Mercure Lisboa Almada

This hotel is highly regarded for its cleanliness, staff friendliness, and excellent breakfast, offering a comfortable and welcoming stay. Its signature feature is its convenient location near the Cristo Rei monument, providing a quieter retreat away from the bustling city center of Lisbon, complemented by the significant advantage of free parking. The hotel is an ideal choice for sightseers interested in local landmarks, business travelers seeking a well-equipped base, couples looking for a peaceful getaway, and families traveling by car. Guests should be aware of the hotel's non-alcoholic environment and factor in the travel time required for frequent visits to central Lisbon.

Facilities & Amenities
The hotel offers the significant advantage of free underground parking, providing guests with secure and easily accessible space for their vehicles. Guests generally find the Wi-Fi connection reliable and efficient throughout their stay. Rooms are equipped with a minibar, though some guests noted that its contents come with an additional charge. The AC system is consistently effective, ensuring comfortable room temperatures. While the hotel is well-maintained, some guests pointed out the absence of a dedicated fitness center. There were isolated reports of an elevator being temporarily out of service, causing minor inconvenience. A convenient supermarket located directly next door is a welcome amenity for quick purchases, and bathrooms are stocked with toiletries, though some guests mentioned the lack of hair conditioner.

Cleanliness & Room Comfort
Guests consistently commend the hotel's exceptional cleanliness, frequently describing rooms as spotless, well-maintained, and having a fresh, pleasant scent. The beds receive high praise for their comfort, ensuring a restful night's sleep for most visitors. Rooms are generally considered a good size and are often noted for being quiet, contributing to a peaceful atmosphere. However, some guests reported experiencing noise from adjacent rooms or the nearby motorway, despite the hotel's efforts at soundproofing. The bathroom facilities are highlighted for their cleanliness and spaciousness, featuring good showers. In-room amenities such as effective AC are appreciated, and while coffee and tea facilities are provided, some guests expressed a preference for ceramic cups over the available paper ones.

Dining & Food Quality
The breakfast at the hotel receives widespread acclaim, consistently described as excellent, varied, and delicious, with a wide array of options including fresh fruit, pastries, cheeses, and hot dishes. Guests appreciate the extensive choices available to start their day. The hotel's restaurant, Bashq, is often praised for its imaginative, tasty, and well-presented dishes, with specific mentions of good burgers and club sandwiches. However, a significant and frequently recurring point of feedback is the hotel's strict no-alcohol policy, meaning no beer or wine is served in the restaurant or at the bar. This policy has surprised and disappointed many guests, particularly given the cultural context of Portugal, leading some to find it unacceptable. The bar area is noted for offering only non-alcoholic beverages.

Location & Accessibility
The hotel boasts a convenient location for exploring Almada, situated within a short walk to the iconic Cristo Rei monument and close to the Pragal railway station. It provides relatively easy access to Lisbon via a combination of tram and ferry from Cacilhas, making city excursions feasible, though this journey can take 40-60 minutes. While its location is ideal for those visiting Almada or with specific business needs in the area, some guests found it to be too far from central Lisbon, particularly due to potential traffic over the bridge. The immediate surrounding area is generally quiet, featuring a convenient supermarket directly next door and a pleasant park across the street for leisurely walks. Crucially, the hotel provides free underground parking, which is a major advantage for guests traveling by car.

Staff & Service
The hotel staff consistently receives high praise for their exceptional friendliness, helpfulness, and professional demeanor. Guests frequently highlight their willingness to assist with various requests, from providing local information to accommodating specific needs. The check-in and check-out processes are described as easy, quick, and smooth, contributing to a positive arrival and departure experience. Housekeeping is highly commended for its consistent quality and daily attention to detail, ensuring rooms remain spotless and well-maintained. Many guests appreciate that the staff are proficient in multiple languages, including English, facilitating clear and effective communication. While generally responsive, some minor issues were noted regarding the speed of service in the restaurant during peak times or the delivery of specific in-room items.

Additional Information
A notable hotel policy that guests should be aware of is the complete absence of alcoholic beverages, which applies to both the restaurant and bar areas. This is a significant point of feedback for many visitors. Regarding in-room amenities, the water bottle policy provides complimentary water only on the first day, with subsequent bottles incurring a charge. Similarly, requests for ice may be subject to a delivery fee, and only crushed ice is typically available. For those arriving by air, the hotel offers a shuttle service, though some guests reported issues with its arrangement and found it to be overpriced compared to local taxis. The convenience of a supermarket located directly next door and a pleasant park across the street are additional benefits that enhance the guest experience.