Mercure Porto Gaia Hotel — Hotel in Vila Nova de Gaia

My best friend and I recently stayed here for a short 3-day trip to celebrate my birthday, and it turned out to be one of the best travel experiences we’ve ever had, especially as two young women traveling alone! From the moment we arrived until the moment we checked out, we felt so welcomed, cared for, and safe.

First and foremost, I want to express how incredibly kind and helpful the entire hotel staff was. Whether we needed directions, extra towels, or even just a friendly smile in the morning, everyone we interacted with was so warm and genuinely accommodating. It truly made us feel at home in a city we’d never visited before. The team went above and beyond to make our stay as smooth and enjoyable as possible.

The location is also fantastic, we couldn’t have asked for better. Having a shopping mall literally right across the street was such a plus! It made grabbing food, doing a little shopping, and even just wandering around super convenient. The area felt very safe and well-connected, which was especially important for us since we were exploring as solo female travelers. We felt completely at ease walking around, even in the evening, and it really allowed us to enjoy Porto to the fullest.

The hotel itself was clean, modern, and beautifully maintained. Our room was cozy and quiet, and the bed was so comfortable after long days of walking and sightseeing. The air conditioning worked perfectly (which was a lifesaver in the heat), and we had everything we needed for a relaxing stay.

And now for the sweetest surprise of our trip: on the evening of my birthday, the hotel staff surprised me with a beautiful birthday cake! I hadn’t expected anything like that at all, and it genuinely made my day feel so special and celebrated. It was such a personal and thoughtful gesture, one that I will never forget. It really touched my heart and made this birthday trip unforgettable. That kind of service and attention to detail is something you don’t come across very often, and I am so grateful for it.

In terms of accessibility, the hotel was also well-located for visiting all the major sights. We took short Ubers to most places, but even walking was pleasant from the hotel. It was the perfect base for our daily adventures, whether it was exploring the historic Ribeira district, catching the sunset at Miradouro da Vitória, or just wandering the charming streets of Porto. We even watched young locals jumping off the Dom Luís I Bridge into the river one afternoon, which felt like such a quintessential summer-in-Porto moment!

The hotel also provided great value for money. With all the amenities, the level of service, and the prime location, it felt like we got so much more than what we paid for. We honestly didn’t want to leave by the end of our trip, and that’s always a good sign.

All in all, this stay exceeded our expectations in every possible way. It wasn’t just a place to sleep, it was a huge part of what made this trip so wonderful. We laughed, rested, explored, and made so many memories while staying here, and we’re both so thankful to the amazing staff for making it all possible.

If you’re thinking about visiting Porto, whether it’s for a girls’ trip, a romantic getaway, or even a solo adventure — I highly recommend this hotel. It’s welcoming, comfortable, thoughtfully run, and in the perfect location. I truly believe it’s one of the best places to stay in the city, especially if you value feeling safe, seen, and appreciated as a guest.

To the entire team: thank you so much for making our experience so special. You turned what could’ve been just another hotel stay into a memory we’ll treasure forever. I can’t wait to visit Porto again someday, and when I do, I know exactly where I’ll...

Been there for 2 separate nights this past week, and the experience was great. Quiet and clean rooms, lots of space. The lobby is also very cozy. Unfortunately, due to C19, no service was available there, but I sure would have enjoyed having a drink there in normal times.

The greatest point here was the employees, all were very patient, helpful, and listened to my every need for these days (early check-in’s, early breakfast for the first day, ordering room service from their partner external provider, early morning taxi...).

Rita was very friendly and showed me around the historic city center with the best spots on a paper map, while Paula took time to help me find the fresh fish I wanted for dinner while we couldn’t translate the online menu.

Little details very appreciated, for instance, a duty manager provided me with a breakfast box at 3:30 in the morning and confirmed the taxi booking to reassure me. He kindly asked the taxi to drive all the way to the front. Paula on the 2nd day asked the restaurant to provide another payment terminal as my bank cards didn’t work on the first day and even offered to provide change if I didn’t have any, she remembered the drink I took 2 days earlier. In-room breakfast tray provided for the 2nd night, ordered for 9:45, went down to get it as I thought I’d have to pick it up downstairs, while an employee brought it up exactly at 9:45 and all items delivered as ordered.

Fantastic service, very customer-oriented, very professional. If I come back again to Porto for leisure this time, be sure you’ll see me again. I can see that the director reads these comments often, please thank the 4 duty managers I’ve come across (Rita, Paula and the 2 others for which I don’t have the names). They’re all absolute gems and I hope to see them again in the...

I went with my family, booking two rooms for two days (4 adults and a teenager) - it was a single reservation. My comments:

1. To enter the hotel garage, you have to ring the intercom to the "reception" (there is no ticket machine that automatically lets you into the garage). If you're lucky, someone will answer quickly and open the gate (you have to explain what you want first), if not, you have to wait several minutes, constantly calling (this happened to people who arrived after us).
2. The check-in process for all five people took over 20 minutes - I had to stand at the pseudo-reception desk the entire time.
3. I am a member of the ALL program at the SILVER level, so I am also entitled to welcome drinks for people traveling with me. Unfortunately, at this hotel, I was denied welcome drinks for people who weren't in the same room with me (I should note that this was a single reservation for two rooms for my entire group). When I spoke with the receptionist (women working at the "reception" on August 10, 2025 in the evening) and the waiters, I was told that that are the rules at this hotel and no discussion - I paid 400EUR for the entire stay and I had to pay an additional 7EUR for drinks for 2 people - somehow I have not encountered such behavior in other hotels participating in the ALL program, e.g. in the Novotel Centrum Warszawa or Ibis Centrum Malaga there was no such a problem. Advantages: nice rooms, shopping center nearby; more suitable for those traveling by car...