Hotel Riviera

Lovely hotel, with excellent location, easy access to the beach Boardwalk and lots of restaurant options within a few steps of the hotel. The only thing that would discourage me from coming back would be the uncomfortable bed, it was like sleeping on the floor. I had a very hard time sleeping since the bed was way too hard for me. I’ve noticed others have said the same thing. They need to improve their mattresses and then they would get a full five stars and a raving review because outside of that, everything was top.

I stayed at the Riviera Hotel in Carcavelos for a few nights and had a mixed experience overall – hence only 3 out of 5 stars. On the positive side, parking in the area was quite easy – really helpful when you're so close to the beach 🚗. My room (No. 208) faced south, so the sun came in nicely in the mornings – that was pleasant 😊. Breakfast was okay, not amazing, but adequate. Wi-Fi was generally available, though occasionally a bit slow. Check-in and check-out were smooth, and the location is definitely good – close to the beach and quiet. Unfortunately, I did notice a few negative things: My room smelled strongly of smoke, even though it was a non-smoking room. I suspect other guests were smoking on the balcony and the smoke drifted into the room 😕. In the next room, 207, was a guest who arrived late at night and left early in the morning – and every sound was clearly audible through the thin walls (shower, doors, footsteps, etc.). The lack of soundproofing was really bothersome. On the last day, the cleaning staff knocked before 9 a.m. – it felt a bit like being forced out. Also, be careful at check-in; you have to sign something, and if you don't read carefully, you'll inadvertently give permission for your data to be contacted and used. Unfortunately, this isn't clearly indicated – I didn't find that very transparent. In conclusion: The location is good, but the overall experience wasn't convincing for me. Perhaps better suited for short stays without high expectations.

This hotel is quite old (which is also reflected in the room decor), but it continues to be of good quality and at a very reasonable price. The rooms are spacious and all (I think) have large bathrooms with a bathtub and enough counter space for our essentials. The air conditioning in the rooms also works very well, and every time I've stayed here, I've had a room with a balcony (I think they all have balconies). The refrigerator in the room also worked well (great for storing some fruit or cold drinks), and some things that are not always found in newer hotels are still very useful, such as the normal hangers without an anti-theft system (practical if we need to hang clothes in the bathroom, for example) and the ironing board. The wardrobe was also very spacious and with plenty of storage space (plus the chest of drawers in the room). The hotel's main lobby is always very well-kept and clean, which is pleasant, and the Christmas decorations were tasteful. Breakfast is also good, although it could be served later, especially on Christmas Day (only until 10:30 am), considering that guests probably went to bed later the night before. The hotel also has an outdoor pool and an indoor pool on the -1 floor, as well as a small but well-equipped gym (access to the gym and heated indoor pool is paid and cannot be charged to the hotel bill as it is managed by another company; I paid 10 euros for one use of the gym). The underground garage is also paid separately, 12.5 euros per night, but considering that street parking is also paid for most of the day, the garage is worthwhile, if only for being more practical and secure. And then, the location, unbeatable in this area: close to the beach, close to several excellent restaurants (the hotel itself has a restaurant), a small shopping center next door with an excellent Pingo Doce supermarket, pharmacy, stationery shop, etc. One of the best hotels in the area, combining quality, professional service, reasonable price and location 👍