The accommodations were a perfect fit for our family. We had two adults and two teens. The house/apartment was very nicely decorated and everything was well-thought-of. The guide-book provided by the hosts provided complete instructions on how to use all the European appliances, and also included restaurant recommendations and emergency contact info. We found this very helpful! The kitchen was nicely equipped with the basics for cooking. I would recommend arriving with groceries as once you arrive you will want to stay a while and not go out again right away. On our day of arrival, the host graciously had arranged a welcoming array of a cheeseboard with wine and juice for the kids, and it was just what we needed after our flight.
The property itself was nicely situated off the beaten path, a short drive from Porto or Gaia, and the beautiful Atlantic ocean. Google Maps was very handy, as we could not have found the location without this. We drove a small car for this vacation, and a large car may not be able to make the driveway of the property, which is narrow and steep along the property's edge. This is just my perspective, of course.
The location of the pool was quite fantastic - not a traditional location behind a home - but a short walk up a hill for a completely private location with a separate pool house with hot shower and outside kitchen. Very unique!
There was plenty to explore on the property, and we all enjoyed walking around and seeing all of the special historic fountains and things of this sort, that match up to the historic story of the main home.
We were rained-in for the portion of one day, and we ended up turning on the TV to see what the programming was like - and it was very inclusive of many languages with programming from all over the world. We watched shows in different languages to include English, French, Spanish, & Portuguese (plus others) and really enjoyed this.
I should mention that this property would not be a good fit for a person with mobility issues, as parking is not directly in front of, or beside, the lodging, and there are multiple steps and staircases inside the home/apartment.
All said, this was easily one of our favorite vacation homes. The hospitality was top-notch, and the views were amazing from the terrace and from the pool area. We will definitely return on a future trip from the US to Portugal. :)
