Surprised at Lisbon hotel prices.
 

A friend and I have just decided to go to Portugal in Oct. due to nicethings we've been hearing about it (old world/low $). However, in reading some of the posts re. Lisbon hotels, spending over 100 euros for a double room is not as low as I would have expected. Must be our pre-conceived ideas refer to outlying towns. Two nights might be all we would want but what's the $$ scoop? As always, B&B's are totally acceptable. Any suggestions?

I just tried www.hrs.com (my favorite internet booking) which has an English version if you click `25 Sprachen'.
I did an example booking for October 18th to 20th and felt like the rates are ok.
Want to try for yourself?

I stayed in Lisbon in 2000 at a place called the Duas Nacoes. I haven't seen it mentioned much -- found it myself in a British guidebook -- but it has a terrific location in the Baixa and was only about $40 for a double.

It isn't glamourous by any stretch of the imagination, but it was clean and comfortable. There was a real mix of guests too, from businessmen to backpackers. We were the only Americans there during our stay.

We had a room with a little balcony on the top floor, which was very bright and pleasant. I still remember the hot chocolate at breakfast very fondly.

I don't think they have an e-mail address; we had to phone up. A website called Eurocheapo lists the following phone and fax numbers:

Pension Duas Nacoes
Rua Augusta E Rua da Vitoria, 41

PHONE: 21 346 0710
FAX: 21 347 0206

Good luck with your search.

Check with [email protected] (e-mail). My friend Carlos Ferreira operates a Residencial at Avda de la Republica, 17. It's at Metro Saldanha and it's a few hundred metres from Lisbon's main bus station. He includes Breakfast (Continental) at Pasteleria Versailles, one of Lisbon's 'Golden Oldies,' and he speaks passable English. He has a web site. You can search using Estrela do Saldanha (the name of the Residencial) as your search argument.

Try hotel Tejo.

We are going in October and staying at Hotel Jorge V for a moderate price for a double. Hope this helps.