Tapada Flats

A lovely old place, but it needs serious maintenance. It might have been alright if the sewage smell hadn’t been constant.

Parking on the property was a plus, and the centre is a 10-minute walk away. The host was very friendly and available when we contacted him, and he explained that the little house would be small for three people. That part was fine, but we hadn’t expected such poor upkeep, cleanliness, or general conditions. For what we paid, it was somewhere to sleep, but we didn’t feel comfortable spending any more time there than that. There were hairs on the beds, dirty cooking equipment and utensils, lots of cobwebs and mosquitoes, and stains on the pillows and sofas. Overall, it was poorly maintained and cleaned. Definitely not somewhere I’d stay again.

The huge garden was lovely for eating outside at the little stone table or the aluminum ones when it was warm. We enjoyed watching the figs ripen on the trees. The house itself was welcoming and tucked away from noise, yet only a 15-minute walk from the centre. Sr. Pedro, who greeted us, was very helpful and told us the house’s history, going back to his grandfather. I loved our stay and would happily return here for the Feira de S. Mateus. Thank you for this peaceful little corner.

The owner or manager was very friendly, and the price is low. It’s a lovely house, but sadly run down, and a bit more attention to detail would make a big difference when renting out such a beautiful place. It reminded me of my grandparents’ house, and the old-fashioned look didn’t bother me. What did bother me was the poor hygiene. Simplicity doesn’t mean a place is clean. There was also very little natural light, so we had to keep the lights on all the time. With proper cleaning, it would be fantastic.