from Bilbao to Lisbon.....TAP??

sandralist

Lapa is no more removed from major points of interest than the 4 Seasons is. Just removed in a different direction, and actually makes it easier to get to Belem and some museums. Plus, the Lapa neighborhood is particularly lovely (don't know the hotel). One website you should have bookmarked if you don't already is LisbonLux

danon

Britania is in a great location( not uphill) and minutes to Avenida.
....would have been my choice but for the rate.

HappyTrvlr

Elsewhere, There are also Elevadores that carry you up to the higher levels as well as a sort of cog rail. You'll enjoy Barrio Alto and Lisbon