I booked the Painted Dog quite last minute and Cathy got back to me straight away, which was great. She also gave me some tips for the local area, which I appreciated as I was only there for the weekend and didn’t want to do much research. The house itself was just gorgeous – a perfect blend of retro character and modern luxury, with everything you want on holiday like a dishwasher, coffee machine and lots of plates and cups (I get frustrated when they only give you four of each!). It had enough space for the kids to run around (including a large back area) and it also has an amazing fireplace, which we used both nights. Everything looked and felt brand new and was extremely clean and perfectly appointed with all the finer touches, like coffee, books and buckets and spades for the kids, and chopped wood out the back.
Portarlington itself is a charming little place, with a gorgeous beach and a number of cute cafes and places to eat. It wasn’t warm enough to swim but there are some good play areas and beach walks. It’s about a 10-minute walk to the beach from the house, which was fine for us, and an easy 15-minute stroll into town. (I’m not sure about public transport options but if you have mobility issues you might want a car.)
Highly recommend!