Hotel Lusitano

This is a glorious old hotel with delightful gardens that separate the original building from the outdoor bar, indoor pool and a modern extension. We booked a superior room in the new section, with a TV alcove and a patio overlooking the garden. The bird calls were so loud and persistent that I first thought they were taped. We liked the decor, the multiple electric sockets, and the comfortable king-sized bed. Foreign TV channels proved watchable but grainy. We missed having a coffee maker in the room but were grateful for the new bottle of water that arrived each day. More generally, the striking art work throughout the hotel is decidedly modern. Breakfasts are adequate and delicious but limited. For example I would have liked to see muesli among the popular cereals available. A flight of stairs links the spacious underground parking garage to the rooms above; there is no elevator. Visitors will find it easier to unload their luggage before driving down to the garage. Guides to the hotel facilities and restaurant are accessed via a qr code reader on their phones. On the nit-picking front, it’s impossible to close the spring-loaded bedroom doors quietly from the outside and a couple more towel hooks in the bathroom would have been welcome; also, you have to get out of bed to turn off the bedside lights. Having said that, I heartily recommend the hotel. Best check beforehand that your visit doesn’t coincide with any of the equestrian events for which Golega is well known.

We have been going to Hotel Lusitano since 2015 and have always loved it. Returning this year in late October 2021, was perhaps even more memorable. As Americans, I was concerned if our CDC vaccination cards would be accepted and emailed the hotel and they responded immediately to say they were accepted. We decided to upgrade our usual room to a corner suite and so glad that we did. The room was perfect as was the very comfortable bed. On emailing the hotel, I was able to confirm an early check in that was greatly appreciated after our international flight. Check in was easy as is the parking in the underground parking lot. As always, the staff was amazing some of which we have known from previous years. As always, the restaurant was excellent and I was delighted that many of our favorite dishes were still on the menu. Definitely, you need to try the octopus! They have expanded their dining room and they now have a dedicated breakfast room. Service was outstanding even on evenings when there were larger parties in the restaurant. Yes, we were able to get our favorite table in the restaurant a couple of times for dinner. This was greatly appreciated. I was saddened to learn that the hotel had to be closed down a couple of times for nearly a year. I am sure the dedicated staff suffered during these times. As we were packing up and leaving after three marvelous days, two of the staff members that we have known for years came out and told us how much they enjoyed having us back again. I have assured them that we will be returning again next year since Hotel Lusitano has become our favorite hotel perhaps in all of Portugal. While they are rated four stars, they are five plus plus stars for us. I can't wait to be back in 2022.