Paradise in Portugal

From the moment you enter the place, peace and tranquility surround you. The rooms are very comfortable with a small terrace out the front overlooking the lake and the view is to die for. Tea and coffee making facilities are in your room. The beds are really comfy and there is plenty of hot water and the shower is very powerful. The food is really enjoyable and all home made by Daniela who runs a superbly organised kitchen. There is a very small pool which is very welcoming on a hot day. The walk to the lake is down well made steps which are fairly easy to navigate. Everyone eats together as that is how it works best....we had great fellow guests and had a lot of fun chatting to people from all over the world. We went bird watching on 5 days with some pretty early starts but Frank, and his friend Tony who was there during our stay, went out their way to make the whole experience very enjoyable for a novice like me. By the end of the week I could actually see the birds! It was great to see so many different species and Frank and Tony's passion for the birds and photography was clear. The housekeeping is excellent too with rooms cleaned daily and sheets and towels changed regularly. Daniela and Frank go out of their way to make your stay special. It was certainly a very different holiday for my husband and I but well worth the visit.

Outstanding place and if you want to immerse yourself in nature but enjoy exceptional comfort while doing so (!), this has to be one of the best spots in Portugal. Ten minutes from the very pretty little village of Santa Clara a Velha along a dirt track (it’s in great condition and fine in a hire car) and you are truly away from it all. A beautiful lake to swim in (plus kayaks and SUPs if you fancy it), out-of-this-world food and stunning views. The owners - Frank and Daniela - are charming and Frank is exceptionally knowledgeable about birds in the area: he leads guided tours which are just fantastic. The garden is absolutely beautiful and full of delightful places to lounge around reading a book or just relaxing and taking in the views. This place truly is heavenly. Strongly recommend!

Absolutely phenomenal. Just an incredible experience. As for the hotel: Well outfitted, clean and comfortable rooms. There's very good WiFi (recently upgraded too! If you're thinking about a little home office along the way), and a terrific location with views of the lake. The pricing is excellent too. Daniela's cooking is great! There's a fixed menu each night, but they're more than happy to accommodate whatever dietary restrictions you might have. All and all, a really nice, unpretentious and comfortable place to stay. It's definitely a little bit out of the way, but I'd count that as a pro too. For the birding: Frank is an outstanding guide. Extremely knowledgeable, personable and always willing to go the extra mile to get you that species you've always wanted to see. If you're lucky, you might even get a poem recited for you too. Even half days from the hotel are packed full of new places and new birds. You will not want for experiences along the way. All in all, it's an amazing place. No need to think about restaurants, about snacks or which wine to drink each night. A wonderful place to sit back, see some birds, and enjoy a side of Portugal you probably wouldn't get to see otherwise.

This was my first visit to Portugal and this was one of the highlights. Frank and Daniela are very gracious hosts; Daniela's food is excellent, the rooms are basic but very nice and the setting is spectacular. My prime reason for coming here was the birds, and I was not disappointed. Both Frank and Tony are very knowledgable and got me onto a lot of good birds and were great company too. The common meals are a pleasure as they are more of a family meal hosted by Frank and Daniel with people from all walks of life sharing their experiences. I can only recommend this place and sincerely hope to be able to come back.

To keep it short... It was amazing. The food, the scenery, the service, the staff, the whole experience felt relaxing and entertaining at all times. The lake is beautiful whether you swim, use the canoe or the stand up paddle board or just sit back and dive in with your eyes. It is a real oasis. The garden surrounding the rooms is something straight out of a book and even if none of that means anything to you the delicious food alone is worth it spending at least a lunch and dinner at this breathtaking place. It seems I couldn't keep it short after all and yet there are even more amazing aspects that I didn't mention but that's for you to find out yourself.