My husband, our 3-year-old, and I spent 5 days in early March at this cozy apartment in Aguda. After booking our flights to Porto, I wasn't sure if we should stay in the city or the beach. I'm reallly happy we chose the beach! First of all, Elisa was a terrific host, resourceful, down-to-earth, friendly (Timon, her little sidekick too!), and available at the drop of a hat. She greeted us at the train station in Aguda and walked us to the apartment. Immediately I was impressed with the proximity to the beach and the quietness of the area. In the apartment were already drinks and snacks awaiting. Elisa prepared a couch bed in a little room downstairs for my son, my husband and I had the huge comfortable bed upstairs. The apartment is clean and well-equipped. Simple but thoughtfully decorated. Elisa went above and beyond--my son was sick the first few days and she brought him soup, a stuffed animal, and even washed and dried our clothes after he threw up on us (sorry Elisa!). Neighbouring the apartment is an excellent pizzeria open lunch and dinner (the kind owner allowed us to do take-away one evening). We enjoyed the wine, pizzas, and bruschetta. Next to the pizzeria is an excellent seafood restaurant Zizi. I had the fresh seabass and my husband a sort of fish stew--both yummy. My husband enjoyed long walks along the beach path each day to the neighbouring town Espinho. There are several little cafes in Aguda for our daily coffee and yummy pastries. Two little supermarkets and a fresh fish market. We had everything we needed with a 2 minute walk. When my son was better we took the train (about 30 min) to the centre of Porto. The train station is beautiful and the city, though hilly, is walkable. We stayed just a couple hours but found a decent restaurant and ice cream parlor. We were happy to retreat to the apartment in Aguda. I imagine in the warmer months Aguda is lively and the sand is cleaner (lots of trash). But we really enjoyed the tranquility--sitting outside with wine and fresh bread, collecting shells and driftwood, and watching the surfers and fishermen bring in the daily catch and of course the sunsets. Would definitely recommend to anyone looking for a quiet, beach holiday with access to bigger cities for culture/entertainment. Great for families with a small child (or even two). Thank you Elisa for your care!