Casas Casal Do Carvalhal

Ana Maria was always ready to help, whatever we needed, and did it with a smile. We felt right at home here. The house is lovely, with a gorgeous garden and pool, and the place is so quiet and peaceful. It’s in a small village without much nearby, though Braga and Porto are still close. One of the nicest places I’ve stayed.

The noise is the main thing to plan around: during the hamlet’s last two July weekends, local celebrations bring very loud music from 9:30 in the morning until 10 at night, so a quiet day at the villa isn’t really possible then. Outside those dates, it’s a wonderful place to rent. We spent a fabulous week at Casal do Carvahal. The house is spacious and charming, with an eclectic mix of decor in every room. The pool and snooker room were well cared for and worked brilliantly for a sunny family holiday. The owners live on the estate, which wasn’t clear when we booked, but they were a pleasure to be around and invited us to enjoy produce from their incredible orchard. There are good hikes and mountain bike routes about a 10-minute drive away. I’d recommend staying outside the festival weekends unless you enjoy loud, distorted Portuguese folk music.

We had a great stay. The staff were warm, and the facilities were really comfortable, with a traditional feel to the house. Top-notch, and I’d definitely recommend it.

The house was beautiful and very clean, and both the staff and owner were friendly and helpful. I’d happily recommend it, and plan to return with my family.