I'm trying to find a budget hotel in Porto. Have checked numerous websites and am thinking about Grande Hotel de Paris, Residencial Rex, and Pao de Acucar. I've checked Trip Advisor and all the reviews are mixed (they are budget hotels, after all). Grande Hotel de Paris seems the most popular but it doesn't seem to have air conditioning and I will be there in July. Anyone have experience with these (or other budget) hotels?
Also, is it essential to reserve hotels way in advance in Portugal? I tend to prefer to not be tied down to an itinerary and often travel off-season. This trip I have no choice but go in the summer. I don't want to end up in a dump or have to spend 200 Euros but I'd like to have some freedom to change my plans if a different town looks appealing.