10/10 Excellent
Connie K.
Mar 11, 2020
Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Relaxing Rustic Rural Retreat
This charming holiday home is as pictured, including sunshine. Host Simone brought in a few supplies for us when our flight was delayed. Host Renato helped us negotiate a rental vehicle mixup, and orient ourselves to the neighbourhood of Fuseta/Moncarapacho.
We used this central Algarve location as a "pied-à-terre" for day trips over six weeks in winter. It is convenient to the toll highway A22, which takes you to the end of the world (Sagres), going west, and to Spain going east. The house is less than ten minutes to the beach and shops of Fuseta and scarcely more to Olhao and Faro, for historical tours, traditional markets and tourist shopping. You do need a car, unless you are extremely athletic and intend to bicycle everywhere. But be warned, despite the short distances in this tiny perfect country, the Portuguese are in a great hurry to get everywhere and they drive accordingly. Drivers from Montreal Canada will feel right at home.
The cozy fire helped us unwind each evening. Be prepared to chop a bit of kindling or gather sticks from around the property. There is plenty of hardwood provided for a good hot fire and it is sized to fit the wood-stove.
Canadians looking to escape the hazards of winter will find temperatures to be moderate and very comfortable, even while the Portuguese continue to wear puffy jackets and winter boots. Bring a rain jacket just in case, but on most days, the patios on this property are delightful sun-traps and spring comes very early in the Algarve. Daffodils and geraniums were blooming and the first orange blossom was opening before we left. Oranges, clementines and lemonsAlmond trees were in blossom for the length of our stay.
People from North America would find this holiday home to be the equivalent of a good 'cottage at the lake'...with a stunning valley view where the lake might be. The home itself has a tiny but adequate kitchen and a spacious shower and bathroom with plenty of hot water. The heated towel rack is a welcome luxe feature on chillier days.
Do not expect English television, but sports channels are easy to follow in German or Portuguese and CNN will dish up about as much American news as you can stomach. Do not expect the WIFI to work reliably. The Padaria in Fuseta has WIFI and great pastries, well worth the calories.
The Portuguese are a friendly and welcoming people who appreciate attempts to speak their language and laugh with you when you make mistakes. Boa Viagem.
Connie K.
Stayed 42 nights in Jan 2020
