my partner and i stayed here in sep '10 and we were surprised at the size of our room - (601 ) 1 large balcony overlooking fabulous town square another small one overlooking street ahead and a side door leading out to another balociny with table chairs and sun lounger - wow a great start!

then we saw some ants making there way into the wardrobe - called reception quickly dealt with by the friendly paulo

here are some cons :
*bed was slightly hard- suited me though ( bad back)
*television was not flat screen as stated in the hotel desciption- no big deal didnt go on hols to watch tv anyway - although on egerman channel was quite boobie during the day ( watch out if u bringing kids)
*the noised outside in the square was unbelievable . the ave do aliados is a main thouroghfare through the city and the sirens and scambling bikes was really loud at all hours of the day - we decidde that the ambulance and police only used their sirens to get through the traffic lights - there couldnt possibly be that many emergencies in porto !

the nightlife was tooo quiet for us . we not big clubbers nor are we 75 years old . there seemed to be little to no decent music at all going on anywhere- we made our way to the irish pub and were disappointed to say the least . portuguese barmaid had music on that you wouldnt hear at a funeral- very depressing- we wanted to take it over for an hour we would have had the place hopping


now for some pros
staff were great - nothing was too much problem - except a late checkout which was not possible - but there was a little living room one could sit in while checked out and had some time to kill before leaving.

i really liked the breakfast lady she was so friendly and nice and worked so hard to turn around tables and keep the food topped up . we christened her bom dia because she always greeted us with a friendly good morning !

the location of the hotel was fantastic - just up the road was metro station trindade - we went to the estadio de dragao from here for a porto home match - 25 euro for a cheap seat - great night and only 10 mins away via metro. close to the river ( ribeira ) and the shops and all buses to the beach were out on the square too ( matashinos bus will get you out to the sea life centre and the beach)

When selecting a hotel, my primary consideration is location-price-quality ratio. Given Vera Cruz's central location, solid quality and reasonable price [I paid <$50/night], I was very pleased with my experience.

The location is accessible (2 minutes walk from Aliados metro stop), well-lit and secure. The property is clean and well maintained. The staff is friendly and helpful. Everyone at the front desk speaks English. My room (#704) was simply appointed, but the bath was large and the room was quiet. The bed, while comfortable, creaked a bit too much for my liking. The breakfast is continental-style (coffee, juice, bread, cheese, jam, cereal, etc.), but it is more than adequate to power you up for a day of sightseeing.

While I have certainly stayed at "nicer" hotels, there is an old adage that you get what you pay for. This is a very fine 3-star property. If you don't come expecting the amenities of a 4- or 5-star property you won't be disappointed. For the budget traveler, it is hard to complain. I would stay here again (particularly if I was watching my Euros).

Get the expectation right, this is afterall a 'residential' and not exactly a hotel, there is no proper lobby. The room is rather basic but sufficient. I noticed the cleaning standard (washroom, towel, blanket, carpet) can be improved. Got a room with a view but absolutely no view and lack of natural light. Hence is quiet to get decent sleep.

Location is good in the sense that it is at centre and is a stone throw away from metro station. There are supermarket, restaurant, cafe, bar at the immediate vicinity. However it is some 15-20 walk to the most happening riverfront area.

Breakfast is simple but good. Fantastic roof top restaurant.

One thing for sure, the staffs were very friendly and helpful, which I think is the biggest asset of this lodging.

Stayed for two nights and were very impressed with the central location. Rooms are small but clean and staff is very friendly. Highlight was definitely the yummy breakfast on the roof terrace. If you get a good deal, it's definitely a hotel to recommend.