Douro Riverside Apartments

The views from the kitchen and bathroom are spectacular. Despite the dramas we had receiving the checkin instructions (via *******) we had high hopes for our stay in Porto. The information from the managers had raised our expectations even further with mentions of extras in the apartment for free. After managing to get into the foyer through the 30cm wide door, then tripping over several bags of laundry we then completed the complicated task of retrieving our car pass and negotiating the near vertical 2 flights of stairs to our apartment. Despite highlighting the internet and free use of Netflix, neither were working for us. Internet was fixed on the second day, but Netflix remained stubbornly in Korean. The air conditioning worked, however on the second day developed a constant drip which was to be fixed after we left. Out of the 4 showers, only one was warm, the rest were stone cold. No response to our email about that.

The place had an incredible view of the Duoro river, with walking distance to upper and lower Porto, which were unbeatable. The unit also came with its own parking spot few streets down the main building, which is rare to find in Porto. However, the entrance to the apartment is very dangerous as it requires 3 flights of narrow and uneven stairs. There was also a very unpleasant odor in the hallway leading to the apartment, with random ikea bags lined up in the staircase. The apartment itself is very clean, however; it’s very small and tight, which was noticed in the bedroom as the bed barely fit into the room. The bathroom itself required some maintained & attention, as it appeared to have some black mold in the shower or “black silicone” which was mentioned to us by the owner after we shared our concerns reaching to him on a platform. There was also a very unpleasant sewerage smell all throughout the unit, which is possibly from the bathroom pipes. When we reached out to the owner in regards to our concerns after our stay, we were informed that these apartments and building is old due to Porto history and not up to “American” standards. In our opinion, the only good thing about this apartment was view and location. It wasn’t a warm or a welcoming place.

The view was marvelous from the top floor apartment. And they were transparent in publishing that it was a walk up. They did not tell you that the staircase is steep and narrow. It was so steep that we could not easily carry our suitcases up. The staircase was very steep and therefore I would not recommend this property to older persons. To make space matters worse the front door is spring loaded and very narrow. If you are a large person or carrying a large suitcase it will be difficult to enter. Finally, the bedroom is very narrow. The space between the bed and the walls is less than 12 inches. This makes navigating a late night visit to the bathroom very difficult. Again this property has a beautiful view of the river, is quiet, and is very convenient to the Port houses in Gaia.

Fantastic apartments right down on the riverfront. Location was excellent - an easy walk to all the sights, cafes and bars. Apartment was clean, bed was super comfortable, had a handy kitchenette, views were great, and was excellent value for money. I injured my back as I was travelling to Porto and was in an unbelievable amount of pain. The owner Celeste went above and beyond to find me a fantastic acupuncturist and made me an appointment immediatlely. Because of this I was able to walk again and enjoy the beautiful city of Porto. This apartment and the service was 5 stars - we will be back! Thank you Celeste!

O quarto era demasiado pequeno e com acomodações medianas para o valor pedido, pesa o facto que quando da chagada e estando o quarto reservado e pago foi me informado que não haveria quarto disponível que se encontravam cheios. Contudo para se redimirem ofereceram uma garrafa de champanhe, o que cai sempre bem diga-se.