Residencial Dom Sancho I

Classy and quiet, the Dom Sancho I is a three-floor pension located along the swanky Avenida da Liberdade. It delivers 40 well-kept rooms at rates that are sometimes within Cheapo territory.

Furnished in an elegant, Old English style, rooms are tasteful and well-coordinated, from the bedspreads and curtains to antique-style wardrobes and beds. All rooms are equipped with air conditioning, cable TV and telephone. Ten rooms (with soundproof windows) look out to the Avenida, while other, quieter rooms face an interior courtyard or neighboring buildings. Spotless all-marble baths have new fixtures and hair dryers.

The Dom Sancho is a “crown molding and chandeliers” kind of place. Silent hallways are painted in muted colors and dressed with English prints. The breakfast area features an abundance of pretty blue Portuguese tiling.

This stretch of Avenida da Liberdade is the street's most chic, housing boutiques such as Armani and Prada on the same block as the pension.

Note: Breakfast is sometimes included in the rate (read the booking terms when making your reservation). Wi-Fi is offered for free and available in all public areas and in many rooms.

Tip: If reserving at the Dom Sancho I, ask for a voucher for a free trip on the city's Aerobus airport shuttle bus. These are offered for free by the pension, but must be requested a few days in advance.