Lisbon has had three new hotels opening in the last couple of months, all of them located in the center of the city and at reasonable prices. One of them is even a new concept, a “low cost” hotel that’s somewhere between a standard hotel and a hostel:

INSPIRA SANTA MARTA HOTEL

The just-opened Inspira Santa Marta is a stylish hotel just a short walk from Avenida da Liberdade in central Lisbon. Although it’s opened with only the superior rooms available, all the others will open by next month, also when the spa and gym become ready to receive guests.
Each room was designed following Feng Shui concepts and have a contemporary look.  You get free wireless internet service, but (unusually for Lisbon) no breakfast (that’s 7.50 per person). There is also a lounge and a restaurant serving Mediterranean cuisine.
Complete details and booking: INSPIRA SANTA MARTA HOTEL

EVIDÊNCIA LIGHT SANTA CATARINA HOTEL

The low-cost airline concept has been applied to accommodation at this new hotel. That means how much you pay depends on what you want to get. Located at the doorstep of the popular Bairro Alto district next to the Santa Catarina viewpoint, Evidência Light Santa Catarina is like a transition between a standard hotel and a hostel, offering 13 double rooms with private bathroom, 3 triple rooms with private bathroom, and a dorm with 14 beds and separate bathrooms (one for each gender). That last room accommodates individuals or groups and it works just like a hostel.
Each room has a colorful design, and you get a bed, linen, and a towel, but not breakfast. Not serving a free breakfast allows it to be “low cost” accommodation, and you only get a new towel and linen every 3 days (you pay if you’d like extras before that). If you feel like an early morning or midnight snack, there are some available 24 hours a day on a vending machine.
There is also a lounge area with free wireless internet, a bar, a wonderful courtyard to catch some sun, and a “mini library.”
Complete details and booking: EVIDÊNCIA LIGHT SANTA CATARINA HOTEL

CS VINTAGE LISBOA HOTEL

This new 56-room hotel just opened not far from Avenida da Liberdade, Lisbon’s main, central avenue. It also offers a restaurant and two bars, and soon it will include a spa with different treatment rooms, gym, and indoor heated pool. Wireless internet and a breakfast buffet is included in the price.
This is 5-star accommodation but prices for a double room are as low as 100 euros. Each room is elegantly decorated with a certain classic/vintage look.
Complete details and booking: CS VINTAGE LISBOA HOTEL

It’s been widely reported that Lisbon has the world’s best hostels and just a couple of days ago a new one opened as a strong contender to one of the top spots in the “world’s best” list. It has the rather pompous name of “Royal Lisbon Hostel” and it does automatically score points for its location on Largo do Camões, one of the city’s most central squares connecting its two most popular neighborhoods, Chiado and Bairro Alto.
Inside you’ll find everything you expect from a modern hostel, from spacious lockers for your belongings to comfortable beds. As at most other hostels, the bathrooms are shared but divided by gender. Prices are of course quite affordable, and it also allows you to save further by letting you prepare your own meals in the kitchen. You can enjoy them in the dining room before moving to the lounge area with views over the square, watching over the cafés and busy life of the surroundings. That’s also where you can access the wireless internet before stepping right into Lisbon’s vibrant street life.
This is no 5-star accommodation, but its privileged location, brand-new facilities, relaxed ambience, and affordability make it a luxury option for budget travelers.
Complete details and booking information here: Royal Lisbon Hostel

Portugal’s Madeira Island is known as “the garden of the Atlantic,” but that idyllic subtropical paradise was last February 20 the victim of a major storm (perhaps the worst on record) that left over forty people dead and much infrastructure damaged. However, the area where most of the hotels are located was left largely unaffected, and the island has been cleaned up and is picking itself up to continue to share its beautiful setting and serene atmosphere with the world. It therefore continues to be the perfect place for a rejuvenating getaway right now, with wonderful hotels offering breathtaking views and special pampering services. Here are a few of the best which include special rooms, views, and spa:

QUINTA SPLENDIDA
With views of the Atlantic and a botanical garden, this hotel has a contemporary, Asian-inspired ambience. Its spa offers special services for couples, or you can enjoy a massage or luxurious treatment all by yourself. The hotel also has a small golf course and 25 spa suites for a truly splendid stay.

CHOUPANA HILLS
This nature-inspired design hotel has a health and beauty spa with hot stone massages and aromatherapy among other treatments. It also includes a Turkish bath, sauna and heated indoor pool, as well as yoga classes, all at prices starting at 40 euros. The hotel overlooks the city of Funchal and the Atlantic, and is surrounded by a subtropical garden with over 200 plant species.

CS MADEIRA ATLANTIC
You can say that the Atlantic that surrounds the island is the inspiration for this spa hotel. All of its treatments are water-based, allowing their healing powers to do their magic on your mind and body. There are 14 treatment rooms and four outdoor pools, so you’ll always find space to relax in peace.

Downtown Lisbon has a new hotel. It’s the third to open in the past year, after Vincci Baixa and Gat Rossio. This one is called Altis Avenida and is also a 4-star boutique-style hotel. It has one of the best locations in the city, facing Restauradores Square and therefore also just around the corner from the bustling Rossio, with most of the rooms offering beautiful views. Some of them face Restauradores, while others look over Rossio all the way to the river.
The building was built in the 1940s and has been fully renovated. While the interior is contemporary, it is slightly inspired by 1940s glamour when Lisbon was a neutral safe haven for exiled nobility during WWII.
In total there are 72 rooms, with the top floor reserved for a restaurant and a terrace bar overlooking all of downtown.
The hotel is perfect for both leisure and business travelers, with a meeting room, business center, and free wifi throughout the building.
You may get more information and book it here: Altis Avenida Hotel

In Dublin last night, HostelWorld.com announced the winners of their very own Oscars for Hostels, the 2010 Hoscars (HOStelworld Customers Annual Rating – clever, eh?) with over 350 hostel owners and managers attending.

This prestigious event includes awards presented to hostels with the highest customer ratings and reviews, as voted for by over 900,000 Hostelworld.com customers. The event last night was to announce the best hostels for 2009.

Last year, Lisbon took the top 3 places in the list, and guess what? This year the top 3 have won again, in exactly the same order! And a total of 5 Lisbon hostels were included in the Top 10, which is one better than last year. It’s clear that Lisbon’s hostel owners are making serious efforts to keep their guests happy.

The top three best hostels were:

1. Travellers House Hostel
2. Rossio Hostel
3. Living Lounge Hostel

Lisbon Lounge Hostel came in at number 7, and the Lisboa Central Hostel was a very respectable 10th.

But you can’t help but admire the Travellers House Hostel. Nominated best hostel for 2 years running, and also in the Top 3 of GoLisbon’s list of most popular hostels for 2009. This hostel is proving consistently that it is the favorite in the city according to reviews from past guests. It is located in Lisbon’s main pedestrian street, Rua Augusta and not only is the location perfect, the design of the décor is another major attraction.

Congratulations are due then, to Lisbon’s hostels in general, and to Travellers House in particular.

Price, location, and positive reviews from past guests were the selling points for the hotels and hostels most booked in 2009 through GoLisbon.com. Looking at the top 5 hotels, they average an 8.3 out of a possible 10 rating from past guests and are all centrally located or with easy access to and from the airport. Three of them are located downtown, with the relatively new Vincci Baixa having already claimed a spot in the top 5. What they all also have in common is their price range, with double rooms at below 100 euros throughout most of the year, and often going for as low as 60 euros. Their positive rating means that their strongest selling point is good value for money but their locations are also a plus.
In our hostel bookings the ratings from previous visitors were also important to attract new guests, with the top 5 hostels averaging a 93.5% approval. The most booked hostel was the gay-friendly Pouso dos Anjos Guesthouse followed by Lisbon Story Guesthouse and Travellers House in the Baixa, downtown district.
GoLisbon also offers apartment bookings, all located in the most central and charming historical neighborhoods, as well as pousadas which this year attracted a larger number of travelers. Below is the top 5 hotels and hostels, showing their percentage of all bookings made through GoLisbon.com:

TOP 5 HOTELS
1. Altis Park 6%
2. Radisson SAS Lisboa 5%
2. Residencial Florescente 5%
4. VIP Inn Veneza 3.1%
5. Vincci Baixa 2.9%

TOP 5 HOSTELS
1. Pouso dos Anjos Guesthouse 10%
2. Lisbon Story Guesthouse 6.5%
3. Travellers House 6.1%
4. Alfama Patio 3.4%
5. Lisbon Poets 3%
5. Oasis Backpackers Mansion 3%
5. Lisbon Old Town Hostel 3%

“New York” magazine highlighted Lisbon in its travel section this weekend, and among some of the city’s most interesting shops, hotels, and landmarks, it also recommended GoLisbon.com for being “an amazingly comprehensive English-language site covering most everything in Lisbon, with a focus on what’s new.” This comes after recommendations in the Lonely Planet guidebooks, in Paris’ Metro newspaper, and London’s “The Times,” confirming that GoLisbon.com is indeed the must-visit site for everything Lisbon. It’s reassuring to see our efforts in presenting Lisbon recognized, and it’s also interesting to see what major international publications choose to highlight in our beloved city.
In this “New York” article, the author recommends stays at the York House and Fontana Park hotels for being close to two of the city’s top museums, while also highlighting the classic boutique hotel Heritage Avenida Liberdade.
When it came to restaurants, it offered some interesting options, the recent 100 Maneiras for refined but reasonably-priced Portuguese dishes, as well as the very traditional and laid-back “A Camponesa” by the Santa Catarina viewpoint. A third option was “Aya,” known as Lisbon’s best Japanese restaurant.
The article goes on to suggest stops at some of the city’s most interesting shops, including PorConceito and A Vida Portuguesa for authentic Portuguese products.
As for sightseeing tips, it sticks to Alfama, suggesting a climb to the Castle of St. George and a look at Casa dos Bicos before ending the day at Pois Café.
You can read the entire article at the New York Magazine site: Spend Less in Lisbon

After Porto’s new palace hotel, we must also tell you that Lisbon recently saw the opening of its latest palatial accommodation. Hotel Palacete Chafariz D’El Rei opened on a secluded street right below the hilly maze of the Alfama district, and is now one of the most romantic places to stay in the city.
It was built in the late 19th century as an aristocratic vision of the neo-Moorish style, facing the river which can be seen from the building’s terrace. The renovation for it to be turned into a hotel took some time, as everything was carefully restored to its original look. The authenticity of the interior is then mixed with the more contemporary design of some of the furnishings, all together creating an intimate atmosphere throughout the entire space.
There are six spacious suites and public areas for meetings or relaxing after a day of sightseeing. A particularly beautiful room is the Hall of Mirrors which features Art Nouveau details, and there is also a meticulously restored Arabesque Room and a sumptuous library.
This is the perfect hotel for honeymooning couples, including gay and lesbian couples, as it’s a gay-friendly hotel.
There is no restaurant but a continental breakfast is served in the beautiful dining room.
For a cocktail you practically don’t even need to leave the hotel, as right next door is Kuta, currently the hottest bar in Lisbon and a place you should not miss whether or not you’re staying at the hotel.
Get all the hotel details and booking information here: Palacete Chafariz D’el Rei Hotel

If you’re taking our recommendation and going to Porto during its restaurant week, be sure to also consider a visit or a stay in the city’s newest hotel and attraction — Palacio do Freixo Hotel. Classified as a national monument, this baroque palace was recently renovated to become a Pousada (the special chain of Portuguese hotels in historical buildings or atmospheric areas), and is now open to guests and those curious about the monumental building.

Non-guests may also dine at its excellent restaurant (which, incidentally, is participating in the Porto Restaurant Week), and admire the beautiful architectural details of the façade and interior.

This is the largest of all Pousadas, offering 87 rooms accessed through a grand entrance. Past the reception is a business center and a chapel, as well as the “Hall of Mirrors” which is connected to the bar. There is also an area devoted to wine tastings (you’re in Porto, after all), and of course the restaurant serving refined dishes of Portuguese cuisine.

As you pass through these different spaces you’ll see painted ceilings and walls, satins, and wooden floors. You’ll also want to look for the indoor pool with a spa, as well as the terrace and gardens outside offering river views.
In the rooms you’ll find classic Portuguese furnishings mixed with contemporary decorative pieces, meaning Baroque or 19th century chairs and fine Portuguese porcelain together with works by local contemporary artists.
In the end, you’ll see that the 10-million-euro investment was a reasonable price to pay when the result is providing one of the most memorable experiences in the beautiful city of Porto.

Get complete details, including booking information here: Pousada do Porto – Palacio do Freixo Hotel

SEE ALL OF PORTUGAL’S POUSADAS

A recently-reported study regarding the cost of luxury hotels has shown that prices have tumbled around the world. Travelers can now enjoy 5-star accommodation at around 100 euros per night, and the major world city where that is most possible is Lisbon. The Portuguese capital tops the list of what is now considered “budget five-star hotels”, meaning visitors can at the moment get even more for their holiday money.
If you weren’t already convinced that Lisbon is currently the most attractive European capital when it comes to value, weather, and safety combined with its surprising cultural attractions, this should leave no doubts. Other European destinations such as Prague and Warsaw have also made the top 10 list of affordable 5-star-hotel cities, but no other can beat Lisbon for true value.
GoLisbon therefore recommends its visitors to check out prices at some of the city’s top hotels which just may reveal themselves to be quite reasonably priced. Consider Pestana Palace which is a favorite of visiting celebrities, stay in grand European style in the center of the city at Avenida Palace, or check out the city’s Sheraton which offers a fantastic restaurant with views and a fabulous spa.
Those who prefer the luxury of their own apartment will find dozens of choices in the center of Lisbon at even more affordable prices.