archaeoExplorer
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A highlight of our two week visit to Portugal were the nights we spent in the wonderful and very welcoming Lawrence's Hotel. Located between the restaurants of Sintra's pleasant historic center and the grand mansions and palaces Sintra is known for, Lawrence's Hotel was an excellence base from which to explore the area... if you can make it away from the comforts this hotel offers! Lawrence's claims to be the oldest hotel anywhere in Portugal or Spain, dating back to the 1750s. In its tranquil setting in sublime Sintra, it has rightly been host to figures such as Lord Byron (where he began writing Childe Harold's Pilgrimage) and Eça de Queiroz. The cozy hominess of its rooms and public spaces are perfect for curling-up with a book and a nice glass of port. The creaky wood floors, tiles, and antique furniture are enough to make one feel at home in another era... but updated where essential! The fixtures in our suite's bathroom, and the water pressure, were ample, and there were many outlets to charge those devices that, hopefully amidst the scenery of Sintra, at which you will scarcely care to glance. Just as special as the comforts of the hotel are its people: rarely have we ever been made to feel so welcome! From Amanda's enthusiastic greeting at the front desk, to the volunteered assistance up the stairs with our bags by the staff from the kitchen, to the delightful breakfast buffet serving the freshest fruit and some of the best pastries in Portugal (if that's possible), and a packed breakfast for our all-to-early departure, our only regret was that we could not stay longer. A visit to Lawrence's is best for those without a car: they can arrange transportation, and a car is hardly needed to see the sights around town. Parking is available (in a 500-year-old historic building no less, when the free street parking is taken), but as with any driving in the historic center of town, streets are steep and narrow, and maneuvering can be a bit tricky, plus a pass is necessary to drive on the hotel's street (which must be obtained before arrival, so ask). We look forward to our next chance to stay with them!