Lisbon Hotel Guide :: The Lisboa Plaza vs. The Heritage Av Liberdade

August 19, 2008 at 9:05 AM | by femmefatale | Comments (0)

Two sister hotels from the small Heritage Hotel family in Lisbon illustrate just how much difference a street name can make to the price of a hotel room.

The big sister Lisboa Plaza (above) opened 50 years ago on a quiet side street just 20m from the busy Avenida da Liberdade - Lisbon's Champs Élysées.

It's a beautiful classic 4-star hotel, run by the same family since its opening, and with little designer touches by well-known Portuguese designer Graça Viterbo. 94 rooms over six floors, with all the bells and whistles including free Wi-Fi. Prices for a double room start around €165 ($243).

The little sister Heritage Av Liberdade Hotel has only recently opened as a 4-star hotel. It's taken over an 18th-century building right on the Avenida da Liberdade itself (hence the name).

There are fewer rooms - just 40 - and the traffic noise is 10 times higher than on the Lisboa Plaza's side street. Similar services, also including free Wi-Fi, and décor signed by another Portuguese designer, Miguel Câncio Martins. And yet the rates are always at least 50 euros more than at the Lisboa Plaza. Prices for a double room start at around €215 ($317).

The battle of the 4-star hotels....which would you choose? A similar location, a quieter street, a family-run hotel and 50 euros a night less? Or an address card that says 'Avenida da Liberdade' and a room bill to knock your complimentary socks off?

Take your pick - we know which one we're plumping for.

HotelChatter

Select a Destination:

Lisbon Hotel Scene / Heritage Hotels / Luxury Hotels / Monica Guy / → All Tags