AR Country House

We made good use of the little gym and pool, and the breakfast was a lovely start to the day: tasty, healthy, and made with local products. We didn't manage to walk through the eucalyptus grove because our stay was short and the weather was hot, so maybe next time. Our room was spotless and generous in size. The balcony had a wonderful view and two chairs, just right for sitting with a book or taking a quiet moment. The bed was an oasis, with a great mattress and high-quality sheets. We slept really well both nights.

We had such a lovely weekend at the magical AR Country House. The place, the people, all the little touches, we loved it. Elisabete, Arlindo, Ana and her husband made us feel completely at home, and were so kind and attentive. Every detail seemed chosen to make us feel cared for. The delicious breakfast deserves a mention too, as do Bambi, Mimi, Chico and the chickens. Being around the animals and nature does wonders. This birthday weekend will stay among our best memories. A big kiss to everyone, and I really recommend experiencing this wonderful place.

The room was spacious and very clean, but sadly the rest of the stay didn't work for us. We travelled around Portugal with our five-year-old son, who has a rare genetic condition, epilepsy and very limited mobility, and uses a wheelchair. This property isn't suitable for guests with reduced mobility. Before booking, I explained our specific circumstances and was told it was accessible because it had a lift. The lift only went between the bedroom floor and the indoor pool level, where the water was cold. The breakfast room and everything else on the property were inaccessible, and outside the property the routes were also very steep and difficult. There was no air conditioning either. I assumed places had it nowadays, unfortunately. Our choice was to sleep with all the windows open and get bitten, as we did, or put up with the heat. The heat could trigger seizures for my son, so that wasn't an option. We had booked four nights. Two hours after arriving I tried to find someone to discuss the problems, but nobody was there. I immediately tried to shorten the stay through the booking website, which allowed date changes, but the request was almost immediately refused. The next morning we spoke with Mariana in the breakfast room. She agreed it wasn't right for us to stay so long when the property didn't meet our son's needs and said she'd speak to management. After waiting for hours, the owner finally arrived and reluctantly offered us credit for two nights at most. I explained that credit wouldn't help, since we had no plans to return somewhere unsuitable for our son. We had no other option but to stay three nights until we found availability somewhere appropriate. Our son's health and wellbeing come first, and it's hard to understand people putting money ahead of everything in such circumstances. I hope they eventually think back on how they handled it. We certainly learned our lesson. A few other problems: the internet was very weak or nonexistent, and the TV had a permanent picture that made it impossible to watch. They only provide solid soap, no shampoo or shower gel. On our last day, a couple were complaining that the heat had kept them from sleeping and that there was no traditional tea, only rose petal tea.

This peaceful, heavenly place showed us that paradise isn't only in the sky. Every corner seemed carefully made, and the people and animals all touched our hearts. We felt cared for by all the little details they had thought of for us. Thank you so much for sharing this AR with us.