Minho & Costa Verde holiday villa: Caminha

Having seen the website, I had expected the villa to be of a high standard. However, I am not underestimating when I say that it was faultless.

For my mother's 70th birthday we decided to get away for a few days. This also gave me the perfect opportunity to investigate the villa and surrounding area, as I had been planning to do for some time. As if one needs an excuse!

Although easily accessable from Porto, a hire car is almost a necessity. However, in little over an hour the delightful Costa Verde is begging to be explored.

The villa itself is entirely as described. I would delicately suggest that the photos do not really do it justice. On arrival it was fastidiously clean, tidy, and prepared for our stay. Although necessities may be in the cupboards, and wine in the rack, the villa is supplied on a self-catering basis- so replace that which you devour! However, Caminha the local town has both a supermarket and smaller shops open fairly late into the evening.

Large open plan spaces, a wood-burning stove (plus central heating), a great hi-fi, an internal atrium and very comfortable beds make the living arrangements a joy, and entirely relaxing. The pool looked great, but the air was just a little too chilly to get us in...

Beautiful medieval villages appear to have had a healthy injection of EU maintainance grants, there is no shortage of photo opportunities or good, reasonably priced places to eat. Caminha itself is pretty, but venturing further afield to the likes of Viana do Castelo or Vila Nova is very rewarding. The beaches at Caminha and Moledo are both clean and beautiful, and I'd imagine pleasantly warm in summer. Even at the start of the year the temperature was very pleasant, and they looked to be perfect for surfing too...

All in all, I cannot speak highly enough of either the accomodation or the location. Coupled to good local food and friendly locals you can't go far wrong in this beautifully set and maintined high class holiday villa. Try it!