I had high expectations for Maria's place, and not only did it meet those expectations, but it exceeded them. (She was even kind enough to do me a personal favor which helped me out tremendously.) A friend and I picked this place as our splurge location, out of the three we chose for Porto. It completely delivered. Watch the sunset from your balcony as the waves roll in under the beautiful sky, streaked with shades of pink, orange, and all kinds of colors. Maria's flat is located along the most exclusive coastline of Porto and that's reflected in the beauty and sophistication of the people and offerings (restaurants, etc) in the area. It's a very nice area, but the people are absolutely down-to-earth, and Maria herself is wonderful. There's a small, famous nightlife spot (bar that doubles as a great coffee shop during the day) just steps out the front door and to the left, but you won't hear it when you turn in, as you can block the outside noise if you like, or choose to listen to the waves crash along the shoreline depending on how big they are at the time of your visit. And that same shoreline is one of the best beaches in Porto, where we took in the sun in just swimsuits even in the first days of April. (The picturesque restaurants that line the sand are also very affordable by Western standards, and well worth a visit...or ten.) The flat came with an espresso machine, laundry, and everything you'd expect a high-end offering to include. I'm glad we spent the money and next time I'm in Porto I won't even have to spend a single second looking for a place...straight to Maria's! Thank you!