Our stay in this Airbnb was one of the most endearing and heart-warming experiences I've ever had in my entire life. Rodolfo and his family (including 2 super friendly cats and dogs!!!) are extremely welcoming, kind, gracious and generous. We shared many meals with them and fellow guests, and enjoyed hearing many stories from years past. They helped us find great places to visit (e.g. nearby beaches), received Amazon deliveries while we were out, helped us with laundry, and even taught us how to cook local dishes <3
In addition to the beautiful people, the house itself is truly a gem. It's filled with light, spacious and cozy, and adorned with lovely antiques collected from all over the country. The space is both novel and charming, and it has everything you'd need from a private desk space for working to a plethora of modern kitchen appliances. It feels rooted in time and yet is very comfortable and enjoyable to live in. Rodolfo himself restored the property and you can feel his care and attention to detail within the space.
The location of the property is in Ameal, which is located just outside of Torres Vedras, about a 5 minute drive and 10-15 minute bus ride to the center. Ameal itself feels like a sleepy town with a few little shops shops and cafes. One of our favorites was a little coffee shop; the owners were super friendly and engaging, even though we didn't speak any Portuguese!! We also really loved the local fish and vegetable market, which is just a 10 minute walk from the property - we got to meet the farmers and buy local produce, and the prices were unbelievably affordable. I think we got a week's worth of fruit and veg for less than €10.
Due to its location in Ameal, this property is great for folks who want a place to stay outside of a bustling city or town - Ameal is quaint, quiet, and wonderfully slow-paced. It's also very conveniently located - 40 minutes direct drive on the highway to Lisbon, 15 minutes to the beach, 10 minutes to the Torres Vedras mall and Intermarche. So if you have a car, it's perfectly located to anywhere you may want to go. And if you don't have a car and just want to get away for a little while, it's wonderfully easy to disconnect from the buzz of life & city centers and reconnect with family and community, beautiful nature, and timeless treasures.
We loved our stay and are looking forward to the next opportunity to come back and visit. We made lifelong friends in this visit, and we highly recommend staying here if you'd like to meet new people and experience a very cozy and beautiful space off the beaten path.