Excellent family house near beaches

If you're looking to stay somewhere with genuine character rather than an anonymous modern hotel, holiday villa or apartment, this is it! Situated in a tranquil village within easy reach of the picturesque town of Obidos, this atmospheric 19th Century house features a warren of cosy rooms, plenty of exposed wood and a range of antique furniture and fittings. Yet at the same time it offers all the modern conveniences you could wish for - from a washing machine, dishwasher, gas cooker and microwave to satellite TV. Outside, there's a sunny patio, lush gardens and an excellent, well maintained swimming pool. It certainly isn't one of those undersized pools scarcely bigger than a bath-tub that you sometimes encounter with holiday accommodation: our three children aged 14, 13 and 11 certainly found it large enough to keep them occupied for hours on end. The charming owners, Cristina and Eduardo, take pride in ensuring the property stays in tip-top condition and made us feel very welcome right from day one. They really couldn't have been more helpful and accommodating.

While you definitely need a car to explore the area, there's plenty to see and do within easy reach. Obidos is a picturesque walled town about five minutes' drive away with a good collection of restaurants and bars (prices pretty reasonable compared with other European destinations). As far as beaches are concerned, we liked Baleal near Peniche, about a 20 minute drive away. It has two swathes of sand: one with terrific waves that makes it superb for surfing/bodyboarding; the other a more tranquil affair. There's a collection of bars and restaurants there too. We also visited the more traditional seaside resort of Nazare (about 30 mins away) and the port of Peniche which has a row of fish restaurants near the harbour.

As far as shopping for those everyday essentials is concerned, there's a small supermarket about 200 yards away in the village for day to day provisions, and a larger supermarket just outside Obidos for a weekly shop. There's also a pharmacy in Obidos.

We'd definitely recommend this property for families like ours with children over the age of about 9 or 10 (there are a few breakable ornaments and some stairs that may not be suitable for younger ones). It would also make an excellent romantic/relaxing getaway for a couple, or a good venue for a girls' long weekend away.

This home was a highlight in our trip...a true, authentic taste of Portugal. Christina & Eduardo were gracious and welcoming - concerned with our every need from the amenities in the villa to ensuring we had all the information we needed to experience the surrounding areas. The villa itself is the equivalent of a museum filled with a never ending trail of historical artifacts, all to be experienced as you explore this ancient home. We met a heavily laden burrow coming up the street in the delightful village. All the surrounding areas are well worth the time you should take to explore...exceptional in every way - true Portugal - the Nazare beach and village was unforgettable. Many thanks to Christina and Eduardo for sharing this treasure with us.

English version :
It's a magnificent property in a quiet place.
I'ts in a little village closed to Obidos with a grocer's shop where you can find bred, marmelade, eggs and other groceries.
Obidos is a citadel of the middle-age with beautiful fortifications.
We were 10 km from Caldas da Reinha and between 15 and 20 kms from the ocean. Lisbon is 75 km from this village by the highway.
It's a very comfortable house with washing machine, dishwasher, and all equipments you need for cooking. And there is also a barbecue.
4 rooms, a shower and a bathroom. And of course a swimming pool with deckchairs and a shower to rince yourself.
The owners are very kind and they listen to your comments with attention.

Version française :

Une superbe maison dans un endroit tranquille. Elle est située dans un petit village à côté d'Obidos avec une épicerie où l'on peut trouver du pain, de la confiture, des oeufs et d'autres denrées.
Obidos est une citadelle du Moyen-Âge avec de magnifiques fortifications.
Nous étions à 10 km de Caldas da Reinha et entre 15 et 20 km de la mer. Lisbonne est à 75 km par l'autoroute.
C'est une maison très confortable avec un lave-linge, un lave-vaisselle et tous le matériel dont vous avez besoin pour cuisiner. Il y a aussi un barbecue.
4 chambres, une salle d'eau et une salle de bain. Et bien sûr une piscine avec une douche pour se rincer et des chaises longues.
Les propriétaires sont très agréables et écoutent vos remarques avec bcp d'attention.

We have stayed in many places in Portugal, this house was a real taste of village life.
It has been renovated and modernised with love, as the owners family has lived there for many years.
You have all the mod-cons you need,including a new swimming pool with a lovely sunny terrace, and pretty courtyard gardens to follow the sun.
The house was clean and the bed linen was fresh.with modern bathroom and shower room with lots of hot water.
Christina and Eduardo even came to meet and greet us at Obidos so we could be shown where the house was, and to give us a tour and any help we needed..
There are many beaches to choose from, Obidos lagoon has gentle pools and soft white sand, as well as the ocean.
As for restaurants we tried many and all were fine, and catered for varing tastes.
A large supermarket was omly a few minutes away, and the village had a shop which sold every thing from a coke to an electric kettle.
We really liked the house and the village,and would return to this property when in the area again.