Portugal - Categories of Accommodation Resources

Categories of Accommodation
Lodging


Portugal > Lodging > Categories of Accommodations	\| \| \|

The original governing law of the Portuguese accommodation resources (in Portuguese) can be found here.

Hereafter a summary of its major points:

Hotel Types

There are 6 types of accommodation resources:

"Pousadas" State owned monasteries, castles, convents and forts that have been restored and turned into hotels, and are often set in stunning countryside. Decor and menus are usually typical of the area.
Hotels (from 1 to 5 stars)
Estalagens" Hotels which style, features and services are integrated in the regional architecture (4 to 5 stars)
Pensions (from 2 to 4 stars)
Motels (2 and 3 stars)
Hotels Apartments (from 2 to 5 stars)

Units without restaurants have to add the Residencial term to their name

The number of stars of each unit is attributed according the tables hereafter (some units might offer better features than the minimal requirements)

Hotels Classification	5 stars	4 stars	3 stars	2 stars	1 star
Air conditioning in public areas	Y	Y	Y	N	N
Air conditioning in rooms	Y	Y	N	N	N
Heating & ventilation in public areas	-	-	-	Y	Y
Heating & ventilation in rooms	-	-	Y	Y	Y
Single room minimal surface (in sq/m)	12	10	9	8	7
Double room minimal surface (in sq/m)	17	15	14	11	9
Triple room minimal surface (in sq/m)	22	20	18	15	14
Simple bathroom (tub, shower, lavabo, wc)	-	-	Y	Y	Y
Full bathroom (Bath, shower, lavabo, wc, bidet)	100%	100%	30%	10%	N
Phone (through reception) in rooms	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y
Phone (Direct) in rooms	Y	Y	N	N	N
Radio in rooms	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y
TV in rooms	Y	Y	N	N	N
English speaking reception staff	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y
24 Hours reception service	Y	Y	Y	Y	N
Breakfast in public area	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y
Breakfast in rooms	Y	Y	Y	N	N
Bar	Y	Y	Y	Y	N
Restaurant (only for the non Residencial units)	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y
Room service (only for the non Residencial units)	Y	Y	Y	N	N
Copy & fax service	Y	Y	Y	Y	N
Individual safes	Y	Y	Y	Y	N
Laundry service	Y	Y	Y	N	N

Estalagens Classification	5 stars	4 stars
Air conditioning in public areas	Y	Y
Air conditioning in rooms	Y	Y
Single room minimal surface (in sq/m)	10	9
Double room minimal surface (in sq/m)	15	14
Triple room minimal surface (in sq/m)	20	18
Simple bathroom (tub, shower, lavabo, wc)	-	Y
Full bathroom (Bath, shower, lavabo, wc, bidet)	100%	25%
Phone (through reception) in rooms	Y	Y
Phone (Direct) in rooms	Y	N
Radio in rooms	Y	N
TV in rooms	Y	N
English speaking reception staff	Y	Y
24 Hours reception service	Y	Y
Breakfast in public area	Y	Y
Breakfast in rooms	Y	Y
Bar	Y	Y
Restaurant (only for the non Residencial units)	Y	Y
Room service (only for the non Residencial units)	Y	Y
Copy & fax service	Y	Y
Individual safes	Y	Y
Laundry service	Y	Y

Pensions Classification	4 stars (Albergarias)	3 stars (1ª cat)	2 stars (2ª cat)	1 star (3ª cat)
Air conditioning in public areas	Y	N	N	N
Air conditioning in rooms	Y	N	N	N
Heating & ventilation in public areas	-	Y	Y	N
Heating & ventilation in rooms	-	Y	Y	N
Single room minimal surface (in sq/m)	10	9	7.5	7.5
Double room minimal surface (in sq/m)	13	12	9	9
Triple room minimal surface (in sq/m)	18	16	14	12
Priv simple bathroom (tub, shower, lavabo, wc)	Y	Y	Y	N
Priv full bathroom (Bath, shower, lavabo, wc, bidet)	20%	N	N	N
Phone (through reception) in rooms	Y	Y	N	N
Phone (Direct) in rooms	Y	N	N	N
English speaking reception staff	Y	N	N	N
24 Hours reception service	Y	N	N	N
Breakfast in public area	Y	Y	Y	N
Breakfast in rooms	Y	N	N	N
Bar	Y	N	N	N
Restaurant (only for the non Residencial units)	Y	Y	Y	Y
Room service (only for the non Residencial units)	Y	Y	Y	N
Copy & fax service	Y	N	N	N
Individual safes	Y	N	N	N
Laundry service	Y	Y	N	N

Motels Classification	3 stars	2 stars
Heating & ventilation in public areas	Y	Y
Heating & ventilation in rooms	Y	Y
Single room minimal surface (in sq/m)	9	8
Double room minimal surface (in sq/m)	14	11
Triple room minimal surface (in sq/m)	18	15
Simple bathroom (tub, shower, lavabo, wc)	Y	Y
Phone (through reception) in rooms	Y	Y
Radio in rooms	Y	Y
Private parking close to the room	Y	Y
24 Hours reception service	Y	Y

Hotels Apartments Classification	5 stars	4 stars	3 stars	2 stars
Air conditioning in public areas	Y	Y	N	N
Air conditioning in apartments	Y	Y	N	N
Heating & ventilation in public areas	-	-	Y	Y
Heating & ventilation in apartments	-	-	Y	Y
Single room minimal surface (in sq/m)	10	9	8	7.5
Double room minimal surface (in sq/m)	14	12	10	9
Triple room minimal surface (in sq/m)	20	18	14	12
Living room minimal surface (in sq/m)	16	14	12	10
Kitchen (Kitchenette) minimal surface (in sq/m)	4	3	3	2
Studio minimal surface (in sq/m)	26	24	22	20
Simple bathroom (tub, shower, lavabo, wc)	N	N	Y	Y
Full bathroom (Bath, shower, lavabo, wc, bidet)	Y	Y	N	N
Phone (through reception)	Y	Y	Y	Y
Phone (Direct)	Y	Y	N	N
Radio	Y	Y	N	N
TV	Y	Y	N	N
Bar (not mandatory if several close by)	Y	Y	N	N
Restaurant (not mandatory if several close by)	Y	Y	Y	Y
English speaking reception staff	Y	Y	Y	Y
24 Hours reception service	Y	Y	Y	Y

Guest Houses - TER

This form of Tourist accommodation, is basically characterised by the family atmosphere it provides and the fact that it offers a closer contact with nature and with the local people. Tourists receive specially personalised services.

Only houses that are registered at the State Tourist Office can offer Accommodation in Turismo de Habitaçáo and Turismo Rural or Agroturismo.

Such Houses have a metal plaque by the main entrance showing the TER symbol and the logotype of the State Tourist Office (Direcção-Geral do Turismo).

TH Turismo de Habitação manor houses and similar houses or those recognised architectural value.
TR Turismo Rural houses which are characteristic of their rural environment.
AT Agroturismo houses forming part of a farming estate.

Camping and Caravan Sites

The classification of camping sites is also indicated by stars the highest of 4 stars (****) and the minimum of 1 star (*).

The privately owned camping sites are classified in the same way, preceded by the letter P (private).