Dom Pedro Palace Hotel Lisbon

Although it bills itself as a luxury five star hotel, the Dom Pedro does not quite live up to its own publicity.

For a start, the Classic rooms are large, clean and comfortable, but fall slightly below the standards of the well known four star hotel chains. In any room below the 10th floor, your view is more likely to be of the shopping centre opposite than a panorama of the river. The Deluxe rooms, especially the corner rooms, are higher in the tower block, bigger, and the bathrooms have slightly superior potions (soap, shower gel, etc.).

Elsewhere, the spacious reception area gives the first hint that this is not a truly top end hotel, as the flowers are plastic and the rugs look like cheap mass produced items. The corridors are also low, rather dark and feel cramped, although everything is clean and well maintained.

During our stay, the air conditioning was turned on for summer, and in our room on the 7th floor there was a constant humming throughout the floor. On the negative side, the technicians said that there was nothing that could be done, but on the positive side we were moved to an excellent corner room. On that basis, I have to give full credit for customer service, even though the front desk staff and concierges were a little slow to serve guests.

The location is good, provided you don't mind a bit of a walk or have transport of your own. The hotel is 5-10 minute's walk uphill from the Marquis de Pombal roundabout, which marks the start of the major Avenida de Liberdade and which also has a Metro station. There are a few small restauarants and cafes near the hotel away from the tourist route, and it is also opposite the Amoreiras shopping centre.

Overall, the hotel is a safe choice but if you really want a memorable stay, make sure that you get a good room and that it offers good value.