Quinta do Olival

The only real issue for us was the shower, whose pressure was more of a drizzle. Otherwise, the host was nice and we enjoyed the pool. The nearest large town, with a supermarket and good restaurants, is a 10-minute drive away, and Peneda-Geres national park is easy to reach. This is a new development on land that belongs to the old quinta, with two self-contained houses built using clever prefabricated technology. From outside they look like large rectangular boxes, but inside each has a huge bedroom, living room, bathroom with sauna, and kitchen. The glass walls are the most striking feature, framing the outdoor view like a picture. It costs more than the area’s average, but you get something special.

Breakfast was amazing, delicious and generous enough that we had leftovers to save or bring along on our daily outings. The property was easy to get around from, close to the main roads. We visited a store and restaurant in Arcos de Valdevez and went hiking in Sistelo and Soajo, all beautiful and easy to reach. The grounds and views were stunning, with plenty of room. Our two-year-old loved the swings, slide, and pool, and enjoyed walking through the grapes to see the chickens and goats. Olga showed us around and was wonderful. The stone section of the house gave it a lovely character, while the rest was clean, modern, and comfortable. Old family photos of Olga’s on the walls were a neat glimpse of the property’s history. We loved our stay. It was our favorite place in Portugal and one of my favorite places I’ve ever stayed. I’d recommend it to anyone!

The houses are traditional, picturesque, and very well equipped. It’s a peaceful, relaxing place, with lovely walks nearby, and I’d recommend it in any season.

A lovely pool, all the comforts, and charming owners made our time at the Quinta feel easy and relaxing. We love this small-scale venture in the countryside.