InterContinental Cascais-Estoril by IHG

Intercontinental Estoril — Beautiful Views, But Falls Far Short of Intercontinental Standards The location is undeniably beautiful, with stunning views from the balcony — but unfortunately, that’s where the positives end. The hotel occupies only three floors of a larger building, with the rest being private apartments, and it shows. This is not a full-scale Intercontinental property, and the facilities are extremely limited. There is no Club Lounge, the bar area is tiny with only three tables and five bar stools, and while the restaurant terrace has more seating, it still feels more like a small café setup than a proper hotel restaurant. The so-called spa and indoor heated pool is practically useless — it’s only open from 10:30 to 18:00. At a hotel where there’s nothing to do after dark, this is frankly a joke. At other Intercontinental hotels, pool and spa facilities are typically open until around 22:00, which makes sense: guests are out during the day and want to use the facilities when they return. Here, by the time you’re back, everything is shut. Overall, it doesn’t feel like an Intercontinental hotel at all — more like a good quality serviced apartment with a concierge. That might still be fine if the price reflected it — but at €450 per night, you expect a full Intercontinental experience, not this. The handling of Ambassador benefits was also disappointing. Most IC properties either provide a hotel credit, bonus points, or offer to downgrade your booking category with a price adjustment if the guaranteed upgrade isn’t available. Here, we were told at check-in that we’d receive extra points (after the staff checked with a manager), but at check-out, we were told “tough luck” — we should have booked a lower category if we wanted the upgrade. Completely inconsistent and unprofessional. Bottom line: • Beautiful location & balcony views • Hotel occupies only 3 floors; rest are private apartments • No Club Lounge, tiny bar, modest terrace restaurant • Spa hours make no sense; limited facilities overall • Poor handling of Ambassador benefits • Overpriced for what it delivers If you’re looking for a typical Intercontinental hotel experience, avoid this property. If you just want a decent serviced apartment–style stay with a good room and view, it’s fine.