Casa da Ribeira Cottage

We were robbed on our second day of a nine-night stay at the cottage. €600 went missing from our bedroom after the cleaner came in to take the garbage and recycling out. There was no safe in the unit. We'd left the door and windows locked, and our money pouch had been moved, so we're sure what happened. The owner deducted the amount from what we owed, which met our minimum expectations, but he never apologized. It felt like he was suspicious of us and trusted the cleaner over us. The whole thing made for a very uncomfortable vacation. After we reported it, he never checked in during the rest of our stay, and we felt we got a cold shoulder. He also didn't ask if we needed anything, such as laundry service, which we'd expect on a long stay. We weren't offered a fresh garage bin, even though we'd asked for one while we were home after the theft. I had to ask twice about the airport shuttle, which costs €25 and isn't included. Breakfast isn't included either, despite what the listing seems to suggest. There were some good points: parking was easy, the unit is well placed on the island, it's bright, and it has the basics for cooking. The knives are extremely dull, though. The TV is small by modern standards, the bathroom is tiny, and the AC in the main bedroom ticks so loudly that I couldn't sleep there, even after trying on three different nights. Mixed experience at best.

We really enjoyed the backyard and hammock, and the cottage is in a great spot for getting around to the island's activities. The room was very clean, and the hosts were friendly. Check-in and parking were both super easy. We stayed for two nights.

Joao made my birthday morning especially nice by bringing me a tasty cake. It was the first night of my stay, and a lovely way to begin a new year of life. We had planned on two nights, but ended up spending our whole vacation there, and were sad when it was time to go. We hope we can return to Joao's apartment someday. Who knows? ❤ It's a calm, peaceful place with a green garden and a wonderful room, and the location is great for seeing the island by car. The host was so helpful and friendly. One of the best vacation stays I've had, and the best host for sure. It was everything I'd dreamed of.

Such a beautiful garden, and the place itself is cozy and super clean. The hosts do everything to make you feel at home. We loved it!