Hotel Cristo Rei — Hotel in Porto

I really don’t know how to start this review. It was very challenging, to say the least. I don’t even want to add pictures because the reality is beyond expectations and not in a positive way. When I arrived, the first thing I noticed in the room on the second floor was that the sheets and blankets were dirty and musty. I had a small panic attack because the first thought that came to my mind was that the room might have bedbugs. So I checked the bed in every corner and I found hairs, dust, stains and some small dead bugs.

I tried to calm myself down and started checking all the reviews on Google and Booking.com. The place felt very musty and I was still worried about bedbugs. Fortunately, I only found one review about them from two years ago, so I assumed they probably had treatment done at some point. Regardless, the mattresses need to be replaced.

I looked for other options and even asked locals. One person told me that if I wanted something more decent at short notice, I would have to pay a much higher price. So I went back to reception and explained everything in detail, showing pictures and the small bugs I found. The receptionist looked very nervous but immediately offered me another room.

I checked the second room and, sadly, the mattress and bedding were also in very bad condition. Just to give you an idea, it felt like something out of American Hrrr Story Hotel (Hypodermic Sally). The blankets were also musty and not acceptable for a hotel, so I removed everything and slept only with the sheets. The Wi-Fi didn’t work in the room either, so I had to sit downstairs near the entrance just to get a connection.

During my stay, I ended up spending nights at local homes instead of staying in the hotel. I also noticed that some of the extremely positive reviews here don’t match the reality of the place.

⚠️ My honest advice: do not book this hotel unless you absolutely have no other choice.

I wanted to save money, but in the end, I am now paying for physiotherapy due to the uncomfortable bed. So you don’t really save money in the long run.

I have proof of everything, but I will not post it here out of respect for readers and also because the reception staff were genuinely kind and tried their best. Still, I believe this place urgently needs a full renovation before it can be recommended.

Location: 10/10 Receptionists: 10/10 Cleaning: 1/10 Furniture, mattress, sheets,...

Room was filthy (lots of body hair, dirt and sand) no a/c or fan in the room, the curtains are see through and even the blackout shader device doesn't block all the light. Our sink and shower didn't drain at all. The wifi on the second floor was awful. If it did work it was only for about 30 seconds at a time. WiFi did work near reception however.

We ended up asking for a refund because we hated it. Worst stay on our trip by far. When we asked for a refund the first lady we spoke with just said no. We had to insist over and over until she agreed to let us talk to someone over the phone, who told us to wait an hour so she could come give us the refund in person. She did eventually show up and refund us the 2 nights, she was also very nice.

If I had to say one nice thing it would be the location is great and the guy who helped us check in was nice and knowledgeable about the city.

I would...

Thank you to all the staff at the Hotel for the hospitality and service. The room was wonderfully decorated, it´s right in the centre on Porto, walking distance to all the places I wanted to visit, so considering the budget and location, it was far more than I was expecting. They dont serve breakfast, but for the price, they dont have to, because its just 5 minutes walk from all the nice coffee shops and food markets in Porto...so, honestly, if you planning on travelling to Porto, which is a beautifull destination in itself, being so central to everything was really ideal. I recomend it, and I dont often post reviews on Hotels, unless they are really bad, that I want to complain. No complaints here, its not the Ritz, but for the price, I dont couldnt expect...