"We booked two rooms for three nights at DoubleTree by Hilton Fontana Park, Lisbon at the end of May because the Hilton name usually guarantees a certain standard of comfort and quality. Instead, this turned out to be one of the most frustrating hotel stays we’ve experienced.
The first warning sign came the moment we stepped out of the elevator. The corridors are long, dark, black tunnels that feel more like a prison block, bunker or dystopian movie set than a welcoming hotel.
The entire property seems obsessed with being “different” and “designer,” but completely forgets that hotels are supposed to be comfortable places where people actually want to stay.
The room design was equally baffling. Dark surfaces everywhere, gloomy lighting and a cold atmosphere that felt more institutional than luxurious.
The bathroom deserves special mention because it is, without question, one of the most ridiculous hotel bathroom designs we have ever encountered.
• The black glass partition provides virtually no privacy.
• Anyone in the room can clearly see the person showering.
• Even worse, the toilet area is visible enough to make using it uncomfortable.
• The toilet cubicle is surrounded by mirrors on multiple sides. Who wants to watch themselves from every angle while sitting on a toilet?
• The bathroom light shines directly into the sleeping area, making it impossible for one person to sleep while another uses the bathroom.
• The design seems to value shock factor over common sense.
As a couple, we found it uncomfortable. As parents travelling with our son and daughter in the second room, we found it completely inappropriate. How exactly are siblings supposed to share a room with a bathroom setup like this?
What makes it even more unbelievable is that the hotel proudly advertises this bathroom concept as an award-winning design. That honestly left us speechless.
After complaining, the hotel moved our children to a room with a non-transparent bathroom, which only confirmed that better room configurations do exist. Unfortunately, we were left in the original setup ourselves.
Then came the maintenance issues:
• Safe not working.
• Blinds not working.
• Because the blinds wouldn’t close properly, privacy became an even bigger concern.
• Door malfunctioning and requiring excessive force.
• Air conditioning stopped working.
• Multiple staff visits over nearly two hours while repairs were attempted.
Instead of enjoying Lisbon, we spent our evening trapped in the room dealing with one problem after another.
The only positive aspect of our stay was Diogo at reception. He genuinely tried to help, listened to our concerns, and did his best to resolve the issues. Unfortunately, once his shift ended, we were largely left on our own.
After an exhausting night, we woke up to a breakfast that was disappointingly average and far below expectations for a Hilton-branded property.
At that point we had completely lost confidence in the hotel.
We checked out after just one night and moved elsewhere despite having booked three nights.
Looking back, the most frustrating thing is that many of the problems appear to stem from a philosophy that prioritizes trendy design over guest comfort. The dark corridors, black walls, strange room layouts, lack of privacy, impractical bathrooms and maintenance issues create an experience that feels uncomfortable rather than luxurious.
A hotel can be modern without feeling like a prison, a hospital, a nightclub or a psychological experiment.
We couldn’t get out of there fast enough.
If TripAdvisor allowed zero stars, that’s exactly what this property would receive from us.
Absolutely not recommended for families, couples seeking privacy, or anyone expecting the quality and comfort usually associated with the Hilton brand."
