Originally Posted by
sinfonia
Has anyone stayed at the Intercontinental in Porto?
The IC Porto is very nice indeed, and in the centre of the city. But nicer still if you have status with IHG or are willing to buy up to the better rooms. I think there's still no club lounge there, if that's your thing.
As for the rest, international chains might not be the way to go. Portugal has developed in terms of hotel accommodation, and there are a number of quirky places of interest and luxury "boutique" style places which offer a touch of Portugal rather than corporate brand standards. Tripadvisor has pitfalls, but it can be useful in identifying potential stars.
Pousadas, as already mentioned, are generally safe bets. They're not quite as they were, but they still offer the national touches, are often brilliantly located, and carry the security of a significant degree of comfort.