Lisbon experts-your opinion is needed please
 

Hello all,
I am trying to decide between three hotels/areas for a trip with friends in November.

Santa Justa-Santa Maria Maoir (The most expensive of the three)
SANA Capitol Hotel-Santa Antonio
Olissipo Saldanha-Arroios

Is it worth paying the difference to stay in the first hotel. I understand that it is the most central of the three but its price is almost double the other two.

I prefer walking in general but was wondering which of the three areas is safer at night and is more accessible to nightlife and other areas of Lisbon that are open late.

Also is it safe to use the buses and metro at night in Lisbon.

Thank you :)

Did you consider the Avenida Palace? It's a fabulous hotel, in the perfect location. Best breakfast buffet, too. Excellent customer service.

http://www.hotelavenidapalace.pt/en/hotel-overview.html

Another vote fr Avenida Palace, or at least somewhere in that area. (I stay at the Residencial Florescente.)

No reason to avoid public transport at night.

The AP has a fascinating history covering 1939-1945. It was known during those six years of WW II as the "neutral" hotbed of intrigue, espionage and "guest lists" covering Axis and Allied operatives. The Palacio in Estoril shared that reputation 50-50 and in fact several royal families from Nazi occupied countries in Europe found refuge there.

During my initial investigative interviews, etc for my recent book of historical fiction I was able to find pages of sketchy descriptions of some of the daily cat-and-mouse games played therein.

In 2008 we stayed at the nearby (a few steps) VIP Eden in Lisbon and I would sit in the AP lobby a few times just visualizing what it had to be like during those years. Same drill with Palacio in Estoril. One chapter of the book deals with 1940 Portugal (Lisbon and Cacsais).

stu

Lisbon is a safe city, including its public transportation, so long as you observe the common sense tourist rules (use a money belt and don't carry a lot of valuables in it, no-no to flashy jewelry, and if you drank too much, call a taxi).

Otherwise, read as many reviews as you can find to figure out if a hotel really has what you want (what matters more to you? Good wifi or a front desk that is super-helpful, or the view? Or nightlife just a few steps away?)

Lisbon sprawls a bit, with tourist attractions dotted all over the city, so I am not sure what a "central" hotel means. Central to what?

By and large, Lisbon delivers great tourist amenities at bargain prices. If you are uncomfortable with the price of a hotel, switching to one with more attractive prices usually does not mean sacrificing quality. But again, read reviews for the things your group might care about -- air con, heating, noise, etc.

Hello all and thank you for the replies.

Avenida Palace is actually more expensive.

The three hotels I chose have almost the same amenities and the room styles I like. It is now down to which one is best for a proximity to nightlife :)

I hope I can qualify as a Lisbon expert.

Try these:
Hotel Bairro Alto
Hotel Borges
Hotel Lisboa Regency Chiado
The Beautique Hotels Figueira

Considering the area Baixa and Chiado the centre of fun, Capitol requires one metro ride and Olissipo requires 2.

A taxi from and to the hotel to Lisbon downtown should cost about 6-8 euros (1 to 4 passengers), unless the driver gives you a Lisbon by night city tour,

You say you "prefer "walking so I assume you are young and/or able to walk with no trouble.

Also I do not know how long you are going to be in Lisbon .

I can see why the Avenida Palace Hotel is more expensive, local , close to the major places, and at the "centre " of nightlife. ( if that is what is high on your list)

I would rule out Olissipo Saldanha right off the bat.

You do not want to start hopping buses and taxis everytime you want to go somewhere.

The Sana Capitol Hotel location is good because from here you are about a block away from the Marques of Pombal Roundabout.

In front of your hotel is the long and lovely Eduardo VII Park. (Called Eduardo because you know how Royality marries Royality !!)

This Park .. and you WILL walk through here no matter what hotel you stay at.

Walk right in the middle of this Park , it has a gentle slope uphill...... walk the 5 block until you reach the April 25th Monument with the Portuguese Flagpole.

Now turn around and look back.....pretty great view all the way to the Tagus River !!

This is where you will be walking a-l-l-l the way down to the Commercial Square , down Rua ( Street) Augusta.

The expensive Hotel , The Santa Justa Maria Maoir is , of course in a great location. From here you are no further than 3 blocks away to the four major squares in Lisbon.

The Squares are :
Figueira Square
Rossio Square
Restorers Square

and The Commercial Square by the water ( Tagus River )


And you are always one block away ( next street over ) from the major pedestrian walkway Rua Augusta, which you will frequent always.


Sometimes ( not always) it is better to pay a higher price ( if you are able to ) and be totally central to everything.


-Heck from Santa Just Hotel you can walk up into the Alfama district up to

Castle of Sao Jorge ,great observation terrace here for you to look back down on where you came up from.

A little further back is the Monastery of St. Vincent, again super views from the top.

You can do it your a walker.!!


My choices would be between Santa Justa and Sana Capitol hotels

Good Luck.

I stayed across the park Percy mentions at what is now Intercontinental.

It is a lovely walk on Avenida to get to Baixa or one ride from Marques to Chiado metro( in the middle of the action.)
I did take a taxi very late at night ..abou 10 euros.

Hey danon that is where I stayed.

The Intercontinental, I asked and got a corner room with a view facing the Park and to down town Lisbon.

I remember walking from the hotel crossing the street and then going into the Park....then down to Marques Pombal Roundabout....

.. down Liberty Avenue to Restorers Square, curving around the Avenida Palace Hotel and the Train Station and

..onto Rossio Square.... then into Figueira Sqquare and then

all the way down the lovely Rua Augusta street until you reach the Commercial Square and the water.

It was 101 F when I was there, hot to walk so I had to stop every so often for a beer :S-

One day I walked in the other direction...north of the park...through
very nice residential areas, all the way to the Gub. museum.
Lisbon is a very interesting city.

danon that is a nice walk to the Gulbenkain Museum, I was there but did not walk there.

Good for you that is a nice walk and a nice Museum.

When I was at the April 25th Monument at the North end of the Park, I did walk up to the Lisbon Prison and looked at it from across the street......

...for fear them might lock me up if I got closer.!

Here is the link and in picture # 4 in the first row is a small aerial view of the Prison with the six radiating wings




https://www.google.ca/search?q=Lisbo...ih=690#imgrc=_


If you enlarge the picture a bit you can see:

Intercontinetal Hotel ( right edge 1/2 way up)

Pombal Roundabout and his statue in the centre ( right side of the Park)

April 25th Monument ( left side of the Park)

That's the Palace of Justice across from the Prison, guess when you get sentenced you don't have far to go.

thanks
I think there is a well known restaurant in the park or nearby.

I was surprised how hilly Lisbon is and how slippery those small tiles are
after a rain....

Thanks a lot for he replies, Lobo_mau, danon, and Percy. This is really helpful. I think I am now more inclined to stay at the central hotel. I do like to walk everywhere if possible, my second choice would be taking the bus.

Thanks again :)

More central is impossible:
http://www.idesignhotel.com/

the famous restaurant in the park is Eleven (not the kind of places I attend)
http://www.restauranteleven.com/homepage

I know you said it's more expensive to stay at the Hotel Avenida Palace, but did you consider that a complete breakfast/brunch buffet is included?

A meal like that is a hefty expense, if you go out every morning. We would enjoy the buffet in the late mornings, and it would keep us full till dinner.

Besides, the AP is worth every penny for its elegance and its location.

I did not eat at Restaurant Eleven but I remember it looks nice and people were on the outside Patio taking pictures.

I walked by it on my way to the Prison.

( Thank You but I am back home now, time off for good behaviour !);)


However, if you are at the April 25th Monument at the "high " end of the Eduardo Park, then

just turn around and there is the Restaurant Eleven.

I would sit down and have a drink there on the outside balcony as you have super great view all the way down the Park and to Pombal Roundabout and over Pombal's head you can see see half of the Tagus River ...so the view is great to say the least


lobo_mau:
you are right there is no hotel more central that the Nacional ( Design ) Hotel.

But we can be splitting hairs here because:

1.The Internacional design Hotel is ONE block from the Santa Just Hotel and....

2. It is also virtually kitty corner across Rossio Square from the Avenida Palace Hotel.



If you are thinking of staying at Santa Justa-Santa Maria Maoir Hotel, then ask about breakfast.


Tabernash2 make a good point. Factor in the cost of a great breakfast buffet.


Ask for a deal at the Santa Justa ( it ( Hotel) is for sale ) so them might be happy to have you there ( to entice a good offer from a buyer !!!)


What is the price of the Santa Justa with no breakfast compared to the Avenida Palace with breakfast every morning.

Those great buffet breakfast do make a difference.


As far as location is we are splitting hairs with

Avenida Palace
Internacional Hotel
and the

Santa Justa Hotel......so look at what else if offered beside the price of the room.

Internacional Design Hotel does look good and to be honest I have not ruled out Sana Capitol, it does offer breakfast.
hmm, I have some careful comparing to do now.

If you trip out the front door of Internacional Design, you will fall on to the wavy pattern of Rossio Square ;)


And if you trip coming out of Avenida Palace....well here

hope the picture comes out okay

http://static.panoramio.com/photos/original/370918.jpg