Award Winning Elegant Historic House W/ Pool

• Luxury, history and a warm reception

  Luxury, history and a warm reception

  • Guest Pat K
  • Date of stay 03/08/13
  • Review Submitted 04/11/13
  Spent 2 nights here and were thoroughly charmed by the home. We were welcomed on a cold day with a glass of wine, and had lovely 3 course dinners and a full breakfast each day. Our room overlooked the valley below and we felt like "lords of the manor". Each room (there are 3 guest rooms) has a working fireplace and bath. The great room was lovely,and we enjoyed meeting out fellow guests over wine by the fire. The garden/pool area was stunning, even in March, and the owner and his housekeeper were concerned with our every need. A perfect setting, with history all around, and a perfect host. We even returned later for a second visit! We highly recommend Casa Alta if your looking for a unique luxury experience away from it all.

  Recommended for: Romantic getaway, sightseeing, age 55+.

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• An Amazing Experience

  An Amazing Experience

  • Guest Thomas
  • Date of stay 03/29/13
  • Review Submitted 04/04/13
  My experience at the Casa Alta Royal Lodge was absolutely amazing and delightful. The bed and breakfast was very clean and comfortable. The host, Father Mariani, was such an amazing person and was eager to answer questions pertaining to the history of Ourem and the Casa Alta. The guided tour in English was a great addition. The caretaker, Valentina, prepared five star dinners that were presented in a beautiful manner. The filet was the best I have experienced in Europe. Everything was very clean and decorated superbly. It was so fascinating to hear the history of the home and the surrounding castle. During my stay at Casa Alta, I experienced spiritual and mental enrichment; I had an amazing experience and I cannot wait to return. This is truly the gem of Portugal. Thanks!

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• An Amazing Experience

  An Amazing Experience

  • Guest Thomas
  • Date of stay 03/29/13
  • Review Submitted 04/04/13
  My experience at the Casa Alta Royal Lodge was absolutely amazing and delightful. The bed and breakfast was very clean and comfortable. The host, Father Mariani, was such an amazing person and was eager to answer questions pertaining to the history of Ourem and the Casa Alta. The guided tour in English was a great addition. The caretaker, Valentina, prepared five star dinners that were presented in a beautiful manner. The filet was the best I have experienced in Europe. Everything was very clean and decorated superbly. It was so fascinating to hear the history of the home and the surrounding castle. During my stay at Casa Alta, I experienced spiritual and mental enrichment; I had an amazing experience and I cannot wait to return. This is truly the gem of Portugal. Thanks!

  Recommended for: Romantic getaway, sightseeing.

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• Elegant Stay on Castle Grounds

  Elegant Stay on Castle Grounds

  • Guest Pat K
  • Date of stay 03/22/13
  • Review Submitted 04/01/13
  Spent 2 days here in March 2013, then went back later in the month. We were graciously greeted and had some wine with other guests before dinner.Our meals were superb- book the dinners here in advance! Our room, with fireplace, overlooked the valley below and garden/pool area. No detail missed, lovely linens, towel and a nice bath. We had the Braganza suite with a lovely sitting area and fireplace. We stayed one of the other rooms on another stay and it was also lovely There are only 3 rooms, and lots of personal attention to your needs.The owner will give you an extensive printed walking tour of the castle and town to explore on your own. This lovely home was the highlight of our trip - luxurious, charming, historic and a feeling of being away from it all.

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• Elegant Stay on Castle Grounds

  Elegant Stay on Castle Grounds

  • Guest Pat K
  • Date of stay 03/22/13
  • Review Submitted 04/01/13
  Spent 2 days here in March 2013, then went back later in the month. We were graciously greeted and had some wine with other guests before dinner.Our meals were superb- book the dinners here in advance! Our room, with fireplace, overlooked the valley below and garden/pool area. No detail missed, lovely linens, towel and a nice bath. We had the Braganza suite with a lovely sitting area and fireplace. We stayed one of the other rooms on another stay and it was also lovely There are only 3 rooms, and lots of personal attention to your needs.The owner will give you an extensive printed walking tour of the castle and town to explore on your own. This lovely home was the highlight of our trip - luxurious, charming, historic and a feeling of being away from it all.

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• Magical--

  Magical--

  • Guest Rebecca
  • Date of stay 10/04/12
  • Review Submitted 11/07/12
  I've waited a couple of weeks before writing my review, because I thought the perfect words would come to me. They have not. Words just can't describe my experience in this magical, beautiful, serene place. From the moment we were met at the door by the fabulous Father Mariani and Valentina to the moment we left in tears, our visit was nothing short of magical. Upon walking into the manor, we were immediately in awe of the beauty that exists within those walls. It was like walking into a museum, in the way that every item in the home had significance, but it was not like a museum, in that it was extremely welcoming, as well. We felt at home immediately. Father welcomed us as a family member would. Everywhere you look there is beauty in this place. The bedding was luscious. The attention to detail was unlike anything I've ever experienced before. I felt totally taken care of, both body and soul. The meals cooked by Valentina were out of this world. So delicious! And then once we stepped outside onto the terrace, our hearts stopped. It was like being at a resort, with flowers blooming everywhere, thought put into seating arrangements, how to best serve their guests. Sitting in the turret which extends beyond the castle wall was like floating in air, with breathtaking views of the valley beyond. We had just come from a week in Paris and thought that Paris would be the highlight of our trip. But we had no idea what awaited us in Portugal at the Royal Lodge, Casa Alta! The pictures don't do it justice. But even more than that, it was the warm, inviting presence of Father John and Valentina that really made my stay so magical, so healing, so soul-nourishing. I would highly recommend Casa Alta (I actually already have!) to friends and family. It is an experience unlike any other. I can't wait to go back!

  Recommended for: Romantic getaway, sightseeing, age 55+, adventure seekers, girls getaway.

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• A wonderful "Home Stay"

  A wonderful "Home Stay"

  • Guest Rhonda B.
  • Date of stay 09/02/12
  • Review Submitted 09/10/12
  Casa Alta was where I met up with friends and family from Australia and it was like a true home coming for us all. From the moment we arrived we were cherished and looked after by Fr. Johnny, his Housekeeper Valentina and Houseman Igor as though we were part of their family. Nothing was too much trouble; quietly and thoughtfully our needs were attended to and we were utterly spoilt. Our airy bedrooms were all charmingly decorated,comfortable beds with fresh linen, bathrooms with clean white towels daily and beautiful views from the widows. Breakfast was generous and our evening meals were delicious. We ate in the delightful garden, Valentina's excellent dinners impeccably served by Igor and Fr Johnny's witty conversation kept us laughing and talking far too late into the night! It is so rare to find such a beautiful home shared so willingly, a real home from home for travellers. We were given advice where to find the most interesting places to visit, the best local restaurants and, after a busy day's exploring, refreshed by the pool and chilled drinks,we had a knowledgeable person to answer all our questions about the area. All of Fr.Johnny's personal touches and concern for our well-being made Casa Alta a very special place for our re-union. I cannot recommend it highly enough to any one in need of peace and tranquillity,you will find everything you need here and leave with wonderful memories of Fr. Johnny, Ourem and Portugal, Lady Boston, Wales

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• Sad to say but I was very disappointed...

  Sad to say but I was very disappointed...

  • Guest MomOfTwo
  • Date of stay 08/24/12
  • Review Submitted 09/03/12
  I stayed here with my family (7 adults and my two kids 3 and 1.5 year old).We rented the three rooms. This was our annual family vacation and we were looking for a home to stay in with access to kitchen, privacy and space. I have so much to so much to say but narrow it down to the most important aspects of my experience at Casa Alta. 1. The house was very dusty and not well kept. Curtains were stained, some towels were ripped and certain obvious smells. 2. Although verb says no pets allowed, there is a huge dog on premise( who is very friendly) but dog food including raw meat was left out in our so called "self catered kitchen". There also seemed to be a visiting cat that they left food out for as well. Contract did say dog on premise, that clause was very vague-doesnt say pets live in home. 3. Huge fly issue, being raised in a tropical island there are definitely are ways to prevent flies. IE do not expose raw meat to open air. 4. Although vrbo says daily change of spring water- water goes through a brita which is dirty. We had to buy bottled water. 5. Towel and sheets are not changed regularly. You cannot do you own laundry-if need the maid will do it for you. 6. Make sure you confirm information about breakfast-the information on websites includes promo video and contract is very confusing. They wanted to charge us for bfast until we pointed it on website. And in the middle of our stay decided to charge us for bfast since he felt we were too large of a party to serve. 7. Definitely not NON SMOKING. If you do not enjoy second hand smoking this is NOT the place for you. The smell of smoke is all over the house. 8. We had no clue there was TV room, it was never shown to us and seemed liked it was off limits to us. 9. The kitchen is unusable so if you enjoy cooking, you won't enjoy cooking here-very dirty and there is no fresh produce access like described on website. 10. Overall the house is not kid friendly. There is a lot of furniture and figurines- it feels very stuffy and difficult to move around. I must say the view was amazing and the house has a very good location to neighboring towns.

  Recommended for: Sightseeing.

  Owner response: We understand perfectly that once in a while a VBRO property may be rented by people who are not a good fit. We have been extremely fortunate in the past 13 years with the kind of people who appreciate the cultural, historical, and unique homey, qualities of Casa Alta Royal Lodge, not to mention its beauty, elegance, tranquility and service. We have never had a negative review in all that time. The assertion that house was dusty and dirty is simply not true. I employ a full-time, live-in, maid for this purpose. Because of our on-site attention to the needs of our guests we are consistently rated with the highest marks in cleanliness, service, security, and friendliness. Therefore it is bewildering to read the above comments. There were early signs, however, that we were headed for trouble. They brought two more guests than the maximum allowed, ignored that smoking is allowed in designated areas, that a dog was on the premises when it turns out that they have dog allergies, and brought babies when the minimum age requirement is six. I imagine when insufficient time is given to considering adequately the provisions published on the VRBO site, as well as the terms of the contract, that it can lead to difficulties later on. It did. The extra guests presented a challenge in housekeeping, laundry, meal preparation and service. We were unable to continue daily towel changes and some got them changed only every other day. We removed the dog offsite to accommodate them. The library/TV room, located off the front hall, is advertised as part of the rental. It is hard to imagine they missed it. The room towels had no rips, but there may have been a flaw in the beach towels they borrowed when I bent our policy to provide them. The contract calls for bringing their own beach towels. It is not true that we have a fly issue, much less a huge fly issue. We are high in a part of Portugal that is nearly fly-less. Our pet food cannot explain their complaint, but dirty diapers left on the floor of the bedrooms, kid vomit on the terrace, and urine stains on the duvets might. I did not say that they had to start paying for their breakfasts. I did say, however, that if there were foods that they wanted to have at breakfast in addition to the full English-style breakfast provided, that they were free to purchase them. This is a self-catering rental. Our home is filled with antiques, and beautiful things. For them it was stuffy and not child friendly. No, not a good fit.

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• Lovely hill top inn, reminiscent of the south of France

  Lovely hill top inn, reminiscent of the south of France

  • Guest Peter and Cynthia
  • Date of stay 06/27/11
  • Review Submitted 08/14/11
  We arrived to Casa Alta the last week of June, when the hydrangeas were in full bloom and the garden was breathtaking. I agree with other postings about the beauty of the place, the warmth and hospitality of Fr John and his assistant, Valentina, and the fresh and delicious meals. I want to add a few more observations. Although this is a “mom and pop” operation, the service and attention to details were exquisite: for example, wine and orange juice brought to the garden while we swam, a choice of indoor or outdoor dining. We spent a relaxing day walking the castle town of Ourem – views of the surrounding valleys and hills from the castle ruins, brightly white-washed houses, flowers blooming (even in three inch patches of soil next to the road) and tourist-free (the biggest group we saw was a van -load of elderly locals brought up to church). When we returned from the heat of the market in Ourem or sightseeing in Tomar, there always was a cooling breeze in the garden and in our room (Braganca suite) whose windows on opposite sides of the house provided cross-ventilation. My husband was reminded of the Cote d’Azur, without the expensive, touristy trappings and crowds. We looked forward to dinner each night both for the delicious food and local wines and for the lively conversation with Fr John. Next time we travel to Portugal, we definitely will be returning to Casa Alta!

  Recommended for: Families with teenagers, romantic getaway, sightseeing, age 55+, girls getaway.

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• heaven is a place on earth

  heaven is a place on earth

  • Guest anna b
  • Date of stay 12/26/10
  • Review Submitted 01/06/11
  Casa Alta is a real gem, how do I even begin to describe it. We were picked up from the bus station by our most gracious host, Fr. Mariani himself. After a 15 minute scenic drive we arrived at the lodge high up on the hill just below historic Ourem Castle. The moment I stepped into the house i felt transported into another time where everything was more genteel & gracious. Aaaaah, the gardens with a view to the castle above and the village in the valley below. The Duchess of Braganza room was exquisite with windows on both side, soft fragrant sheets, own fireplace, live orchids on the bedside tables, interesting books. Truly, love is in the details. Dinner was an event in itself prepared to perfection by Valentina. She does serve big though, so be warned! Spent 4 glorious days in Casa Alta wandering in the quaint village nearby, going up the castle, visiting Fatima, daytrip to Alcobaca & Batalha, and taking lots of pictures from every angle you can imagine. I left with a prayer in my heart that i can go back to casa alta with all my loved ones. And please God, in Spring so i can enjoy the garden in full bloom!:-))

  Recommended for: Families with teenagers, romantic getaway, sightseeing, age 55+, tourists without a car, adventure seekers, girls getaway.

  Owner response: Anna and her companion were delightful guests. I can't wait for the whole family to come! We are truly blessed by having the most interesting people from all over the world to visit us. We aspire to return this blessing with personal attention and service beyond what is expected. It is part of the personal satisfaction I have in operating Casa Alta Royal Lodge.

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Low season: 16 October through 9 May: 349 Euros/night  1999 Euros/week
High Season: 10 May through Oct. 15:  465 Euros/night  2800 Euros/week
Deposit 50% required by PayPal or bank transfer.
Balance 3 weeks before arrival.
Damage Deposit - €200 cash required on arrival after check-in inspection
Refunded on date of departure following check-out inspection

Note: Until confirmed, rates are subject to change without notice.