Torel Avantgarde

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Ang3lina

3/5Google· 4 months ago

I stayed at this hotel for two nights. While it is marketed as a five-star property, my experience did not reflect the standards I would expect from a hotel in this category. In my opinion, it is closer to a four-star hotel. The room cleanliness was below expectations. During housekeeping, some trash was left behind in the bathroom, which should not happen in a luxury hotel. We were also charged for pods left in the room without being informed in advance that they were not complimentary. Transparency regarding additional charges should be much clearer. The room itself was quite small for the price paid. The balcony, however, was pleasant and offered a beautiful view, which was definitely one of the highlights of our stay. Soundproofing was another disappointment. We could clearly hear guests walking and moving around in the room above us, as well as noise coming from the corridor. For a hotel claiming five-star standards, I expected a much quieter and more comfortable environment. The room amenities were rather limited. There were no complimentary creams, toiletries beyond the essentials, snacks, or other thoughtful details that are commonly found in four- and especially five-star hotels. Small touches often make a significant difference in the overall guest experience. Breakfast was good, with a satisfactory selection and quality. Unfortunately, I did not have the opportunity to use the spa or swimming pool, so I cannot comment on those facilities. The location is one of the hotel’s strengths. It offers beautiful views and is only a 10-minute walk from the city center, allowing guests to enjoy the area without being immersed in the noise and crowds. The biggest disappointment, however, was the service. The staff were consistently serious and distant, creating an atmosphere that felt cold rather than welcoming. Hospitality is not only about facilities; it is also about making guests feel comfortable and valued. During our stay, we often felt observed rather than welcomed. Furthermore, we were told that our car would be brought out of the garage early on the morning of our departure to facilitate check-out. However, no one assisted us, and we ultimately had to retrieve the vehicle ourselves. Overall, this was not the level of experience I expect from a five-star hotel. There are positive aspects, particularly the location, the views, and the breakfast, but the service, attention to detail, room standards, and overall hospitality fall short of what a luxury property should provide. As someone who works in the hospitality industry, I believe there is considerable room for improvement, particularly in guest care and service culture.

NL

Naomi Lind

5/5Google· 5 months ago

From the moment we stepped out of the taxi, we were warmly welcomed with a drink and genuine hospitality. The level of service throughout our stay was exceptional, with a clear focus on ensuring our comfort and happiness. We stayed in the “Charlie Chaplin” room, which offered stunning views over the Douro River in Porto—truly a highlight of our visit. Breakfast was equally enjoyable, not only for the varietal food but also for the beautiful views over the city. The staff were attentive and made sure every detail was taken care of. The pool area was nice and relaxing, providing a perfect place to unwind. We ended up staying at this hotel due to unforeseen circumstances, as our original hotel was not yet finished. In hindsight, it turned out to be a wonderful surprise. Overall, the outstanding service across all staff members made this a true five-star experience.

TM

Trip.com Member

4.7/5Trip.com· a year ago

The views from the restaurant for dinner and brekky were outstanding. On arrival we were given a tour of the hotel facilities, spa etc which was a nice touch. It was a 15 min walk to get into the main shopping/tourist area. The only criticism, and its minor really, I thought the hotel restaurant prices were a bit expensive, especially the wines.

PS

Paul Sewell

5/5Google· 2 months ago

I have nothing but positive remarks about this amazing hotel. We were looked after from the moment we arrived to when we left. Everyone there was friendly and wanting to make our experience the best ever. We were upgraded to one of the suites which was a nice surprise. The hotel is located centrally and so it is easy to walk from, but it is also elevated such that you feel you are away from the hustle and bustle of this lovely city. We also really enjoyed the various facilities including the gym, pool and spa. The breakfasts were amazing not to mention the ability to sit outside and enjoy the view of the river and the city. Thank for you such a restful tour of Porto. We will definitely return to this city and this amazing hotel plays a massive role in our decision to come back.

Q

Quest37715031528

1/5Tripadvisor· a month ago

We spent 2 nights at the Torel Avantgarde and paid over $700 per night, thinking this would be a true 5-star hotel experience. It was FAR from that. Honestly, I wouldn’t even give this hotel 3 stars. The hotel needs a major renovation and, even more importantly, a serious deep cleaning. The fingerprints all over the doors absolutely shocked me. It honestly looked like some of them had been there since the first guest ever stayed at the hotel. There was dust everywhere. I have dust allergies, and I couldn’t sleep properly because my nose was running all night from the amount of dust in the room. When you are paying more than $700 a night, basic cleanliness should not even be something you have to complain about. The service was also very poor. I asked the front desk to make a dinner reservation for us. Once the staff shift changed, they simply stopped answering and completely forgot about us. No follow-up, no apology, nothing. And this was only ONE example. I could honestly keep going on and on about the bad service we experienced. What shocked me the most is that this hotel presents itself and charges prices like a luxury 5-star property, but the condition of the hotel, the cleanliness, and the level of service are nowhere near 5-star standards. Maybe this hotel was once very good and deserved its reputation, but today it is very far from acceptable, especially at these prices. I honestly would not recommend Torel Avantgarde to anyone. For over $700 per night, this experience was completely unacceptable and a huge disappointment.

AM

Agnieszka M.

4/5Google· 3 months ago

First of all, I'd like to say that we were generally very happy with our stay. The hotel is in an excellent location, in a quiet part of the city while still with walking distance to main attractions in Porto. The staff were genuinely friendly and welcoming, and the hotel offers pleasant facilities, including a small but enjoyable swimming pool, a garden, a spa, and a gym. That said, we don't feel the overall experience quite lives up to a five-star standard. The rooms are very artistic, with each one having its own unique design. We stayed in Room 0 "Simone," which had a large balcony overlooking a peaceful courtyard—exactly what we had hoped for, so thank you for that. The room had black walls and a black ceiling. Ok, I get it: art! No problem—let's enjoy a taste of art! However, the room was extremely dark, and even with every light switched on it was still difficult to see. We actually had to use the flashlight on our phones just to enter the code on our suitcase. We even exchange the bulbs between lamps ourselves because the bedside lamp barely gave off any light. Storage space was also quite limited. The wardrobe was very small and contained only four hangers, which felt rather modest for a five-star hotel. There were no drawers or dressers either. The bathroom tended to stay humid and offered very little space for toiletries and personal items except two banches but I believe they were dedicated for sitting 😉 The TV itself was very large, but the picture only filled a small part of the screen. The remote control also worked poorly, even after the batteries were replaced. The cosmetic dispensers were terrible, and after they were refilled, two of them contained soap, while none of them contained shampoo. Breakfast looked generous at first glance, but we didn't find the quality exceptional. In particular, the bread and pastries. On the other hand, the dishes prepared to order from the menu were very good. Coffee very good too. And finally, a small story that made us smile. In the wardrobe we found four slippers waiting for us: one left slipper and three right ones! 🤣🤣🤣 I left them on the bench for housekeeping, but they realized why on our last evening before we checked out. These are small details, but they make the difference between a very good hotel and a true five-star hotel. The staff were kind and professional, and despite these issues above we really enjoyed our stay 🙂

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Paradise64444256830

5/5Tripadvisor· a month ago

The location was a brief walk away from all of the action and sight of Porto. The restaurant had a lovely view of the river and offered a lovely breeze with the fall heat. The grounds and room were fantastic, spending an afternoon by the pool after traversing the city all morning was a great way to recharge. The restaurant offered fantastic food at reasonable prices. The staff went above and beyond to make sure all our needs were met. The only issue we had was the room not cooling down enough in the evening but that would have to be if I was nitpicking, 9/10 would recommend.

QW

Quin Whiddon

4/5Google· 5 months ago

It was hard trying to decide on what hotel to stay during our vacation and after our visit, I have to say that we chose a great location. While we were not directly in the city, we were close enough to walk everywhere and yet far enough away to not hear any loud music. We arrived early in the morning and our room was not ready which was to be expected. I loved that they accommodated us by allowing us to use the spa facilities for a quick shower that was much needed after our long flight. After we freshened up, they tagged our bags and left them with the concierge. We walked the city and got the lay of our location. We really wanted a quick nap before dinner, but when we returned to the hotel our room still was not ready and we did not fully check in until 3:45. The room was nice, but I think the photos online looked better than what we got. We did have a separate living space with a couch that we appreciated. The room was clean and they provided refillable bottles of water. While that was a great perk, it was a bit irritating that we had to call them each time we wanted a refill and they would only give you 1 bottle each time. My husband and I both drink a lot of water, so we ended up buying bottles to ensure that we had enough throughout the night. The breakfast was very good, although it was pretty much the same each day. The staff was nice, but not the best with recommendations or suggestions. The art work was very cool and the hotel very modern and pretty. I would definitely stay here again.