"Things went well to begin with staff being very helpful prior to our arrival but from when we got to our room, things just went downhill quick.
From the moment we entered the room we noticed a moldy smell. It wasn’t very strong and we figured chances were that other rooms had it as well and we don’t particularly like to winge and complain so we didn’t mention it and decided to make do with it.
Then when we took our first shower we noticed the pressure wasn’t great and that our shower handle holder was broken. Someone had tried to fix it by using some electrical tape on it but it didn’t work and wouldn’t hold in place. Once again, we just decided to make do with it.
The internet was also another pain point. Saying it was slow doesn’t get close to the actual experience. It worked intermittently and when it did it was the slowest speed we’d witnessed in years (I live in Thailand and have never had such a slow connection there…). We had mentioned this to the staff twice already. They said they never had issues with internet speed and that they reset our router twice but it made no improvements at all… At one point I had to urgently download a 4MB file for work and I just couldn’t. Eventually managed after 30 minutes or so…
Finally, on the morning of our departure we went to shower and found out there was no water at all. We had not been notified previously of any water cuts. When I called reception they simply informed me that the water maintenance guys had closed the water to the entire hotel for 2, 3 or 4 hours. As we were leaving for a long day of travel and as my girlfriend had just gone out running this was far from ideal and after all the other issues we had previously I figured we were entitled to some kind of compensation.
The manager was nowhere to be seen. I was just simply told that no compensation would be given despite all the issues I had just listed because it was a “government issue”. So it was simply managed as, “not my fault, not my problem”. They didn’t even try to find an alternative solution and at their level and price I would expect more.
To add insult to injury, while we were walking to the station we noticed municipal workers watering plants roadside just 100m from the hotel. So now I am even doubtful of the whole government issue they claimed and wonder whether it was maybe not a ploy on their end to avoid compensation. But I will never know as the manager was not available to speak to. Apparently had more important things to do than take care of a hotel with not water…
Very disappointing. The hotel is no worth it and overpriced for what it is. I’m certain that there are better options in Sintra."
