Unbelievable Porto Gem: Ruby Charm House 9 - 116352/AL Awaits!
Unbelievable Porto Gem: Ruby Charm House 9 - 116352/AL Awaits! - A Review (and a Rant, Honestly)
Okay, folks, buckle up. I just got back from the Ruby Charm House in Porto, and honestly, my brain's still trying to process all the charm. Or maybe it's the port wine. Either way, here's the deal – a review, a rant, a slightly chaotic tapestry of experience, all wrapped up in a house that claims to be a gem.
Let's Start with the Basics (and the Annoyances, Because Honesty):
Finding the damn place was a mini-adventure. My GPS was, let's just say, optimistic. I'm pretty sure it wanted me to scale a building at one point. But, eventually, I stumbled upon it. So, Accessibility… well, the website mentioned elevators (apparently). This became crucial because I have a bad knee. However, getting to the elevator from the street was a bit of a puzzle. The cobblestone streets of Porto aren't exactly built for a smooth arrival. Seriously, bring your walking stick (or a damn good knee). The good news is, once inside the hotel, things are pretty darn elevator friendly, the hallways seemed wide enough for a wheelchair (although I didn't see anyone using one, and it could be a very expensive, sad, and isolated vacation) which is a HUGE plus.
The "Unbelievable" Stuff (and where it falls short):
They brag about their Cleanliness and Safety. And look, they try. They really do. I'm pretty sure they had a hazmat suit squad wiping down the Daily Disinfection in Common Areas. Professional-grade sanitizing services everywhere, right? And I am pretty sure every single item of tableware passed through UV sterilization and individual wrapping. Which is great on paper. But, the day I arrived, the Breakfast [buffet] was a little… well, let's just say there was a fly near the pastries. A fly. I understand that, since they also offered Breakfast takeaway service, they didn't want to waste any food. Anyway, it was a fluke, I am sure. The fly. I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt. And Safe Dining Setup? Seemed ok. But, I'm still wiping everything down twice, just in case. Also, they claim Room sanitization opt-out available; which is great if you are a germaphobe.
Then there's the whole Spa/sauna situation. The Pool with a view was definitely a highlight, I'll give them that. Looking out over the city while taking a swim, unbelievable. Pure bliss. The Sauna and Spa/sauna were fine, but maybe a little too minimalist. And it could be that my poor eyesight, while in the steam room, made me think I saw a rogue speck. Maybe I should have tried the steamroom. I got distracted trying to find the Poolside bar.
Food, Glorious Food (with some hiccups):
The Dining, drinking, and snacking possibilities are extensive. The A la carte in restaurant menus were tempting, but a wee bit heavy on the cod. I didn't mind so much the International cuisine in restaurant as some local dishes seemed to be missing. I tried the soup, which was good, and the salad. I'm no salad expert, but I have eaten my share. The Coffee/tea in restaurant was decent. But then, I ordered the desserts in the restaurant. The service seemed uninspired.
And that Breakfast [buffet]… the fly, the pastries… But, I have to admit, the Asian breakfast was intriguing. I think the chef was either trying to be very cosmopolitan or a little confused. I went for the Western breakfast, which was adequate.
And hey, if you want a quick bite, there's a Snack bar. And Room service [24-hour]! Handy after a night of Happy hour. But, they could use a little more Coffee shop love.
The Room: My Sanity Sanctuary (Mostly):
Air conditioning in public area? Brilliant. But even better, Air conditioning in my room was like a little slice of arctic heaven after a scorching day of sightseeing. Free Wi-Fi? Essential, and it worked, even if it occasionally decided to take a nap. Wifi for special events? Who organizes them? And, yes, Free Wi-Fi in all rooms!.
The Additional toilet was a lifesaver, especially after all that port wine. The Alarm clock was surprisingly effective, mostly because I was scared to sleep too long! Bathtrobes? Yes, please! Blackout curtains? YES! The Desk was perfect for writing these notes (and for ordering pizza!) The Hairdryer worked like a charm. Ironing facilities? Much appreciated. All of them had Internet access – wireless. The Refrigerator was stocked with Free bottled water. The Shower was great, and I had a Separate shower/bathtub too.
The Mini bar was a temptress I tried to resist, but succumbed more often than I would like to admit. Non-smoking was a huge plus (I'm a non-smoker, thank you). And I love the Seating area. The bed was a haven, oh, I also had a Sofa, a Mirror, and a Coffee/tea maker.
Services and Conveniences (The Good, the Bad, and the Slightly Baffling):
- Front desk [24-hour]? Great. Always there to help (sometimes, maybe, eventually).
- Concierge? Tried to get my luggage back (I think I left it in the restaurant).
- Doorman? He was very kind.
- Daily housekeeping? They did their best, bless their heart.
- Laundry service? A bit pricey, but efficient.
- Meeting/banquet facilities? Seemed a little stuffy but I never used them.
- Business facilities? Didn't require them.
- Cash withdrawal? There's one offsite, which is helpful.
- Gift/souvenir shop? Yes.
- Luggage storage? Always a plus for rambling travelers.
- Safety deposit boxes? Good.
- Smoking area? Sigh.
For the Kids (I have none, but observed):
They seemed to be Family/child friendly. I saw a few Kids meal options on the menu, a Babysitting service, and Kids facilities.
Getting Around (The Porto Tango):
- Airport transfer? Yes. Taxi service? Yes. Car park [free of charge]? Yes, yay! But, the Car park [on-site] was a bit tight. Bicycle parking? I didn't see anyone riding a bike. Valet parking? Fancy.
Metadata/SEO Stuff (Because, Hey, Gotta Do It):
- Keywords: Porto hotels, Ruby Charm House, Porto accommodation, Portugal travel, luxury hotel, spa hotel, wheelchair accessible, Porto restaurants, pool with a view, free Wi-Fi, Porto city center, family-friendly hotels, breakfast included, Porto sightseeing, accessible hotel, non-smoking rooms, sauna, steam room, Porto Portugal lodging.
- Meta Description: Honest & hilarious review of Ruby Charm House in Porto, Portugal. Details on accessibility, amenities (spa, pool, food), room features, and all the quirky joys and minor annoyances! Learn if this Porto gem is right for YOU!
Overall Verdict:
Would I go back? Honestly, probably. The place has a certain charm. The staff are lovely, and the location is great (once you find it!). The room was fantastic. And that pool… swoon. The imperfections? They add character. The fly? An adventure. The Ruby Charm House is a bit like a slightly eccentric aunt – you know she's got her flaws, but you still love her. Just remember to pack your own fly swatter. And maybe a knee brace. And a sense of humor. You'll need it.
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Alright, buckle up, buttercups, because we're about to dive headfirst into my Porto adventure, specifically focusing on Ruby Charm Houses 9 116352/AL. Forget your pristine, robot-written itineraries. This is me in Porto, warts and all, documenting a trip that promises more vinho verde spills than Instagram-worthy sunsets.
Phase 1: Arrival & That Pesky Apartment (Oh, the Drama!)
Day 1: "Lost in Translation (and Luggage)"
- Morning (8:00 AM - 12:00 PM): Landed at Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport (OPO). Flight was delayed an hour. Already grumpy. Found a guy wearing a suspiciously clean Portugal soccer jersey holding a sign with my name on it. Figured it was worth the risk. Quick taxi ride to Ruby Charm Houses.
- 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM: The promised apartment. The infamous apartment. Ruby Charm Houses 9 116352/AL. The pictures? Lies, all lies! Okay, maybe not lies, but enhanced truths. It was smaller than expected. Significantly. And the "charming" terrace? More like a slightly enlarged fire escape. Ah well, Porto, right? Gotta embrace the…character.
- 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM: Luggage unpacked (what little of it arrived, my main bag is still MIA - thanks, airline of doom!). Instant panic for my toothbrush, which is, of course, in the depths of the never-land of lost luggage. Desperate search for a tiny, tiny grocery store to buy a disposable one.
- 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM: Exploring the neighborhood. Found a pastelaria that looked promising. Smelled the pastel de nata – instantly forgot about the lost luggage. And it was divine! Okay, Porto, you're starting to win me over. Also, accidentally wandered into a church. Felt guilty for not knowing an iota of Portuguese and only having a vague clue of what they were singing.
- 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM: Attempted to find a local restaurant for dinner. Walked five blocks and got utterly bewildered by cobblestone streets. Ended up just grabbing some simple pastries, more importantly, found a small local bar to quench my dehydration and anxiety. Ended up ordering what I thought was beer. Turns out it was something…different. Still delicious nonetheless, after a quick gulp of course.
- 7:00 PM - Bedtime: Collapsed on the tiny bed, determined to be hopeful about the lost luggage. Dreamt of pastel de natas and fluent Portuguese.
Phase 2: Doubling Down on Porto's Soul: Food, Wine, and More Food
Day 2: "Port Wine & Porto's Perils"
- Morning (9:00 AM - 12:00 PM): Spent the morning wandering. Still no luggage. Decided to drown my sorrows in a bica (espresso). The barista looked like he'd seen a thing or two. His slow smile was reassuring.
- 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM: Took a bus to the Vila Nova de Gaia waterfront to explore the Port wine cellars. I booked a cellar tour at Sandeman Cellars. The tour was nice, to be honest boring in its history lesson. Still learning Portuguese and I got lost in translation a number of times. But the tasting at the end? Pure poetry. Found a beautiful Ruby Port, and then the Tawny. I was sold.
- 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM: The Douro River, an ever majestic view. Decided to cross one of the iconic bridges like the Dom Luís I bridge, overlooking the river and the port wine cellars.
- 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM: Another eating adventure. I heard of a place called "Casa Guedes" and they are known to serve pork sandwiches. Found the place a little messy. But the sandwich was delicious! Decided to try to make small talk with the restaurant owner, the language barrier was there but his smile told me everything I wanted.
- Evening (7:00 PM - Bedtime): Back to the apartment, trying to work out my route of the day. The streets are winding and I kept getting lost. So I decided to grab some pastries near my apartment.
Day 3: "The Livraria Lello & The Francesinha Frenzy"
- Morning (9:00 AM - 11:00 AM): Visited the Livraria Lello. The bookstore that inspired the Harry Potter series. Yes, tourist trap, yes, overpriced, yes, I still wanted to go. The queues were insane, but I had to see it. The architecture was absolutely stunning. Was it worth it? Yeah, probably. I bought a bookmark, because, you know, a literary souvenir.
- 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM: Walking the streets, and went to admire a few churches. I am not a religious person, but the architecture and the history of these churches is absolutely fascinating.
- 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM: The Francesinha Challenge. I've heard about this sandwich for months, the national treasure of Porto. It's supposed to be the holy grail of sandwiches. Found a local restaurant with a long line. Finally got my hands on one. The look? Questionable. The taste? Glorious, messy, and possibly the best thing I've ever eaten. My arteries are probably rejoicing.
- 3:00 PM - 6:00 PM: After my amazing Francesinha, I decided to walk off the sandwich. Found a tiny park with a fountain. Sat down and observed the locals, just enjoying themselves.
- Evening (7:00 PM - Bedtime): More aimless wandering. Trying to grasp the city's rhythm, the way the light hits the colorful buildings, the conversations that I couldn't understand. Porto is all about surprises, and I'm loving it.
Phase 3: Homeward Bound (Eventually)
Day 4: "The Final Day - And More Lost Luggage"
- Morning (9:00 AM - 11:00 AM): Last attempt at the elusive luggage retrieval, finally. Nope. Still MIA. Filed another report with the airline. Purchased a souvenir t-shirt, the smallest size that actually fits, because I'm shrinking from all the bread I'm eating.
- 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM: One last walk around the Ribeira district, filled with charm, yet somehow, I feel somewhat sad. Took a boat tour, saw the bridges from a different angle.
- 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM: The Final Meal. Went back to Casa Guedes for one last pork sandwich. Started to realize I might be in love with Porto even more than I thought.
- 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM: Packing. Or, rather, contemplating how to pack what little I have to show for this trip.
- Evening (6:00 PM - Airport): Taxi to the airport. Pray to the travel gods for a non-delayed flight and, maybe, just maybe, my luggage.
- Bedtime (on the plane): Replaying my adventures, and the memories. This trip has been a messy, beautiful adventure. Porto, you were a revelation.
Final Thoughts:
This trip wasn't perfect. Far from it. But it was real. The lost luggage, the language barriers, the navigation fails, even the quirky apartment– they all became part of the Porto story. And I wouldn't trade it for anything. Would absolutely revisit Porto!
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Okay, Okay, Fine! Unbelievable Porto Gem: Ruby Charm House - You NEED to Know This (Probably)
So, like, what even IS this "Ruby Charm House"? Is it a cult? Should I be worried?
Alright, breathe. No cult (that I could detect, anyway). Ruby Charm House, specifically unit 9 (the one with the reference number, 116352/AL for all you official-types), is basically an apartment. A *really* nice apartment. In Porto. It's listed on the various booking sites. Think Airbnb, Booking.com, etc. The name is... well, a little pretentious. "Ruby Charm"? Sounds like a perfume sold by a fortune teller. But hey, the photos are amazing. That's what got me hooked. And no, I wasn't particularly worried... until after I booked and started reading the reviews. Hold on to your hats, those reviews… they're a rollercoaster. Some love it, some hate it, some are just bizarre. More on that later.
Parking... tell me about the parking. Because I'm already having a parking-related existential crisis.
Parking. Ah, the bane of modern travel. Okay, deep breath. This is Porto. Porto, Portugal. Ancient city. Narrow streets. Basically, forget "convenient parking." I'm not even sure convenient *exists* in Porto, especially for a unit like this, which is probably smack-dab in the middle of everything. I remember circling the block for about an hour, muttering profanities under my breath (mostly directed at my GPS). Finally, I found a spot… that was, shall we say, *optimally* sized. I'd packed a small car. Thank God for the small car. It was tight. Like, *really* tight. And the walk? Well, let's just say I perfected my "luggage-hauling-uphill-on-cobblestones-while-sweating-profusely" technique. So, pack light people (HA!). Maybe consider a taxi from the airport unless you're feeling particularly adventurous – or masochistic.
The pictures. They're gorgeous. Is it *actually* as pretty as the photos? Because I've been burned before.
Okay, the photos. Yes, they are good. Very, very good. Are they airbrushed? Maybe a little. But honestly, the apartment *is* beautiful. I mean, seriously beautiful. The high ceilings, the exposed brick, the natural light streaming in… it's swoon-worthy. I walked in, and genuinely (and embarrassingly) went "Oooooh." Like a teenage girl at a One Direction concert. The decor? Impeccable. Modern, stylish, but still feels like a home. It's got that "carefully cultivated bohemian chic" vibe. The real issue is ... the *size*. Space is premium. While the interior is gorgeous, you won't be having a conga line in there.
Okay, the location. Tell me about the location. Is it noisy? Is it safe? Can I get coffee?
Location, Location, Location! It's central, no doubt about it. You're right in the thick of things. Within EASY walking distance to the Ribeira (the riverfront) AND several very, very tempting pastelarias (pastry shops). Coffee? Absolutely. You're practically tripping over cafes. And the food… oh, the food! You’re in Porto! Forget diet! Noise? Erm… yes. It's a city. Cities are noisy. There are cobblestones (did I mention cobblestones?), so you will hear people dragging their suitcases over them at 3 am. And the occasional revving of a scooter – possibly driven by a caffeinated teenager. Safety? Felt perfectly safe. Never experienced any issues. But, as with any city, be aware of your surroundings, especially at night. Basic common sense, y'know?
Let's talk about the bed. Because a bad bed can ruin a vacation.
The bed... oh, the bed. Okay, this is important. The bed was ... *decent*. Not the worst. Not the best. Somewhere in the middle. Comfortable enough for a good night's sleep after a long day of exploring and port wine consumption (highly recommended!). I wouldn't say I *dreamed* about the bed, but I also didn't wake up with a crick in my neck and the overwhelming urge to burn it to the ground. Pillows were okay, I think. Memory is a little hazy. Possibly related to the aforementioned port wine. But the sheets were good. And that’s an important point!
What about the kitchen? I like to pretend I'll cook when I'm on vacation.
The kitchen is cute! Small but functional. It's got the basics. Coffee maker (thank goodness), a stove, a fridge. Enough to make a simple meal. I *did* cook... once. A very basic pasta dish. I'm not a chef, people. But, um... it worked. If you're planning on elaborate feasts, maybe rethink this place. But for basic breakfasts and the occasional late-night snack? Perfect. Plus, there's a little market nearby if you’re feeling inspired. Just don't expect a huge island or a double oven. (And the lack of a dishwasher can be a downer if you are as lazy as I am)
Okay, the reviews... I'm seeing a lot of mixed feelings in the reviews. WHAT'S THE DEAL?
Right, the reviews. This is where things get interesting. They are a *mixed bag*. Some are glowing, praising the charm, the location, the decor. Others... well, let's just say they have *opinions*. Some people complained about the noise. *Completely valid*. Some said the host was unresponsive. *Hmm, I think I felt that too*. One reviewer said the shower "leaked like a sieve" and another said they didn't have enough towels. One said the wi-fi was dodgy at points… Here's the thing: Everyone has different expectations. If you're looking for absolute perfection, a silent retreat, and a 24/7 concierge service, maybe this isn't the place for you. If you're looking for a stylish apartment in a central location with a bit of character, and you're willing to roll with the punches (and maybe bring your own extra towel), then you'll probably love it. I did.
So, would you recommend it? Just give it to me straight.
Okay, straight up. Yes. I would recommendHotel Finder Reviews
