10/10 Excellent
Mark O.
Jul 4, 2022
Liked: Cleanliness
Spacious villa with a great pool
Lots of room for 6. Split levels break up living/ sleeping. There’s a SMART TV for Netflix/Prime. Wi-fi good. As the first rental of the year we some issues but Bo and David who live nearby fixed them as they arose and had a nice card and bottle of wine on arrival and a good guide and website for info. Nice new BBQ.
The pool
The property’s biggest asset and is big and deep enough to offer lots of fun or even to swim lengths. Heating is a big plus and the outside shower is a bonus too. The walls around the pool are designed with the local wind in mind and create a nice sun trap wind shadow. It is very private also.
The area
Nadadouro.
This is a working village/town with life going on in the background. You won’t be rubbing shoulders with other holiday makers. The school is adjacent and kids play in the yard and there are pitches nearby where a football tournament was enthusiastically supported on our middle Saturday and Sunday. Another review complained about this noise but it didn’t bother us at all. The village could do with a mini market as I felt I was always driving to Caldas supermarkets (10 minutes and easy to find). The darts café is a cheap local place for a drink and change of scenery.
Foz Do Arelho
Amazing beach. The beautiful lagoon is safe place to swim. The Escola da Vela has lots of watersports. The ocean side was rarely open for swimming as there are currents. We liked breakfast at Al Norte as it is actually on the beach and offers great views of the waves rolling in. Sunset photo op at the top of the hill.
Trips
Nazare –30 minutes. No 100 foot waves that day! Advise parking for free near South Beach, get the funicular up the hill and eat either up there or back down in Nazare for a swim.
Freeport – 75 minutes away and bonus of travelling over the Vasco de Gama bridge. Nice place, lots of shops, some bargains and not too expensive to eat.
Obidos – 15 minutes away. Remarkable castle/town with free access. Walk around the entire wall and then the town and take lots of photos.
Sintra – 60 minutes away. We just did the Parque/Palacio Nacional de Pena family ticket of €49 covered all 6. Would need early start to do more and if you have visited Obidos do you really need another castle.
Fatima – about 50 minute away by motorway. Found a cool place to eat called Pregaria da Iria beside the Aldi which made shopping convenient.
Baleal Beach – 35 minutes away. Great place to swim or surf lessons.
Mark O.
Stayed 14 nights in Jun 2022