Blev medlem i: 2021
Utgångsdatum 23/Oct/2021
We are a foursome: James (67) is British; Heidi (51) is Belgian and we live near Coimbra in Portugal; daughter Elly (22) studies art in Antwerp; daughter Pauline (12) attends boarding school in Norfolk, England.
We are particularly interested in house-swaps during school half term holidays, as we would like to show Pauline more of the UK. At other times we need to visit Antwerp.
James and Heidi are property developers and have three stylish riverside villas, each with its own pool. We live in one and rent out the other two to tourists. It is one of these that we offer as a swap, so we are not committed to simultaneous exchanges.
We love to explore, both cities and the countryside. We are very quiet and our daughters are demure and very well behaved. We appreciate respect from our guests and equally respect other people's property.
Andra språk jag talar
nederländska, portugisiska, franska
Aktivitetar
Vandring,
Vinälskare,
Gourmet
Inte bostadsdbyte samtidigt
Bostadsbyte
Rökning inte tillåten
Barn välkomna
Användning av personlig bil erbjuds inte
Öppen för alla datum | London, UK | United Kingdom |
Öppen för alla datum | United Kingdom | North East, England, UK | Malvern Hills, Malvern, UK |
Öppen för alla datum | Belgium | Italy | Norway |
Öppen för alla datum | Öppen för alla destinationer |
Beskrivning av hemmet vi erbjuda att byta bort
The villa at River Island Portugal has just been stylishly restored without cutting corners, to make a roomy home of uncommon charm and elegance. Hot water from solar panels. Oil-fired or wood-stove central heating and double glazing throughout.
Typ
Hus - två eller flera våningar/ Stugu eller andra hem
Bekvämligheter
Underhållning
Extra
Plats
Beskrivning av vårt grannskap och omgivning
This is an area for individualists. If you cannot bear to be more than two metres from another tourist, if you enjoy lager louts, noisy bars, tacky shops, rip-off restaurants, burger gases, traffic jams and impossible parking, then this is not for you.
But why be stampeded into an overcrowded tourist ghetto? Instead, treat yourself to a dreamy slice of a watery Eden, Europe's 'forgotten' paradise. Look around you and you might find it hard to believe you are in Europe, never mind just a two-hour flight from grey skies and rain-soaked streets. Try wild swimming in the tree-lined river. We have a 600-mtr stretch of calm water, about 1.3 mtrs deep, not as warm as the pool but still very pleasant, and full of little fish. If you stay still they will come and nibble at your skin – a recognised spa therapy! You might spot a kingfisher or even an otter while swimming downstream to the river bar (open May – Oct).
The town of Lousã, which has several supermarkets, restaurants and one of Portugal's best beauty spots (at Arouce Castle), is less than 10 mins by car, in the Serra da Lousã. The medieval university city of Coimbra is barely half an hour. Also within easy reach are the vast golden beaches of the Silver Coast, gorgeous mountain scenery, warm rivers and lakes.
Perfect for walking, trailrunning and mountainbiking (professional teams stay in our houses during international Downhill competitions).
Perfect Internet.
Utomhusaktiviteter
Fritid
Kulturella aktiviteter
Transport i närheten
Närliggande serviceerbjudanden
Våra tips om platser att gå och saker att göra när du bor i vårt hem
The town of Lousã, which has several supermarkets, restaurants and one of Portugal's best beauty spots (at Arouce Castle), is less than 10 mins by car, in the Serra da Lousã. The medieval university city of Coimbra is barely half an hour. Also within easy reach are the vast golden beaches of the Silver Coast, gorgeous mountain scenery, warm rivers and lakes (far warmer and safer than the ocean).
OTHER THINGS TO DO
*Kayaks on the river;
*Lovely walks and drives through the hills and the 'lost' mountain villages;
*'Portugal Pequinitos' - a fantasy model village with Portugal's great buildings in miniature, but still large enough to walk through, plus humbler houses accessible only to children;
*Conimbriga - the ancient Roman capital with some of the best mosaics in Europe;
* World Heritage Tomar, a lovely old town with Knights Templar castle and convent;
*The vast golden beaches at Figueira da Foz, the west coast's largest seaside resort.
*Horse-riding;
*Open-air zoo plus farm zoo;
*Gondola rides on the canals of Aveiro;
*The Holy Shrine at Fatima and nearby beautifully lit caves;
*The medieval university city of Coimbra with its big shopping malls;
*Tree adventure park;
*Strange limestone caves at Casmilo;
*Nazaré seaside resort with celebrated seafood restaurant and cable car to 'hidden' town above.
The infrastructure is excellent, English widely spoken and restaurants amazingly cheap. This is the real Portugal, not a tourist ghetto rip-off.
Våra favorit restauranger
Fritids-och kulturaktiviteter
Fritidspromenader eller joggingspår
Vad vi gillar, vad vi inte gillar ... Här är våra preferenser och husregler.
Please leave the house as you find it. We will leave it very clean for you so that you can immediately enjoy a fabulous holiday.
Please note that as this is a holiday rental villa, we are unlikely to be able to offer swaps at certain times of the year, especially from mid-June to mid-September.
Villkor
Användning av personlig bil
Bytestyper
Blev medlem i: 2021
Utgångsdatum 23/Oct/2021
We are a foursome: James (67) is British; Heidi (51) is Belgian and we live near Coimbra in Portugal; daughter Elly (22) studies art in Antwerp; daughter Pauline (12) attends boarding school in Norfolk, England.
We are particularly interested in house-swaps during school half term holidays, as we would like to show Pauline more of the UK. At other times we need to visit Antwerp.
James and Heidi are property developers and have three stylish riverside villas, each with its own pool. We live in one and rent out the other two to tourists. It is one of these that we offer as a swap, so we are not committed to simultaneous exchanges.
We love to explore, both cities and the countryside. We are very quiet and our daughters are demure and very well behaved. We appreciate respect from our guests and equally respect other people's property.
Andra språk jag talar
nederländska, portugisiska, franska
Aktivitetar
Vandring,
Vinälskare,
Gourmet
Mer än 70 års erfarenhet
27 lokala representanter som kan hjälpa dig
Res, spara och känna dig hemma i hela världen!