Lisbon--looking for an apartment
 

I'm going to Lisbon for the first time in mid-October with my DH and DD. Would like to find an apartment centrally located in the Baixa, 5 nights, preferably under 150 euros a night. Some that I've found are no longer available, which is not surprising, so I'm hoping someone has a suggestion.

Here are two sites you might check out that I can vouch for.

www.chaido-apartments.com. I realize these apartments are in Chiado instead of Baixa but I have rented from this owner and the apartments are wonderful. He also has friends that own apartments and may be able to point you in the right direction. He is very helpful.

www.travelingtolisbon.com. This agency is very helpful and has several apartments in Baixa.

We have also stayed in Brown's Luxury Apartments which are small studios but they are supposed to have some that sleep 3. These are in a wonderful area in Baixa and we stayed here last August.

Hope this helps.

Sher: Thanks for your advice. travelingtolisbon is the site I've spent most time looking on, without success so far, but I'll take another look. I will check out the Chiado site, it's good to have your recommendation. We want to take the train to Sintra so I thought it would be good to be close to Rossio station. Did you find Chiado a convenient location? I gather your experience in Brown's was good? I've read some very negative comments about them not being clean, no toilet paper, the lack of staff on site being a problem, etc.

Although not really apartments, the Hotel VIP Eden has rooms with kitchenettes. This is a very centrally located hotel, right next door to the train station.

I can vouch for this place - stayed here in April 2009. It was clean and quite convenient for getting around Lisbon. We walked everywhere. We also did a day trip to Sintra and while I can't remember how we got to the station, I would imagine that's because it was easy!

http://www.homeaway.com/vacation-ren...?uni_id=147869

Hi -I was in the same boat you are in. We are going in Dec. I found the best apartments and deals at Homeaway. Here's the link.

holiday-rentals.co.uk

We got a really nice apartment through them.

Good luck

Chiado is very centrally located. Chiado has two metro stations very close and is a hop skip and a jump, well really down the hill is Baixa. My first choice would be to use one of this owner's apartments. He is a pleasure to rent from but also his apartments are very popular. But Chiado is on on of Lisbon's hills. Maybe this is a problem for you?

I could not use traveling to Lisbon as we needed two bedrooms and two bathrooms with air conditoning as it was August and although they had listing everything was booked. But they tried.

Browns was great. They are above Brown's coffee shop. There is an elevator from the ground floor to the first floor where the apartments are located off a hall with a locked door. And of course, each studio has its own door.
We rented two apartments because we were two couples. What people do not seem to understand is that there is no daily maid service and they provide you with one or two rolls of toilet paper but that is what most apartments do. You are responsible for buying extra.
They are studio apartments so they are compact. I did not see the units that would sleep three but I do warn you they are very compact. There is a small kitchenette with a washing machine, two burner stove, microwave, sink and small frig and all utensils. There is a small table with two chairs, a tv with lots and lots of stations like CNN and BBC. The beds are king sized and extremely comfortable with very nice linens. The bathrooms is compact with a lovely shower and great water pressure and great towels.
We were there last August. It would be a shame if the quality has gone downhill since then but maybe they have. I can only tell you what it was like when we were there.
My biggest complaint for you would be size with three people.

I am giving you agencies instead of individual apartments because we also were in a position booking sort of last minute and I had a difficult time finding something.

Good luck.

Thanks for all the helpful responses. I've requested the Chiado apartments--actually 2, because none is available for 5 nights, so I hope we can rent one for 3 nights and the other for 2 nights. Brown's location is ideal, and the bathroom looks great, but I know my DD would appreciate not having to sleep on a folding bed.

We had very good luck renting from www.visitingportugal.com. The owners are Americans who live in Lisbon, very helpful. Apts are well equipped, sound proofed, A/C and a laptop computer and cell phone included.

EastBayer. If you rent one of Paulo's apartments you are lucky because they are first rate.
Please let me know what you finally settle on.
There is a food court on the top floor of the Amazens do Chiado which is at the bottom of the hill and you can grab a quick bite there. There are fast food restaurants and some you can sit in.
The metro at each end of the street, Rua Garrett, will take you anywhere.
Enjoy Lisbon.

Chiado is a great location...easy to get anywhere...we stayed at Chiado 16 4 apartments operated like a hotel...just loved it. Good luck.

Sher--We are back from a wonderful time in Lisbon and absolutely loved staying in Paulo's apartments. Every aspect was great--he responded quickly, his representative was helpful, our move up one floor to a second apartment (neither one was available for our whole time) was very smooth--and the apartments are comfortable, attractively furnished, and clean. The location was perfect for us. I especially enjoyed being one block from Santini's ice cream. Thank you so much for recommending it.

Thanks to everyone for good suggestions and advice. Everyone should go to Lisbon!

EastBayer. So glad you enjoyed Lisbon. I love where the apartments are located.
I always tell people to try him for their stay. And I am always grateful for the other Fodorite (Namaka) who suggested his places in the first place.
They will definitely be on our list for our next visit except they are very popular and usually need to be booked ahead.

accommodation in Lisbon: http://www.hotzebra.com/hotels/lisbon