The Amazonia Lisboa in Lisbon is a nine-story hotel with a white stone frontage. The lobby area is decorated with Brazilian artifacts, plants, straw rugs, and rattan chairs. It is set in a residential area, 200 meters from a subway station and around 800 meters from the city's central boulevard, Avenida da Liberdade. The 192 air- conditioned guestrooms include white tile floors with inset carpets and Brazilian print fabrics. Rooms are equipped with satellite television, Internet connections, desks and stools. The bathrooms feature blue-tile trim and pink-marble vanities. Guests at the Amazonia Lisboa can relax in the outdoor pool, lounge on the surrounding wood deck, or visit the hotel bar for refreshments. After breakfast guests can use the high-speed Internet services (fee) or ask the hotel's multilingual concierge for any sightseeing assistance. Guests can also visit the Amoreiras shopping center (fee) which houses an indoor pool, squash courts, massage rooms, and fitness center offering aerobics classes. Nearby attractions include the hilltop Estrela Basilica, which is half a kilometer away, and the ruins of St. George's Castle, two kilometers from the hotel. The Zoological Gardens and Mercado da Ribeira are both within three kilometers. The nearest airport to the hotel is the International Airport, which is six kilometers away at an approximate driving time of 20 minutes. A taxi from the airport costs approximately US$20 for three passengers, depending on euro-U.S. dollar exchange rates. To guard against taxi drivers running up fares, a Tourist Information desk in the airport offers the option of purchasing taxi vouchers precisely priced according to distance. Lisbon taxi drivers, however, are generally honest and helpful to visitors, with most speaking at least some English. Car rentals are available online.
