Booking a small hotel in Portugal is not the same as booking a chain. The things that matter are different, the flexibility is different, and the experience of staying is different. Here is what we have learned from running Cricket Glen since 2014, and what we would tell a friend who was planning a trip.
Ask about what is included ¶
Small hotels vary enormously in what the room rate covers. Some include breakfast, some do not. Some have a minimum stay in high season. Some charge for parking, some do not. At Cricket Glen, breakfast is always included in the room rate and parking is free. But do not assume that is standard. Email the property directly and ask. A good small hotel will answer clearly and quickly.
Check the cancellation policy carefully ¶
Small properties cannot absorb last-minute cancellations the way large hotels can. Eight rooms is eight rooms. If two cancel the week before, that is a significant problem. Most small hotels have a stricter cancellation policy than the big chains, and that is reasonable. Read it before you book. At Cricket Glen we offer free cancellation up to 14 days before arrival and retain the first night's deposit within that window.
Book direct when you can ¶
Booking platforms take a commission of between 15 and 25 percent from small properties. That money does not go to a better breakfast or a nicer mattress. When you book direct, the property keeps more of what you pay, and you often get a better rate or a small extra. At Cricket Glen, our direct rates are always the same as or lower than the platform rates, and we can be more flexible on dates and room configuration.
Think about what you actually want from the stay ¶
A small hotel is not the right choice for everyone. If you want a spa, a gym, a concierge who can get you a restaurant reservation at 10 pm, a big hotel will serve you better. If you want to know the person who made your breakfast, to have a conversation about where to walk, to feel like you are staying somewhere rather than just sleeping somewhere, a small property is worth the extra thought it takes to find a good one.
What to look for in the reviews ¶
Read the negative reviews as carefully as the positive ones. What do people complain about? If the complaints are about things that matter to you (noise, Wi-Fi, parking), take them seriously. If the complaints are about things that are features rather than bugs (no TV, no air conditioning, no pool bar), you have learned something useful about the property's character. At Cricket Glen the most common complaint is that the pool is not heated. We consider that a fair point and a deliberate choice.
If you have questions about whether Cricket Glen is the right fit for your trip, email us at stay@cricketglen.com. We would rather help you find the right place than have you arrive expecting something we are not.