We are so glad we chose Hotel das Virtudes for our visit to Porto. First, the hotel staff is first rate. It was our first time in Portugal, so we had a lot of questions and they were always available and anxious to help. They were very patient with us--really wanting us to be able to relax and enjoy their wonderful city. The hotel is back off the main road, so it is somewhat secluded and quiet, but it is a short walk from where all the action is. We felt safe and we had a beautiful view from our balcony. The building is historic, but it has all the modern conveniences including air conditioning and wifi. The bus/tram stop is very convenient and the hotel staff was always willing to call a taxi when we needed one. The breakfast buffet was awesome! They have anything you could want, but our favorites were the homemade yogurt and the honeycomb. I recommend going down early for the best selection. On two different mornings, we had to leave early for organized tours, so the hotel staff even provided a breakfast box for our trip! The housekeeping staff also does an excellent job. They gave us a bottle of fresh water each morning and then returned in the evening to put chocolate on our pillow. We really felt pampered the whole time. There are certainly cheaper options, but I believe the value is excellent considering all of the services provided. We wholeheartedly recommend Hotel das Virtudes as the perfect base for exploring Porto and northern Portugal.