Star Inn Porto

The Star Inn Porto is a departure from the fusty, dated style so often found at true budget hotels, though it's still an undeniably simple property. The hotel is housed in a nine-story building with a distinctive checkerboard facade in colors of orange, yellow, pink, white, and black. Guests enter a minimalist lobby with orange and black walls stenciled with designs, white floors, and black-and-white vinyl furniture -- it's a color palette and aesthetic repeated in all of the hotel's public areas. Guests tend to gather in the cyber area, where they can log onto their laptops, read books from the shelves, or watch TV on the mounted flat-screen. Big windows bathe the space in natural light. It's quite far from the major sights in Porto, but rates are low due to this fact. The hotel's vibe is young, but it draws a range of travelers from across the spectrum -- couples, those visiting on business, families, groups of friends traveling together, and solo travelers.

The Star Inn is on a cobblestone street off the N12 highway, in a mostly residential neighborhood. There's not much to see or do nearby, and the area is comprised of office towers, condominium complexes, and single-story homes; there's just a couple places to eat within walking distance. The hotel is well off the beaten path for visiting Porto's major attractions and historic district, as well, which are a 10- to 15-minute drive away. A bus that stops at the hotel goes to Trindade Metro station -- about a 20-minute ride during the day. From Trindade, it's about a 15- to 20-minute walk to most of the historic district's sights. Estadio do Dragao, the stadium of F.C. Porto soccer club, is about a 10-minute drive from the hotel, as are Sao Joao Hospital and the Matosinhos business hub. Francisco Sa Carneiro Airport is a 12-minute drive away.

The 206 rooms at the Star Inn, while a bit spartan, are distinctively styled with bright orange or rose-colored accent walls, decorative throws against all-white bedding, and colorful artwork over the beds. Rooms start at about 160 square feet (15 square meters), so some can be small, but the largest rooms, which cater to families, can sleep up to four. Overall, rooms are in good condition, but furniture is kept quite simple, and the all-white pieces and cabinetry look dorm-chic by way of IKEA. Rooms are generally quiet, but some on lower floors that face the highway might pick up a bit of traffic noise. All rooms include air-conditioning, free Wi-Fi, and flat-screen TVs with up to 60 channels, including a few English-language channels. Some rooms have mini-fridges and electric kettles for instant coffee and tea. Bathrooms are well lighted, but they can be small, with limited counter space around the sinks. All have have rainfall showerheads, and some have bathtubs. Hairdryers are provided.

Amenities are not in abundance here, but the hotel has a cocktail bar and a cyber area where guests gather to log on to their laptops, read, and watch TV.  The hotel also serves a reasonably priced continental breakfast, with cold cuts, cheese, cereal, breads, muffins, doughnuts, fruit, coffee, tea, and juice. While there's no on-site restaurant serving lunch and dinner, the hotel has a 24-hour cafeteria with light fare, snacks, and drinks available. The Star Inn also has a small meeting room, a 24-hour front desk, free parking, and laundry service. Wi-Fi is free throughout.