Both the home and the host are simply extraordinary. We would book again with Maria Ana in a heartbeat. Her three-level villa is built into a Cascais hillside just north of the city center. A full shopping area, including an indoor mall, is within a ten-minute walk downhill. Calming oceanside walks are just 25 minutes away on foot, either east towards Estoril or west along a bike path that runs for miles.
This large home is both historical and modern, with gorgeous flooring and furniture. It is filled with inviting, comfortable spaces where people can gather - the beautiful large pool area, the TV/game room with super-cozy couches, the living room and dining room overlooking the ocean - and spaces with solitude where someone can be alone and read or enjoy looking at the sea, such as the hammock and the outdoor daybeds. With seven bedrooms and four full bathrooms on the third and first floors, there’s room for all. Each bedroom has more than enough closets and drawers, all empty just waiting for you. You never feel like you’re living in someone else’s space. The modern kitchen was just redone, with everything easy to find and extremely well-organized. I especially appreciated the ample space for our own groceries. The villa has its own secure gate and room for parking in the driveway.
I can’t say enough about Maria Ana. She is immediately responsive, informative, and helpful, and knows Cascais like the local she is. She runs the villa as a fine hotel, with people who care for the property daily, ample linens and toiletries in each bedroom/bathroom and many welcome gifts of food and beverage in the kitchen. We rented her villa for family during my daughter’s wedding. I can say with utmost confidence that Maria Ana’s approach and assistance were highly instrumental in making our experience the best it could possibly be. Maria Ana will be the first person we contact should we return to Cascais.