-
I’ve booked the Intercontinental Cascais as above but the booking codes provided by AmEx Travel do not enable me to see the reservation in IHG app/online.
Is there another way to see this? I just want to see confirmation in IHG that my reservation is confirmed.
Do I get IHG points for the stay?
Appreciate your advice.Email the hotel and ask them to associate your reaervation with your IHG number
I now see the reservation in my IHG account but with no details – anyway, at least I know it’s there.
This sometimes happens with FH&R and Bon Vivant reservations since IHG brought in their Luxury and Lifestyle programmes.
The hotel is excellent at fulfilling benefits from these types of reservations, and for recognising and fulfilling Ambassador benefits.
What room classification have you booked?
For info, the booking does show in AwardWallet with all the details.
I booked a classic ocean view room and it’s showing as Premium Ocean View room. They told me that this is the upgrade available so I dunno if I’ll get anything more at check-in. Think suites are the next grade up.
That’s technically a two room upgrade. Garden View rooms are the base (Classic) rooms. There is then a “Corner Garden View”, which is the cheap upgrade. The Premium Ocean View rooms are the next level and are excellent. It is unlikely they will offer a further upgrade without payment.
The balconies are wonderful sun traps and at night you can hear the ocean lapping up against the shore if you leave the big sliding door slightly ajar.
As you’ve booked through FH&R you’ll have breakfast included. I would recommend taking sunglasses with you for breakfast as it is taken in the sunroom over looking the ocean and gardens.
It depends what your plans are obviously, but I would highly recommend booking a car and exploring the Sinatra mountains. The valet parking is quite reasonably priced (€9 per night from memory).
If you want a beer on the balcony it is worth noting that the little shop next to Monte Estoril station sells the exact same bottles of beer as are in the mini-bar for €1 a time and there are no censors in the mini-bar 🙂
Finally, there is a lovely little family-run, reasonably priced Tapas style restaurant five minutes from the hotel called Alegria Vadia. Worth booking in advance because it is quite small. Highly recommend the cheese!
My wife and I return every year and love the area, so we hope you have a great time.
One last thing, if you are going for a special occasion it is worth emailing the hotel in advance. They are good at arranging a bottle of sparking wine for the room and a small cake (they do that for my birthday every year!)
That’s great info, very helpful thank you.
Looking forward to the trip!Premium Ocean View are great rooms. Probably on the 3rd floor (which is the ground floor actually = same as reception).
This is one of my favourite ICs. Not sure what month you’re going, but the indoor swimming pool is lovely. Breakfast is very good and as said above, the service is outstanding. With so few rooms, the staff to guest ratio is great.
Villa Saboia is another great restaurant, which is 5 min up the hill from the hotel. Best ice cream in Cascais-Estoril is Santini
Thanks kwho, wife loves ice cream!
We are going at the end of this month – weather looks OK so far. 2 nights in Cascais and 2 in Lisbon at the IC (which appears to be full so little chance of a room upgrade).
Just wondering whether 4 nights in Cascais would be better and Lisbon visit by train on 1 or 2 days – what you think?
I would recommend 4 nights in Estoril. The IC Lisbon whilst modern, they’re pretty stingy with upgrades and the best you’ll get is a better view room (they call it premium or whatever). The lounge is ok but only during happy hour 5-7pm, not sure if you get access, but in my opinion is not worth it. To pay extra for lounge is not worth it, when there are so many choices to eat in town at decent prices.
The train from Estoril into Lisbon is 30 minutes during morning and evening rush hour and 40 mins other times. Rush hour is every 10 mins, then every 20 mins. Rush hour is not busy.
We stayed at Estoril last time and commuted into Lisbon. Lisbon Uber is 3-4 euros from station to central areas. IC Lisbon is up the hill, so if you want to go into central areas, there is a steep walk, and you’ll end up getting an Uber anyway.
IC Lisbon breakfast is like a factory. Either lots of event groups or cruise liner groups and it is busy!!!! Staff are overwhelmed. Whilst at Estoril, you’ll feel like you’re on a friend’s terrace with staff willing to help you at every moment. A huge difference. Breakfast there is never busy. I have never seen more than 4 tables being occupied, compared to IC Lisbon where there could be 50-60 tables occupied at any one time. Buffet breakfast is also much better at IC Estoril.
Our routine in Estoril was:
Breakfast on the terrace – wonderful view (no view at IC Lisbon)
Quick swim in the spa pool (heated) – (no pool at IC Lisbon)
Train into town before 10am (fast train every 10 mins – get a top up card which you touch in/touch out)
Uber into town 3 euros
Sightseeing
Lunch in Lisbon
Ice cream at Nannarella in Lisbon
More sightseeing
Dinner in Lisbon
Train back (not to forget that the station is right below the hotel – no noise whatsoever)
Drinks at the bar on the terrace with a view (No view at the bar in IC Lisbon and service poor)Restaurants to recommend in Lisbon:
BouBou’s (you must book well in advance)
Taberna da rua das flores
MiniBarI would recommend 4 nights in Estoril. The IC Lisbon whilst modern, they’re pretty stingy with upgrades and the best you’ll get is a better view room (they call it premium or whatever). The lounge is ok but only during happy hour 5-7pm, not sure if you get access, but in my opinion is not worth it. To pay extra for lounge is not worth it, when there are so many choices to eat in town at decent prices.
The train from Estoril into Lisbon is 30 minutes during morning and evening rush hour and 40 mins other times. Rush hour is every 10 mins, then every 20 mins. Rush hour is not busy.
We stayed at Estoril last time and commuted into Lisbon. Lisbon Uber is 3-4 euros from station to central areas. IC Lisbon is up the hill, so if you want to go into central areas, there is a steep walk, and you’ll end up getting an Uber anyway.
IC Lisbon breakfast is like a factory. Either lots of event groups or cruise liner groups and it is busy!!!! Staff are overwhelmed. Whilst at Estoril, you’ll feel like you’re on a friend’s terrace with staff willing to help you at every moment. A huge difference. Breakfast there is never busy. I have never seen more than 4 tables being occupied, compared to IC Lisbon where there could be 50-60 tables occupied at any one time. Buffet breakfast is also much better at IC Estoril.
Our routine in Estoril was:
Breakfast on the terrace – wonderful view (no view at IC Lisbon)
Quick swim in the spa pool (heated) – (no pool at IC Lisbon)
Train into town before 10am (fast train every 10 mins – get a top up card which you touch in/touch out)
Uber into town 3 euros
Sightseeing
Lunch in Lisbon
Ice cream at Nannarella in Lisbon
More sightseeing
Dinner in Lisbon
Train back (not to forget that the station is right below the hotel – no noise whatsoever)
Drinks at the bar on the terrace with a view (No view at the bar in IC Lisbon and service poor)Restaurants to recommend in Lisbon:
BouBou’s (you must book well in advance)
Taberna da rua das flores
MiniBarI can confirm all the above!
OK, done it!
Thanks for all the info and recommendations.You all make it sound divine! I have the IC Lisbon booked for late September but should I reconsider? Is Estoril a bit far from the city/airport for 3 nights? We are planning quite a bit of sight-seeing.
You all make it sound divine! I have the IC Lisbon booked for late September but should I reconsider? Is Estoril a bit far from the city/airport for 3 nights? We are planning quite a bit of sight-seeing.
Bold/Uber is about 20 euros. And about 45 mins, I think. I would stay at Estoril
I had to really push for an upgrade at the Lisbon IC – as Ambassador Diamond – and this was in the middle of Covid with about 10 rooms occupied in the whole place! Got a junior suite in the end, but left a sour taste.
Cascais is a super ugly building, but then you’re inside 🙂
Definitely stay in Estoril and commute into Lisbon. Cascais, Belam, Sintra are all worth seeing as well as Lisbon. Plus the views and property are much nicer than the Lisbon IC.
Plus the Lisbon IC is not particularly well located. It’s a 20 minute walk into the heart of the city, so you’re really not much further away being at the IC Estoril/Cascais.
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
Popular articles this week:
