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Ideal for your family holidays, or romantic breaks In relaxing peace and quiet.

Photo gallery for Ideal for your family holidays, or romantic breaks In relaxing peace and quiet.

P.ool and sun beds
Casa dos Sonhos.
Secure parking for one car.
View of the village from the pool and terrace.
BBQ house swinging seat and cushions.

Reviews

9.6 out of 10
Exceptional
3 bedrooms3 bathroomsSleeps 6

Popular amenities

  • Kitchen
  • Parking available
  • Fireplace
  • Washer
  • Barbecue grill

Explore the area

Map
Penela
  • Church of San Miguel
    ‪6 min drive‬
  • Penela Castle
    ‪6 min drive‬
  • Biological Park of Serra da Lousa
    ‪10 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 6)

Bedroom 1

1 King Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Double Bed

Bedroom 3

1 King Bed and 2 Single Beds

3 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Soap · Towels provided · Toilet · Shower only · Shampoo · Hair dryer

Bathroom 2

Soap · Towels provided · Bathtub or shower · Bidet · Toilet · Shampoo · Hair dryer

Bathroom 3

Soap · Towels provided · Toilet · Shower only · Shampoo

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Kitchenette
Balcony
Separate dining area
Outdoor play area
Garden
Dining area

About this property

Ideal for your family holidays, or romantic breaks In relaxing peace and quiet.

This is a detached villa built on a private plot of a rural village. lt overlooks the village and surrounding scenery. It is surrounded by gardens , a pool and a large BBQ annex with eating and relaxing area.
The property has parking space for 3 cars and is within 10 minutes drive of access to all the motorways of Portugal.
There are 3 towns within
30 minutes drive with all amenities.
There is a large Roman villa within 30 minutes of the property well worth the visit.
There is ample outside space and furniture to relax and enjoy the tranquility without interruption.
There is also a games room with a pool table for billiards and pool.

Property manager

CHRISTOPHER ARNEY

Languages

English, French, Portuguese, Spanish

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Pool
Kitchen
Washer
Free WiFi
Air conditioning
Outdoor space

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 25
Check out before 10:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
UNDER 13 ALLOWED FREE DONT ADD TO BOOKING.
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

No pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Check-out instructions

The host requires you to complete the following before checking out:
Lock the doors
Failure to complete these may result in a negative review from the host.

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Long-term renters welcome
This property uses eco-friendly cleaning products
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit and a deadlock
Property Registration Number 1212/AL

We should mention

This property does not have any lifts

About the area

Penela

Located in Penela, this holiday home is in a rural area and near theme parks. Penela Castle and Church of San Miguel are local landmarks, and some of the area's attractions include Biological Park of Serra da Lousa and Portugal dos Pequenitos. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
Map
Penela

What's nearby

  • Church of San Miguel - 6 min drive - 4.4 km
  • Penela Castle - 6 min drive - 4.4 km
  • Biological Park of Serra da Lousa - 10 min drive - 8.1 km
  • Portugal dos Pequenitos - 22 min drive - 26.7 km
  • Coimbra University - 22 min drive - 29.3 km

Getting around

  • Coimbra Station - 27 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪O Pastor - ‬6 min drive
  • ‪ViRiDi - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪Restaurante Dom Sesnando - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪Xisto º Restaurante Louçainha - ‬11 min drive
  • ‪Restaurante Varandas do Castelo - ‬8 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Does Ideal for your family holidays, or romantic breaks In relaxing peace and quiet. have a pool?

Yes, this property has an outdoor pool. Pool types include heated pools.

Is Ideal for your family holidays, or romantic breaks In relaxing peace and quiet. pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Ideal for your family holidays, or romantic breaks In relaxing peace and quiet. ?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Ideal for your family holidays, or romantic breaks In relaxing peace and quiet. ?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Ideal for your family holidays, or romantic breaks In relaxing peace and quiet. located?

Located in a rural location, this family-friendly holiday home is within 6 mi (10 km) of Penela Castle, Biological Park of Serra da Lousa, and Church of San Miguel. Senhora da Piedade River Beach and Conímbriga Monographic Museum are also within 12 miles (20 km).

Reviews

9.6

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 25 out of 32 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 6 out of 32 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 32 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 32 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 32 reviews

9.2/10

Cleanliness

9.6/10

Check-in

9.0/10

Communication

9.2/10

Location

9.6/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Sharon Q.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Relaxing Family Holiday

We’ve just returned from a lovely relaxing family holiday at Casa dos Sonhos. Chris and Anabela are fantastic host, always available, if needed, and happy to provided helpful hints and tips for getting the most out of your stay. A very well equipped villa in easy reach of the coast, Porto and Lisbon.
Stayed 14 nights in Aug 2019
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Damian B.

Beautiful Villa

This was the perfect getaway for a rural peaceful holiday. The villa had everything you need and the barbecue is great for relaxing evenings in. The pool is fantastic as well as the games room for evening entertainment. We had a really relaxing time and would recommend this holiday if you wish to escape from the chaos of every day life!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2016

10/10 Excellent

Wim V.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Peaceful retreat near the Serra de Lousã

We enjoyed our stay in this well equipped house located in the small village of Tola. All destinies (errands, touristic attractions of the region) are easy to reach. We also enjoyed the outdoor cooking facilities! The hills of the Serra de Lousã hide little gems, especially the stone built houses in the Aldeias do Xisto. There are also pleasant walks nearby. Friendly communications with Chris, the friendly owner.
Stayed 14 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Anabela L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Paradise on earth

We had fabulous days in this property with a lovely weather So many places to explore. Aveiro and Porto so close. The house was very good with all the comfort you may need. Clean and cozy. Because the temperatures were so good we used the pool in complete privacy with a well equiped BBQ and summer kitchen outside. Even the sun beds were so comfortable !!!!! Thank you Chris for your kind welcome.
Stayed 7 nights in Nov 2022
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Claudio F.

Relaxing holiday in quiet surroundings with entertainment for young and old alike

We had a family of eight staying at Casa dos Sonhos this summer for a week, ranging from grandparents to a five year old and a two and a half year old toddler. We were hoping to find a property that could cater for such a diverse range of ages and we were pleasantly surprised that Casa dos Sonhos ticked all the boxes. Both young and old fully enjoyed the gardens, swimming pool, games room, and barbecue area. The inside of the property was immaculately clean and modern, and had more than enough space for us all. It was great to be able to go out to the beach or exploring during the day (on the occasions when we managed to drag ourselves away from the property) knowing what a wonderful place we were coming back to in the evening, and no day would be complete without the mandatory swim in the pool (duly enforced by the children, even if we had just come from the beach), even if the sun had already gone down. We loved that we could enjoy some peace and quiet away from it all, whilst still having so much entertainment at hand, and the games room was another firm favourite. Thank you very much Chris and Ana for allowing us the opportunity to stay at your lovely property, and I am sure we will be looking to come back again in the future.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2017

6/10 Okay

Rosemary O.

Liked: Location, listing accuracy

Great location, peaceful and quiet

We really enjoyed the location. The views were great. Plenty of room to move around in. There was no one to let us in. We climbed the fence and found the key box. Communication with Chris was difficult as they were on vacation and their return delayed. A few days later he did visit us to discuss the pool being so cold we could not use it. It never got warm enough to be enjoyed. A pity as it was a nice pool. We enjoyed the games room. We did have a problem with the toilets backing up and being unusable. Chris called a plumber. On Friday plumber said the septic needed emptied. (We had cleared the backup) it was to be done Monday. Did not see anyone Monday. So we left a day early on Tuesday.
Stayed 18 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Christine B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fantastic Family Holiday

We have just enjoyed two fantastic weeks in this beautiful villa which more than lived up to our expectations. Casa dos Sonhos is spacious, clean and very well-equipped which certainly took away the headache of searching for basics when we arrived. We like to cook and made full use of the lovely barbecue house which overlooks the pool - beautiful in the evenings. Chris takes a great pride in his garden and each corner is quite individual with an abundance of fruit trees, seating and shady areas. Chris was an excellent host and by following his suggestions, we got the most out of local facilities. The children loved visiting the BBQ chicken man on Sundays in Espinhal and this proved a very popular meal! All the local people were really helpful and friendly despite our limited knowledge of the language. There is loads to see in this part of Portugal and we enjoyed trips to Alveiro, Tomar and the beaches an hour away. Worth visiting Porto - such a beautiful city although you need nerves of steel to drive into the centre! Thank you to Chris and Ana for making our holiday such a pleasure- we really enjoyed meeting you. The children also loved their lesson in using the pool robot! We certainly hope to return in the near future.
Stayed 14 nights in Aug 2019

10/10 Excellent

Charles M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Outstanding - stayed for eight days

We spent two weeks at Casa do Sonhos in October 2019 - two “70 something” couples from Canada experience in Portugal for the first time. Chris welcomed us warmly and was available on WhatsApp throughout our 8-day to look after any problems, of which there were very few. During our stay, we took advantage of the location to visit Coimbra, Pombal, Fatima, Tomar and Porto (which was easily reachable from Pombal by train). The local villages of Penela (nice castle ruins), Miranda do Corvo and Lousa contain excellent facilities such as restaurants and supermarkets. We mainly self catered using Chris’s excellent indoor and outdoor kitchens but also made good use of the restaurants he recommended. Without hesitation, we can say that we thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Casa do Sonhos. The house is well-equipped with all modern conveniences and the outside kitchen (where we spent many hours in spite of the cooler autumn temperatures) was a delight. Sun was in great supply during our stay and we were even able to use the heated pool! A car is essential to your enjoyment of this area and we were glad that we rented a smaller model because of the many narrow roads in the country. In this case, bigger is not necessarily better. We would unconditionally recommend Casa do Sonhos for young and old alike, families and groups, and anyone looking to explore Coimbra and it’s environs. When booking, don’t make the mistake of staying for too short a period because once you get there you won’t want to leave. A big thank you to Chris and Anabela for sharing your lovely home with us.........Charles, Margaret, Bruce, and Eilleen.
Stayed 8 nights in Oct 2019

8/10 Good

Vincent P.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Voyage en famille

Séjour agréable, joli jardin, calme et reposant. Bien équipé.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fantastisch huis

Fijne plek en huis heeft veel te bieden, zowel binnen als buiten. Mooie slaapkamers, grote keuken en overal heerlijke zitjes zowel binnen als buiten. Prive zwembad is fantastisch. Tv instructie kan wat duidelijker. Verder echt ideaal vakantiehuis.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Christophe F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, location

bien

bien
Stayed 10 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Pandora M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Peaceful retreat

Spacious, comfortable, well-equipped villa in a very peaceful location
Stayed 33 nights in May 2023

8/10 Good

Klaus-Dieter L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, location, listing accuracy

Erholung pur

Wir waren 8 Tage im "Haus der Träume". Wir haben und sehr gut erholt. Nach kurzer anfänglicher Eingewöhnung haben wir die außergewöhnliche Ruhe vor Ort genossen. Der Pool ist angenehm groß. Er war zu unserer Zeit auch beheizt, sodass wir jederzeit schwimmen konnten. Leider war das Wetter nicht besonders gut, sodass wir den Außenbereich nicht voll nutzen konnten. Hier hat sich der Wintergarten als vorteilhaft erwiesen. Das Haus ist sehr geräumig und sehr gut ausgestattet. Die Einrichtung und die Ausstattung hat eine sehr gute Qualität. Die Lage ist sehr ruhig, das Anwesen hat eine schöne Aussicht auf Tal und gegenüberliegende Berge. Der Eigentümer war sehr nett und jederzeit erreichbar, obwohl er nicht in der Umgebung wohnt. Wir waren tatsächlich vollkommen alleine, von einheimischen Nachbarn war fast nichts zu sehen oder zu hören. In den umliegenden Dörfern kann man sehr gut und günstig in einheimischem "Ambiente" portugiesisch essen gehen. Tourismus ist nicht angesagt, was uns natürlich sehr gut gefallen hat. Insgesamt ein sehr schöner erholsamer Zwischenstopp zum Auftanken für weitere Aktivitäten. Wir buchen gerne wieder, wenn wir mal wieder in die Ecke kommen sollten. Petra und Klaus
Stayed 7 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Anabela L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Home from home and then some !

Fantastic family holyday. Everything we wished for! Enjoyed and will be remembered by all of us. Definitly a place to return to. Amazingly clean and cared for with complete privacy . A fabulous BBQ with a complete equiped kitchen facing the pool. Welcoming gardens around and a fountain with fishes, great for children. Very, very comfortable beds with fantastic bedding. We felt we were in a five star place. Although we were in the end of October the swimming pool was enjoyed by all of us! Thank you Chris, we will book for next year.
Stayed 7 nights in Oct 2022

10/10 Excellent

Joke L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

A beautiful villa for a great relaxed holiday

We spent 14 days in this beautiful villa. Especially the garden with the great (heated) pool and lots of outside furniture and of course the magnificent BBQ' s ( Yes there were two) in the big outside kitchen, made our stay very enjoyable. The location is perfect. When you are in the house or in the garden, you are totally private. You can reach Lissabon and Porto both within a two hour drive. The house itself is fully equipped, especially the kitchen. I could not think of anything that might be missing. The owners are very friendly and very helpful. In case you have any question or issue. For us it was a long drive to get there (2200 km), but it was worth every minute and every kilometer. We had a fantastic holiday and came back as new, revived people. We would love to come back in the future, if possible.
Stayed 14 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Carla T.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect spot for a laid back vacation

We are back for the second year in a row and we stayed longer this time around, that should tell you everything you want to know. We couldn't wait to get back after our time last year. The house is comfortable, spacious and has just about everything you would think of for a lovely vacation. As a city-dweller (and a noisy city at that), I had to check I had gone deaf from time to time by snapping my fingers. That's how quiet the location is. We just made most of the pool, and the board games and snooker but there is lots to do and see around if you want to check out the sights and the rich Portuguese food scene in nearby towns. All I can say is we cannot wait to be back again!
Stayed 12 nights in Aug 2022

8/10 Good

René W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, listing accuracy

Very good accomodation

The accomodation is really fine. A lot of comfort, good beds, airconditioning, a very clean swimming pool, a pool area with enough sun and shadow places, a friendly owner (Chris) which communicated well on the procedures of arrival and departure. However there is one minor remark that is important to future tenants: Tue-Fri 7PM-10PM the neighbours are quite noisy with pneumatic sanders. We decided to go out for dinner to restaurants on these days. Restaurants are cheap and abundent in this region, but it is something to consider before renting. But as said earlier: the house and swimming pool are really great. We had a very good time here.
Stayed 17 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Carla T.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

A little corner of paradise

The house is very well located in a quiet little town with quick access to areas for all interests, from sports to history and culture, river beaches and the beautiful and lively Coimbra, as well as close enough to schedule day visits to both Porto and Lisbon. If you're like us though, you will probably never get out of the pool and the lovely garden. Okay, maybe just long enough to enjoy a game of pool in the game room or a BBQ. Chris was very available and went (literally) out of his way to fix a small issue at the beginning of our stay, making sure it was solved quickly. We enjoyed our time at Casa dos Sonhos and we'll most likely drop by again to see more of the area... if we manage to get out of the pool, that is.
Stayed 11 nights in Aug 2021

10/10 Excellent

MARIA FERNANDA L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, location, listing accuracy

Justo lo que buscábamos. Una zona tranquila y el alojamiento perfecto.

Muy contentos de la estancia. Llegamos y nos encontramos muy cómodos desde el primer momento. Los propietarios siempre muy pendientes de que todo fuera bien y muy amables. La zona es perfecta para desconectar. Nos gustaría volver.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2021

10/10 Excellent

Dave S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great place to discover Portugal

Lovely villa that more than matched its home away description. Chris and Ana are delightful people who simply couldnt do enough for us but they were never intrusive. Penela offers a real Portugese experience in our view so much more interesting than the Algarve with Chris always ready to give us hints and nudges about whete to go, what to see and where to eat so that we got the best out of our 2 weeks here. Splendid.
Stayed 14 nights in Jul 2019

10/10 Excellent

James R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Casa dos Sonhos

We spent six very relaxing days here this June. The Casa was very comfortable and the best equipped villa we've ever stayed in. There was a substantial welcome pack of food and drinks and the coffee pod machine was an unexpected bonus. The pool and garden area was great and had plenty places to relax and eat al fresco. Finally, the owner, Chris, was a very generous and supportive host who went out of his way to make our holiday enjoyable. Thank you
Stayed 6 nights in Jun 2019

10/10 Excellent

Mary-Line F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Un excellent séjour

Nous avons passé deux semaines agréables dans cette maison située dans un tout petit village très tranquille. La villa est parfaitement équipée et la cuisine extérieure permet de vivre dehors toute la journée. La climatisation est installée dans chacune des chambres ce qui a vraiment été un plus. La piscine et ses matelas pneumatiques ont largement été appréciés lorsque le soleil était présent. Les soirées sont fraîches mais la piscine chauffée et éclairée est un réel plaisir pour ceux qui aiment se baigner de nuit. La villa étant située à 1h30 de Porto, 2h de Lisbonne, 30 min de Coimbra et 1h de l'océan, cela nous a permis de passer un excellent séjour. Chris est un très bon hôte. Très prévenant, disponible en cas de besoin et vraiment gentil.
Stayed 14 nights in Jul 2019

10/10 Excellent

martin t.

Great attention to detail and great property

We were overwhelmed by the greeting we received from Chris when we arrived (a little later than we had told him we would), and by his hospitality, thorough guided tour of both the villa and its grounds and facilities, and the nearest village and largish supermarket. Thanks Chris for all of that. The villa was spacious, clean and comfortable with great views from the poolside and thoughtfully placed quality seating in all parts of the grounds. We are likely to return to this villa, something we have never done before. There is always something new and exciting to explore but on this occasion we may swap that for the secure knowledge of what we can expect at Chris's villa.
Stayed 14 nights in Sep 2018

10/10 Excellent

Rebecca J.

Relaxing and so peaceful, just what was needed!

I was holidaying with my husband and 3 kids (18,17 and 10) and wanted some chilled out family time, which is exactly what we got. When we arrived Chris was waiting to greet us with a chilled beer and had arranged a welcome pack to see us through our first evening which meant we could relax immediately. The pool and outside area are great and I spent many a happy hour here reading a book whilst my youngest played in the pool. We played family games of pool in the games room of an evening and even a game of poker (coached by the 18 year old!!). We didn’t venture to far as we were perfectly happy at the villa, but we did explore the hills around us and the views were breathtaking. The villa was very comfortable, spotlessly clean and had everything we needed for a relaxing week in the sun.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2018

10/10 Excellent

Alison H.

Great Villa - very relaxing with great outside space

The villa was very comfortable and the outside space was excellent, great for relaxing and eating al fresco day and night. On our arrival the area was experiencing exceptional heat and Chris and Anabela did all they could to make the villa more comfortable. The pool table was an added bonus and thoroughly enjoyed by all of us. We left Casa dos Sonhos completely relaxed - just what we needed. Many thanks Alison, Steve and family
Stayed 10 nights in Aug 2018

About the host

Hosted by CHRISTOPHER ARNEY

Host profile image
I am from Southampton England.
I play golf and go on trips around Portugal and Spain.
We enjoy renting our villa and meeting different families.
It gives us a lot of satisfaction to see others enjoy their stay here and to welcome them back each year.
We do everything we can to ensure you holiday is a happy one.
Read the reviews and share the comments
our guests have left us to give you a taste of things to enjoy whilst
you are here.

Why they chose this property

I bought this villa in 2003 and not regretted a day.
The peacefulness is amazing and the people of the village are very kind and polite .
I liked the fact that it's position allowed me to be on the road to anywhere in Europe within 15 minutes.
Of course the weather
is a good reason to be here also.

What makes this property unique

Tranquility yet complete access to the motorways of Portugal.

Languages:

English, French, Spanish, Portuguese
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