Lisbon Luxury Redefined: EPIC SANA Marquês Hotel Awaits
Lisbon Luxury Redefined: EPIC SANA Marquês Hotel Awaits – My Honest (And Slightly Scatterbrained) Take
Alright, buckle up, because we're about to dive headfirst into the EPIC SANA Marquês Hotel in Lisbon. Forget the perfectly curated travel blogs, because I'm laying it all bare – the good, the potentially amazing, and the "hmm, maybe they could improve on that" bits. This isn't just a review; it's a freakin' experience. Let's GO!
First, the Basics (But with a Twist of Sarcasm)
The EPIC SANA Marquês. Sounds fancy, right? Well, it is. But is it pretentious fancy? Thankfully, no. It's more of a "slick, modern elegance" kind of fancy. And, let's be honest, after slogging through the Lisbon hills (which are beautiful, mind you, but my calves are screaming), a bit of slick elegance is exactly what I needed.
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Accessibility: Bless Their Hearts! (And My Knees)
Okay, this is HUGE for me. I'm not, ahem, young and my knees aren't what they used to be. So, accessible EVERYTHING is a godsend. And the EPIC SANA? They get it.
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yep! Elevators a-plenty, ramps where needed. No anxiety-inducing steps in sight. Score!
- Facilities for disabled guests: They've got it. Details are crucial, and the room accessibility was smooth like butter.
- Elevator: Thank the heavens – especially after a day of uphill exploring.
Getting Around: Smooth as Portuguese Wine (Literally)
- Airport transfer: Seamless. The driver was waiting, friendly, and didn't judge my insane luggage situation. (Hey, I like options!)
- Car park [free of charge]: Bonus points! Finding parking in Lisbon can be a nightmare. Sweet, sweet free parking.
- Car park [on-site]: If free is full, you've got backup.
- Taxi service: Always an option.
Rooms: My Temporary Palace (With Amazing Blackout Curtains)
Stepping into my room was like a sigh of relief. After a long day of sightseeing, a comfortable room is essential.
- Air conditioning: Absolutely vital. Lisbon summers are NO joke.
- Blackout curtains: Hallelujah! I am a master sleeper, and these delivered pure, blissful darkness every night.
- Wi-Fi [free]: Let's be honest, this is a necessity. And it worked flawlessly.
- Desk: Perfect for pretending I'm working (while actually just browsing travel deals, obviously.)
- Bathrobes & Slippers: Luxurious touches that make you feel instantly pampered.
- Free bottled water: This is how to make an impression!
- Wake-up service: Worked perfectly!
- Safety/security feature: I always feel safe!
The Spa: Where My Stress Melted Away (Almost)
Okay, the spa… this deserves its OWN paragraph. It was, hands down, the highlight of my stay.
- Sauna & Steamroom: Essential pre-treatment rituals.
- Massage: OH. MY. GOD. I opted for a deep tissue massage, and it was pure bliss. The therapist worked out knots I didn't even know I had. I swear, my shoulders felt lighter than they had in years. I could have stayed in that room forever!
- Pool with view: The outdoor pool was beautiful!
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking: (My Favorite Category, Obviously)
My biggest gripe? The breakfast buffet!
There was a HUGE range of choices, and I felt overwhelmed. I'm someone who wants to make a decision, and I had such a hard time with such a HUGE range.
- Breakfast [buffet]: Extensive. Maybe a little too extensive. But, hey, options are good, right?
- Coffee/tea in restaurant: Yes! And good coffee, not that instant garbage.
- Restaurants: Multiple options, including Asian and international cuisine.
- Poolside bar: Perfect for a sundowner with a view.
- Room service [24-hour]: For those lazy moments (which, let's face it, are essential on vacation).
- Snack bar: The best for a midday pick-me-up.
- Bar: Nice for a before-dinner drink or a nightcap.
- Asian breakfast / cuisine: Loved it.
- Happy hour: Always appreciated!
Cleanliness and Safety: Because We're in The Times (And It Matters)
Okay, let's talk COVID because, well, it's 2024.
- Anti-viral cleaning products: Good.
- Daily disinfection in common areas: Reassuring.
- Hand sanitizer: Plentiful.
- Staff trained in safety protocol: They seemed on top of it.
- Rooms sanitized between stays: Peace of mind.
- Safe dining setup/Sanitized kitchen and tableware items: Excellent.
Things to Do (Besides Just Eating and Sleeping – Though That's Tempting)
- Fitness center: Didn't use it, but it looked well-equipped. (My exercise is walking the city! That's enough, right?)
- Proximity to attractions: The location is generally good, with easy access to public transportation and some key sites.
- Terrace: Enjoy the outdoor area!
Services and Conveniences: The Little Things That Matter
- Concierge: Helpful, friendly, and spoke perfect English.
- Daily housekeeping: Pristine every single day!
- Laundry service: Essential when you're traveling.
- Luggage storage: They held my bags without a problem before and after check-in/out.
- Cash withdrawal: Because, well, you need cash.
- Invoice provided Good for businesses.
- Doorman: Helpful!
For the Kids: (Because Everyone Travels With Someone!)
- Babysitting service: Yes!
- Family/child friendly: Seems to be!
The Small Annoyances (Because Honestly, Nothing's Perfect)
- The buffet! Overwhelming.
- I had to ask for a plug adapter.
- My request for a higher-floor room wasn't granted.
Overall Impression:
The EPIC SANA Marquês is a fantastic choice for a luxury stay in Lisbon. It's stylish, well-equipped, and the spa is divine. It's a wonderful place to relax.
My Final Verdict: Book It! (But Maybe Skip the Buffet)
Would I recommend the EPIC SANA Marquês? Absolutely! It’s a great hotel with a lot to offer.
And Now, the Ultimate Offer!
Tired of the ordinary? Crave an escape that indulges your senses and pampers your soul?
Book your stay at Lisbon Luxury Redefined: EPIC SANA Marquês Hotel and receive:
- A complimentary welcome drink at the stylish bar. (Because you deserve it!)
- Early check-in/Late check-out (Subject to availability, so you can maximize relaxation).
- A discount of 20% on spa treatments. (Get ready to melt!)
- Free Wi-Fi in all rooms (Stay connected and share your incredible experience).
This is more than a hotel; it’s an experience. Click the link below to book your Lisbon escape at the EPIC SANA Marquês Hotel today!
(Insert Booking Link Here)
Don't wait! Lisbon awaits!
Escape to Paradise: Luxurious Kingscliff 1-Bed Spa Apartment (Free WiFi!)
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because we're about to embark on a Lisbon journey, and frankly, it's gonna be less "polished Instagram influencer" and more "slightly disheveled expat with a serious caffeine addiction." We're talking EPIC SANA Marquês, Lisbon - a hotel that claims to be luxurious. We’ll see about that. My standards are high, my patience is low, and my Portuguese? Let's just say I can order a beer… and pray.
Day 1: Arrival & Jet Lagged Shenanigans - The "Oh God, I Forgot My Charger!" Incident
10:00 AM (Lisbon Time): Arrived at EPIC SANA. Or, more accurately, wrestled my luggage and existential dread out of an Uber. The lobby? Swanky. Smells faintly of expensive perfume and… what is that? Eucalyptus? Intriguing. Slightly intimidating. I immediately started feeling like I was wearing the wrong shoes (definitely am).
10:30 AM: Check-in. Now, this is where I get my first whiff of "maybe not as perfect as the website." The room wasn't quite ready. "Ten minutes," the incredibly polite (and probably judging me) receptionist said. Bless her heart. I had been traveling for over 13 hours.
10:45 AM: Wandered the lobby, desperately clinging to my sanity like a shipwreck survivor. Saw a group of impeccably dressed people having a meeting. Briefly considered throwing myself into the pool to assert dominance before deciding my life-or-death struggle was more important than proving anything to some pretentious-looking suits.
11:00 AM: FINALLY, the room. Okay, the room is actually pretty damn good. View of the city? Check. Big bed? Check. Bathroom with a ridiculously large shower? DOUBLE CHECK! This is where the real drama began, though. Discovered I'd forgotten my phone charger. Panic. Utter, unadulterated panic. My lifeline to memes, maps, and the outside world. Started crying. Slightly. Okay, maybe full-on blubbering. Thank God for the hotel shop, which, after much flailing Portuguese (and a very helpful clerk), yielded a charger worth a small fortune. Lesson learned: pack a spare. ALWAYS.
12:00 PM - 2:00 PM: Lunch at the hotel restaurant, a casual affair. Ordered a sandwich. It came with fries, which I promptly devoured, along with half a bottle of Portuguese wine. Jet lag is a powerful beast.
2:00 PM - 6:00 PM: Napped. Glorious, uninterrupted, deeply needed nap. Woke up feeling like a reanimated corpse. But a well-rested corpse.
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM: Recovered. Forced myself to walk around the block, looking for a decent coffee shop. Found one. The coffee was strong. The people-watching was spectacular. Observed a couple squabbling passionately in Portuguese, then erupting in laughter. Romantic, confusing, and quintessentially Lisbon.
8:00 PM: Dinner at the hotel's other restaurant. More fancy. Had a delicious seafood dish, but the waiter kept trying to upsell me on everything. "No, I don't need a second bottle of the six-hundred-dollar wine, thank you!"
9:00 PM: Back to the room. Collapsed in bed. Thought about writing in my journal, but the thought of putting pen to paper was exhausting.
Day 2: Exploring Lisbon – The Tram Trouble & Pastel de Nata Triumph
- 8:00 AM: Woke up, feeling… surprisingly sprightly. Jet lag, you've been defeated! Sort of. Coffee, glorious coffee, via room service. This might just be living the high life.
- 9:00 AM: Decided to be a "tourist." First, breakfast at the hotel. Standard buffet. I judged the quality of the croissants, naturally. Verdict: Acceptable, although not quite Parisian-level perfection.
- 10:00 AM: Embarked on a tram adventure! The famous Tram 28. Big mistake. Absolute, sweaty, sardine-can hell. I was squashed, shoved, and nearly had my backpack stolen. Survived, but with a renewed appreciation for personal space. Lesson learned: go early, go late, or, you know, embrace the bus.
- 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM: Wandered through Alfama, the old, winding district. Got gloriously lost (on purpose). Discovered tiny, tucked-away squares, and charming cafes, and the intoxicating smell of grilling fish. It was magical. Then, I found a Pastel de Nata. Oh. My. God. I ate two. Maybe three. No regrets. This is what life is about.
- 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM: Tried to find the Sé de Lisboa (Lisbon Cathedral). Got lost. Again. Asked for directions in my terrible Portuguese. The locals were tolerant. Bless them. Eventually found it. Beautiful, imposing, and a welcome respite from the chaotic streets.
- 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM: Lunch at an incredibly local, non-touristy restaurant. Pointed at things on the menu because I didn't understand anything. Got an amazing seafood stew. Victory!
- 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM: Relaxed. Sipped coffee and watched people.
- 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM: Back at the hotel. Showered. Changed all my clothes. Ordered room service. This is the good life.
- 8:00 PM: Considering going out, starting to write a journal.
- 9:00 PM: The desire for more food overpowered the desire to do anything. The journal can wait.
Day 3: Day Trip and (Attempted) Luxury – The Hotel Spa Saga
- 8:00 AM: Decided I'd try the hotel spa experience. Needed a massage. Booked it.
- 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM: I took a day trip to Sintra. The Pena Palace was incredible and ridiculously ornate. I took so many pictures. The Quinta da Regaleira was weird. The people were friendly. The pastries were amazing. The whole trip was worth it… despite the crowds.
- 7:00 PM: My massage. This is where the "luxury" of the hotel really came into question. The "relaxation room" wasn't exactly relaxing. It smelled faintly of stale chlorine. The massage itself was… well, let's just say I've had better. (My masseuse actually smelled like cigarette smoke, which was shocking.)
- 8:30 PM: Ate dinner at a restaurant. Everything wasn't quite right, but then again… is life ever quite perfect?
Day 4: Departure – The "Goodbye, Lisbon!" Melodrama
- 9:00 AM: Packing. The absolute worst part of any trip. Why do I always buy so much stuff?
- 10:00 AM: Final Pastel de Nata. Because, of course. This time, I tried a different bakery. It was even better. Should have just eaten pastries this whole trip.
- 11:00 AM: Ate some more. It was a nice day.
- 12:00 PM: Check-out. The staff was so nice!
- 12:30 PM: Uber to the airport. Goodbye, Lisbon! I'll be back. Even with the tram traumas, the imperfect massage, and the hotel not quite living up to the hype, you’ve wormed your way into my slightly cynical, caffeine-fueled heart. You beautiful, messy, chaotic, delicious city.
So, there you have it. A Lisbon adventure through the lens of a slightly flawed, but hopefully entertaining, human. Did I love it? Yes. Would I go back? Absolutely. Would I stay at the EPIC SANA again? Perhaps. But I'd definitely skip the spa… and pack extra phone chargers.
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Okay, So...EPIC SANA Marquês in Lisbon. Is it REALLY epic? Like, *actually*?
Alright, deep breaths. Let's be real. "Epic" is a word hotels throw around like confetti after a Eurovision win. And yes, they definitely *try* at the EPIC SANA. The lobby? Gorgeous. Polished marble, soaring ceilings – felt like I should be wearing a tiara (which, regrettably, I didn't pack). But… honestly? It's a *bit* like a really, really attractive person who's maybe trying *too* hard. You know? Like, all the right angles and perfect hair, but you're still kinda waiting for them to relax a little.
The Epic part? The views from the rooftop pool! Worth the price of admission, seriously. Sipping a gin and tonic, sun on your face, Lisbon sprawling beneath you... that's the stuff Instagram dreams are made of. I even saw a proposal happen up there! (Mine’s still pending, FYI, no matter how many subtle hints I drop.)
The Rooms. Are they… comfy? Because let's face it, a beautiful hotel room that feels like a prison cell is a special kind of torture.
Okay, the room. *That's* where the rubber meets the road, my friends. And the EPIC SANA delivers, mostly. The bed? Like sinking into a cloud made of angels (or at least, really, really good goose down). I slept like a baby. And trust me, I’m not a good sleeper. I’m that person who needs earplugs, blackout blinds, and a white noise machine to even stand a chance.
But… and there’s always a but, isn’t there? The bathroom, while sleek and modern, was a tad… echoey. Meaning, when you’re having your morning vocal warm-ups (don't judge, it's how I wake up!), the whole room knows about it. And sometimes, the water pressure was a bit…enthusiastic. Like, it could peel paint. Didn't love that. Minor quibbles, though. Seriously comfy overall.
Food, Glorious Food! What's the dining like? Because I'm a foodie, and a hangry tourist is a dangerous thing.
Okay, food… LISTEN UP. This is where things get interesting. There are a few restaurants. The *Italian* one? Solid. The pasta was delicious, the service was impeccable. Classic, no complaints. But… and here's where the "honest" part of this confession begins… I had a *moment* at the *Japanese* restaurant.
Ordered the sushi. It looked beautiful, artfully arranged. Took a bite. And… it wasn't right. The rice! It was… mushy. And the fish… well, let’s just say it tasted like it had been hanging out with a few too many sunshine rays. I ate it, of course. I'm not one to leave food on the plate (except for the time I accidentally ordered a whole roasted pig at some roadside cafe in Spain - that *still* haunts my dreams). But… yeah. I discreetly left half of it and felt a pang of guilt (and hunger).
But then, the breakfast! Seriously, the breakfast buffet was a triumph. Every kind of pastry you could imagine, fresh fruit, eggs cooked to order… it almost made up for the sushi incident. Almost.
Is the location convenient? I don't want to spend my entire Lisbon trip stuck in transit.
Location? Pretty darn good, actually. It's in the Marquês de Pombal area, which isn't smack-dab in the *heart* of the historic center (like, the Alfama… that's where you want to go for the seriously Instagrammable stuff, FYI). But, it’s a quick metro ride away, and the metro is easy to use. Taxis are plentiful. There's a bus stop right outside the hotel… so, yeah, getting around is a breeze. You can even *walk* to some cool places, like the Parque Eduardo VII. It's a little hilly, fair warning, but that’s Lisbon for you. Embrace the leg burn.
Plus, being slightly removed from the super-touristy areas has its perks. Less screaming children, fewer souvenir shops. Lovely.
The Spa! Because I’m all about the pampering. Tell me everything.
The spa. Oh, the spa. Okay, so… I’m not a spa person. I'm more the "sit on the beach with a book and a bottle of wine" type. But, I figured, *when in Rome* (or, you know, Lisbon)… So, I booked a massage.
The spa itself? Beautiful. Seriously zen. Soft lighting, calming music, the whole shebang. The massage? Lovely. My masseuse, a woman named Maria, was a total pro. She worked out knots I didn’t even *know* I had. I almost fell asleep. Emphasis on *almost*. Because… and this is my only complaint... It was a bit *too* quiet. I’m someone who needs ambient noise, you know? Like, the gentle hum of a coffee machine or the distant sound of a seagull. The silence was… unsettling. Made me feel like I should be whispering. Minor thing, though. The massage itself was amazing. I left feeling like a whole new person, ready to face… well, another plate of pastel de nata.
Overall, would you recommend the EPIC SANA Marquês? Give me the verdict!
Okay, the final verdict. Deep breath. Yes. Yes, I would recommend it. It's not *perfect*, by any stretch of the imagination. The sushi incident still sticks with me. And I'm not sure the "Epic" label fully applies. But, it’s a very, *very* good hotel. The location is great, the rooms are comfortable (mostly), the staff are lovely, and the rooftop pool is a must-do. It's a solid choice for a luxurious Lisbon getaway. Just maybe pack a snack, just in case the sushi strikes again.
Would I go back? Absolutely. Especially if they promise to improve their seaweed game.
Is it worth the price? Luxury is expensive after all...
Ah, money. The ultimate test of travel. Look, it's not cheap. You're definitely paying for the "luxury" experience. But, compared to some other hotels in Lisbon that are equally (or even *more*) expensive, I think you're getting a decent value. You get what you pay for, mostly. The rooftop pool alone almost justifies the cost. Plus, that breakfast buffet… seriously. I’d pay good money for that buffet alone. And Lisbon itself is generally pretty affordable compared to some other European capitals. So, take that into account. It's a splurge, for sure, but a worthwhile one, assuming you haven't already blown your budget on all the pastel de natas.
