Carcavelos Beach Hotel

The view was amazing, the staff were friendly /helpful, the breakfast was incredible (based on our own Canadian standards, perhaps not for Europeans I don't know) and the rooms were clean. The pool area was nice to relax in. They also allowed us to store our luggage after checkout for a late evening flight out, which allowed us more time to enjoy the beautiful area.

We were at this hotel for 8 days (April 2025). The view from my balcony was incredible. Breakfast was a wonderful buffet even if it was the exact same food every day. The ladies at the front desk and the man at the bar are wonderful and very helpful. The area is safe and close to the beach, restaurants, shopping, and a grocery store all in walking distance. However, this is absolutely not a 4 star hotel. There is a smell in the rooms - mold/mildew? The water even smells when you turn it on. Do not ask the man at the front desk for an extra towel. This will not go well for you and he is not ever pleasant to deal with. You will know exactly who this is the moment you see him - back away and come back later. If your power goes out while you are there, just go to the front desk and it will be taken care of rather quickly. If you are lucky enough to have both main elevators stop working and the doors in the stairwell lock you on your floor, there is a service elevator somewhere on the floor (or call the front desk to have them come open the door from inside the stairwell). I will say that my balcony view and the price made up for the negative aspects.

I was quite surprised by how aged and worn-down this hotel felt for a place that's labeled as 4-star. The overall condition of the room and facilities really didn’t live up to that rating — it’s clearly in need of a thorough renovation. While the breakfast was decent and the location is undeniably great (right across from the beach), those were the only real positives. Unfortunately, everything else just felt underwhelming. The room lacked the comfort and atmosphere you'd expect at this price point and rating. In hindsight, I would have preferred staying at an Airbnb or even a hotel a bit farther from the beach if it meant better accommodations and a more modern, cared-for space. Not terrible, but definitely not worth the 4-star label.