Our rental of Quinta da Boica epitomized what I'm hoping to find when vacation planning with airbnb. Marta and Cristina were not only incredibly responsive to my pre-trip queries, their kindness and concern for our comfort continued until checkout. We felt like guests rather than clients. The delicacies provided upon arrival stood us in good stead throughout our week and were so much appreciated. The Quinta itself is a paradise--so authentic and private, furnished with family antiques and art and featuring a good selection of guidebooks and other reading material. Beds are comfortable and baths luxurious (and thoughtfully provisioned) for such a rustic setting. We had warm weather and made good use of the sparkling pool for hours each day after heading out to visit Sintra's palaces and the coast. The Quinta is ideally located for walkers, and we were able to visit many of the deservedly busy sites during less crowded times. With luck, I'll return someday . . .