One of the best-placed five-star hotels in Lisbon is the Altis Grand, a business and conference property located between two Metro stations just off the North end of the Avenue da Liberdade, the city’s upscale Champs-Elysees artery that runs several kilometres down to the atmospheric Baixa Old City and port. The city is built on seven hills and ladies not catching taxis everywhere will need to choose their footwear with care however, given the very steep slopes around the Altis, and uneven and broken pavements that could spell trouble for those in high heels.

Altis Grand offers 300 bedrooms comprising 82 singles, 209 twins and doubles and nine triples, breaking down into 82 Superior with 23 – 29 square metres of space, 206 De Luxe with 25-33 square metres of space, seven Junior Suites with 55 square metres of space, three Ambassador Suites with 85 square metres of space and a Presidential Suite sized 135 square metres. There are two restaurants serving authentic Portuguese cuisine, an informal Rendez Vous Coffee Shop for light meals and the Restaurant Grill D. Fernando for fine dining with views over the city – see our review in the last (June) issue of this newsletter. There are also three bars, with one on the 12th floor with city views. The more active will appreciate the large 950 square metre spa area with gym and swimming pool, and then relaxing in the Jacuzzi, sauna, steam bath or one of the four treatment rooms.

For conferences there is an impressive range of 20 meeting rooms, combinations of rooms and multi-functional banqueting suites offering spaces for between eight and 750 delegates, around half of them with views and natural light including three for 190, 230 and 750.

One impressive feature of the hotel we enjoyed as guests from overseas was the customer-caring complimentary welcome pick-up service that whisked us in a taxi from the airport to the hotel – this is subject to advanced booking and availability – a service that was kindly extended by the management to get us on to our next hotel in Estoril. And another was that on arrival at the Grand we were met by Rita, our charming Guest Service Ambassador, who showed us to our room and helpfully answered all our questions. Sometimes it’s the little things that leave the biggest impression.

Note. Altis Grand Hotel is a member of Great Hotels of the World Luxury Collection, which organised our press visit. Double room rates start from EUR.142. For more information or to book please visit Web: ghotw.com/hotel/home/hotel-altis.htm or call 020 7380 3658