Holiday house reviews, Visitors comments and testimonials from guests.

We hope our guests have the most relaxing holiday possible in Portugal. This Alentejo borderland is tranquil, secret Portugal at its best.

Thanks

We have returned from Portugal, and I just wanted to let you know how much we enjoyed our stay at your Quinta. Everything was set up so wonderfully for us. It was such a comfortable place. We really appreciated the well set-up kitchen, the generous fluffy towels, and especially the walking routes. Karen, Canada. 8 Jun 2010

The perfect holiday property in real Portugal!

If you like to get away from it all to enjoy the peace and quiet in beautiful countryside, this is the perfect place to be. The whole experience of staying at the Quinta has been one of great pleasure. Catherine and Chris have created a holiday haven here and have left us wanting for nothing.

The house is perfect, whether for a couple or for a larger party. The house itself was beautifully appointed. We could find absolutely nothing which was lacking. Every comfort was provided for.

There are some real gems to visit in the little hilltop villages nearby, but it is hard to tear yourself away from the paradise which is the Quinta!

We were so impressed by the excellent website, giving so much detail of the walks and places to visit.

The detailed instructions on how to find the Quinta were also excellent. So much easier to actually have photos of the signposts. Almost impossible to go wrong!

This was our first visit to Portugal and we can't wait to return. Our only regret was that a week just wasn't long enough. Next year we will have to book for 2 weeks!

Recommended for: Age 55+, Sightseeing, Families with Teenagers, Families with Young Children, Romantic Getaway Formerly reviewed at by "Chris & Hugh"

Great holiday location

A lovely house in a wonderful location - certainly to be recommended. The weather wasn't as good as hoped but chance to sit with a good book in front of the fire made up for that (typical isn't it - a few days later the weather was hot and sunny according to the forecast). We can certainly recommend ringing a few local vineyards to taste their wines - great prices and amazing quality. Local restaurants and cafes were incredibly cheap - scarcely worth using the well equiped kitchen.

Recommended for: Adventure Seekers, Sightseeing Formerly reviewed at by "Susan Hall - Netherlands"

Perfect for those needing a change

The quinta is perfect for those needing a change from the hustle and bustle of busy lives. The situation is beautiful and tranquil. The accommodation offers all that visitors require including appliances and kitchen equipment. Much thought has obviously been devoted to providing information about the locality. The owners Catherine and Chris are to be congratulated. Geoffrey and Sheila Hoskins.

Sunny Retreat

We loved this house. The setting is a rural idyll, where a passing cyclist becomes cause for comment. The silence, broken only by the babbling stream and the tinkle of goat bells, is such a rarity these days and filling the kettle from the spring on the upper terrace every morning became a job I savoured. Having said that, Portalegre is only 20 minutes away and has all the usual big town attractions: swimming pools, supermarkets, restaurants and lots of culture.

We didn't explore too much of that in the first few days, as we spent them basking in the hammock, paddling in the stream or reading on the shady terrace. It was the perfect wind-down into our holiday. Half way through the week we did trips to Marvao and Gaviao, both of which I would highly recommend. Our children are 10, 12 and 15 so we were happy to let them romp about in the stream. Younger children, particularly the under 6s, I would have worried about, and toddlers would have to be carefully minded on the deck.

The house itself was pristine, very thoughtfully equipped and stylishly decorated. It felt as though we were borrowing a friend's home rather than renting a holiday house. We would love to go back in spring when the wild flowers are out, or autumn when the olives are ripe - I would imagine both seasons are wonderful there. As it was, the July heat was too hot for long walks, but we arrived so in need of a rest that we were glad of the excuse! Formerly reviewed at "Mimosa - Ireland"

The rural retreat of Quinta Azenha do Ramalho

We were delighted with this property & the facilities it provided. It more than met our expectations from the advertisement. The welcome pack enabled us to have a late snack on our late arrival & led us to seek out local availability of the most acceptable bottle of wine that was part of it.

The property was clean & well maintained & there was a plentiful supply for of fuel the wood-burning stove that warmed us in the chilly spring evenings & nights during our February stay there. In contrast, we were also able to enjoy breakfasts & lunches on the wonderfully appointed balcony/decking, with its panoramic view, warmed by the sun......

We would have no hesitation in recommending this beautifully appointed & well-maintained property to anyone looking for a rural break. Formerly reviewed at by "The over 50s thrill-seekers club"

Excellent quiet quinta

We had a wonderful holiday (3 nights) at this really lovely quinta. Situated in a rural environment, its excellent for people that love to visit and discover Alentejo or walk in the mountains and forests that surround the quinta. The quinta has all comforts, bedrooms and bathrooms are very good. We stayed in May and did need the fireplace at night. Portalegre is nearby and has all kinds of shops, supermarkets and restaurants. Formerly reviewed at

Heaven on earth

We had a fabulous holiday at the Quinta. It is a beautiful house and has much more character in reality than the photographs show. Very comfortable, well equipped and everything works!

We spent most evenings sitting on the terrace and the only sound was the gentle gurgling of the little river below and the tinkling of the sheep bells .....bliss!

We did some of the walks and they were an ideal way to really see the countyside. The area is so beautiful with all the wild flowers and cobbled lanes and the smell of cistus everywhere. We returned home refreshed and pleasantly surprised that areas like this still exist. We will return someday! Formerly reviewed at

Re-discovering the joy of peace and quiet

Our two weeks spent at the Quinta were wonderful. It has been a very long time since we were able to enjoy such true peace and quiet with little or no mechanical noise. The house itself was cool, comfortable and very well equipped, providing an excellent base from which to set off each day.

We found the best way to see the region was by following one of the excellent walks provided. To be able to walk in ancient landscapes, down cobbled tracks with only the sound of birds and the occasional goat or sheep bell is a rare treat in this day and age. Each walk was full of colour, plants, wildlife and history and all different with some unique sights.

This is not the holiday for those who need shops, fully working mobile phones, touristy things, bright lights, and people; it is a must however for those wanting to re-discover the lost art of silence, a slice of peace and quiet and see some fantastic sights. Formerly reviewed at and

Paradise

The Quinta was superb. We had total peace and relaxation. Spotless, beautifully appointed and equipped accommodation. We could not fault it. The Sao Mamede park is breathtaking with wild flowers in abundance, a sea of French lavender growing wild, and hills clothed in Cistus. There were Nightingales everywhere we went (we were serenaded for two nights at the Quinta). On our walks we saw bee-eaters, hoopoe and a golden oriole. Paradise! Formerly reviewed at

The best house I have ever stayed in

This is the most beautiful house that I have ever stayed in with its warm and tranquil atmosphere. My favourite place was the terrace with its gorgeous views and I did a little bit of yoga here every morning! I came home so refreshed from my week in an extremely picturesque and authentic part of Portugal. Formerly reviewed at and

A Very Pleasant Stay in Beautiful Alentejo

The location of the house was very peaceful; surrounded by nature and walking trails and had a stream with ducks and fish at the bottom of the garden. Nothing could be nicer. The outdoor patio had great views of the little valley. Here we spent most of our time - dining, reading, relaxing in the sunshine, while our children worked their way through the DVD collection in the living room! The inside of the house was very tastefully and comfortably appointed with modern furniture and appliances.... Reviewed at

Me ha parecido un alojamiento muy recomendable. El sitio es precioso y la casa además de muy bonita tiene de todo. Todo funciona y es muy cómoda. El día que hizo bueno disfrutamos de la terraza y los niños deñ río, las ranas y la naturaleza en general. Cuando ha hecho malo hemos estado dentro de la casa jugando a juegos de mesa o charlando muy a gusto. La cocina también es muy cómoda y el lavaplatos facilita mucho la vida cuando se es bastantes para comer. Si podemos volveremos.

I have found a highly recommended accommodation. The site is beautiful and the house is pretty well everything. Everything works and is very comfortable. The day (weather) was good we enjoyed the balcony and give children the river, frogs and nature in general. When the weather was not good we were inside the house playing board games or chatting very comfortably. The kitchen is also very comfortable and the dishwasher makes life much easier when we had finished eating. If we can come back, we will. Reviewed at

We had a marvelous week. Thank you, we really appreciated your lovely Quinta. It surpassed our expectations in every way. Nightingales, Bee-eaters Hoopoe, and a Golden Oriole and peace! Walks took us twice as long as they should as so much to stop and see.        

We just wanted to let you know what a fabulous time we had when we were at the quinta. I cannot enthuse enough over it and we were all so impressed by the way you have equipped the house. We have rented several self catering properties over the years in both the U.K. (to walk), in Austria (also to walk) and in France (to ski) and we have never had such comfort. You have thought of everything.  

This summer vacation might have been best in my life, thanks to you for the house. Cheers!

Parabéns pela bonita arquitectura e decoração de interiores e hospitalidade. Continuação e sucesso é o que se pretude. Obrigada.            

We had in fact some wonderful quiet days at the Quinta and we experienced Portugal from a totally different side than ever before. Just great !
Heiko, Cascais

Fantastico o fim de semana que aqui passámos groupos a magnifica casa que nos disponibilizam. Até à próxima. Beijos e muito sucesso.       Rita e José - Lisboa

10 dias de ferias em familia que ficarão na recordaço! Recordaremos o conforto da casa e a ternura dos detalhes, a vista magnifica no alpendre de madeira e, sobretudo, o silêncio do vale apenas com o som do rio a correr. Ainda bem que existem casas feitas para tão bem receber! Recordaremos, recomendaremos e voltaremos!!! Patricia, Diogo, Mariana, Constançe e Madalene.

Our translation:

10 days of family holiday that we will remember! We remember the comfort of the house and the attention to detail. The magnificent view from the wooden terrace and above all the silence of the valley with only the sound of the running stream. It is good that there are still houses that can welcome you like this. We will remember it, we recommend it and we will be back!!!

What a wonderful place, from the moment we came into the valley we were entranced ... the whole area has the wow factor. We are wondering if we should tell our friends or keep it all to ourselves. Mr & Mrs Boustead, UK

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