No better than average
Review Submitted: June 16, 2009
Date of Stay: June 2009
We stayed at the apartment for a weekend in June '09 and really found it to be no better than average.
On the plus side, it is a modern apartment within a modern complex. The rooms are quite spacious and it's certainly clean and tidy.
However, on the minus side:
The complex really is in the middle of nowhere. A car and satnav are completely essential and it is a good 20 minute drive to the coast at Cascais. What we did notice was that all through the day and night, all we could hear was the incessant barking of dogs!
Renters should be aware that, despite the claim on the property description, there is no wireless internet access. Your laptop has to be hard wired to the router in the lounge with an ethernet cable running between the obvious 'desk point' which is the dining table and the router. Not very practical with a wire stretching across the room. Disappointingly, despite being advised of this during our stay by text message, the owner failed to respond with any suggested workaround.
In the bedrooms, the beds are moreorless at floor level (very low down). This could be a problem for anybody who has difficulty getting up and down and I must say that the mattress was certainly not of a good quality and not conducive to a good night's sleep.
In the kitchen, quite strangely, there is no microwave. The front door of the apartment is very difficult to open. In fact, late on our first night on returning to the apartment, we tried several times to open the door, managing to do so eventually but not after fearing that we would be locked out for the night.
There is a tennis court and swimming pool on the complex but the clubhouse is not open so there is no hospitality.
We were checked in by the owner's agent who was quite delightful but when she realised on check-in that certain items which should have been provided had not been, she promised to get back to us the following morning. We never saw or heard from her again! Similarly, since we returned to the UK (now more than a week ago), we have had no follow-up from the owner even asking how we found the place. Makes you think!
All in all, if you're looking for a pretty basic bolthole and are happy with the available but limited facilities in a remote location then perhaps this could be for you. We actually left the apartment early and spent our final night in a lovely hotel, the Farol Design Hotel, overlooking the Atlantic in Cascais!
Oh-don’t forget to bring your own toilet paper!
Owner's Response: We are very sorry to hear that your stay at our apartment wasn't as comfortable as you expected. We do welcome any constructive criticism that improves our services for the future.
However, at the same time we would like to address some of the issues and allegations made by you.
You were provided not only with two rolls of toilet paper (if you use them within two days than you will have to get some more as this is a self catering apartment) but as well with a Welcome Basket which includes Beer, Wine, Water, Coffee, Bread, Cakes, Sugar, Milk etc.
We do understand that it can be difficult to drive in a different country, to a new destination for the first time. That's why we provide a Welcome Pack with a detailed route description for all our Guests ending with: 'take the junction Bicesse/Manique off the Motorway and thereafter follow the Street Signs with "Villaggio Manique" which will lead you right to the gates of the Condominium.'
The description of our rental property on this site and within our Brochure is 100% accurate. The driving times are taken from a route planner and can be confirmed by our own experience (5 min to Estoril Beach, Casino, Shopping Centre, Formula 1 Circuit; 10 min to Cascais or Estoril) and our Apartment is fitted with a wireless Router/unlimited Broadband.
If you feel uncomfortable with computers than we would like to advise you to check how a wireless Internet connection can be established before you go on holidays. As long as there are no further conflicts -Notebook settings like firewall etc.- all there has to be done is to enter a password to secure the exclusive and full broadband experience to our guests. We did advise you about the web key and furthermore contacted our management company to help you. Our Management Company went out to buy a cable to ensure a hardwired connection as it proved difficult for you to connect.
All doors in the complex are the same security standard doors. The key has to be turned twice that´s all.I am not able to fully comprehend how an apartment fitted with marbel ensuite bathrooms, marbel kitchen including oven, grill, dishwasher, washing machine and Dryer; over 100sqm of solid oak flooring, designer furniture and two balconies can be described as a bolthole as for not available clubhouse your received a discount bc of it and had access to pool, tennis court and the sports facility.
We appriciate your suggestion about the microwave and have now one in our kitchen.
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Helpful votes: 2/3
marks the location of the property in Cascais area
