[QUOTE=Mongerer88;2626098]There is no blocking anyone coming in and out in Lisbon hotels. The girls just walk past reception and to the elevator. Unless the elevator requires a keycard, in which case you just meet her in the lobby after messaging her as to what you are wearing.
What you are describing is a South American, Asian and African thing, not a Western Europe thing. If it makes you more comfortable, pick a larger convention type hotel instead of a small boutique hotel. But I have stayed in a lot of different Lisbon hotels, granted usually a "western chain" or "European-chain" type hotel, and I have never encountered what you are describing. I have encountered it in Asia, South America and Africa (although I didn't see anyone in Africa), so I know what you are saying. It just doesn't apply to Portugal or Spain. Women of all races and ethnicities are treated as equals and allowed to walk throughout hotels as free persons, even if not registered. The same is true in the USA And Canada.[/QUOTE]Thanks for the info! Helps a lot.
I don't think necessarily think of it as an issue of equality and treatment. It's more 1) hotels are private property and the assumption is you're there if you're paying for the services 2) most guests don't like the idea of non-registered people having free access to all the spaces (this is why some hotels have a "no guests" policy). It's not like it's written in the Bill of Rights of each country that "thou shalt have free access to all areas of a hotel without paying."
