“Thank you for sharing your second home (it definitely felt like more than just a house) with us - it was a privilege to be there. We all commented that we used to think how silly it was that people would go back to the same place every year, but now we understand.”
L. Moore, Germany, Jan 2010
“We booked this farmhouse for a week stay with our two children (2 and 6). It was fantastic and we will be back, so much so if we had the money we would buy it off them and never leave (if they would ever sell it!). Very handy for the airport but off a side road which is easily accessible but gives the feeling of seclusion, and a very short drive from supermarkets, shops and lots of fantastic beaches with a lovely breeze to cool you down in the July heat. Swimming pool great, football nets and swings - they even had a baby stork walking about the gardens, tadpoles and geekos. Friendly family, my son enjoyed having someone to play with and the facilities were excellent. If you like relaxation, reading, sunbathing and fab beaches, old towns, and a friendly welcome I would thoroughly recommend, lots to do!”
Daly Family, Belfast, Northern Ireland, July 2011
“We spent a fantastic two and half weeks in Stork House. Everything we needed was provided. The location is very handy for shopping e.g Olhao market, local restaurants or day trips. It is a beautiful, quiet place to relax with good walks close to the property where you can see lovely flowers and birds. It is an ideal base for amateur or serious birdwatchers alike. The kids loved their holiday and made good use of the pool. They enjoyed collecting shells at a local beach. We would recommend for a great holiday.”
Anthony, St Albans, UK, May 2011
“Das Appartment ist liebevoll und ausführlich eingerichtet. Martin, der Vermieter steht für Fragen zur Verfügung und hat für uns auch einen gemeinsamen- wirklich großartigen- Kanuausflug zu den vorgelagerten Inseln organisiert. Wir werden immer wieder gern seine Gäste sein.”
Frau Siemieniec, Germany, Jun 2011
“This rental house was a great find, and the facilities were first rate. We stayed for a week so got to know the place quite well. The cottage we stayed in, (Hoopoe House) was nice and roomy, well ordered and charming. The roof terrace was a great place to relax in the sun and watch the world go by. The view over the nature reserve is lovely and al-fresco brakfasts were taken here every morning. Martin was a great host, and nothing was too much trouble. He even went to the effort of introducing us to our neighbours when he found out that we had similar interests.
One of the major reasons for booking Casa Flor de Sal was the location on the edge of the Rio Formosa Natural Reserve. It proved to be a real boon for wildlife and was an ideal location to see a lot of the local flora and fauna. It feels very quiet and secluded, with no noise or disturbances after dark. Yet it is just a five minute drive from the town of Olhao.”
Abraham, Inverness, Scotland, Apr 2011
“Wir waren eine Woche vom 25. März im Stork Haus und wollten garnicht mehr weg! Das Haus ist sehr liebevoll eingerichtet und bestens ausgestattet (Heizung/Klima, Geschirrspüler, Terrasse mit Esstisch & Grill, Dachterasse mit Liegen und kl. Tisch, großes Bad, sehr bequemes Bett, Bücher, TV, Radio, PC mit Internetzugang ...). Alles super sauber und bestens betreut von den super netten und unaufdringlichen Besitzern, die gerne mit Empfehlungen zu Aktivitäten, Restaurants etc. zu Seite stehen.
Lage ist gleich am Naturschutzgebiet mit Wander- und Radweg und nah zu Städten mit Häfen/Promenaden, Fluß und Cafes, Stränden, Supermärkten mit langen Öffnungszeiten sowie Orten im Inland für Wanderungen (Wanderführer gibt's im Stork Haus!). All dies angenehm untouristisch, im Vergleich zu den Städten der Westalgarve.
Wir haben das Casa Flor de Sal bereits unseren Freunden empfohlen und kommen bei nächster Gelegenheit gerne wieder.”
Andy + Eva, Stuttgart, Germany, Mar 2011
“We have just returned from a week's stay in Flamingo House at Casa Flor de Sal having enjoyed a lovely peaceful time in top class accommodation. This cottage has been refurbished over the winter and was fantastic. Absolutely spotless with a large, comfortable double bedroom (with air con), a gorgeous bathroom with a huge walk in shower, ample living room and kitchen areas with all the facilities and equipment you could require. We had more than enough crockery and cutlery plus all the cooking utensils we needed but best was a super BBQ and patio area where we ate all our meals in the lovely Portuguese sunshine. The roof terrace is a wonderful place to relax and enjoy the weather or stare at the stars in the clear night sky. If required the cottage has been thoughtfully supplied with a computer, satellite TV, DVD player and various table games and there is a small petanque piste at the bottom of the property and a small swimming pool. Martin and Alexandra are helpful but unobtrusive hosts, available for suggestions or advice if required. We enjoyed visiting the markets in Olhao (don't miss the outside market on a Saturday too), the walled town of Old Faro, Tavira and the Cork Route at Sao Bras de Alportel. We also had two really good and very reasonably priced meals at O Bote restaurant in Olhao. All in all we had a fabulous time in some of the best self catering accommodation we have ever stayed in. We can thoroughly recommend Casa Flor de Sal.”
Zen and Philippa, UK, Sep 2010
“We stayed in Hoopoe House at the end of May 2011 and could not recommend it highly enough. We were looking for a holiday that would keep our 18 month old daughter entertained but safe, allow us a little space to relax on an evening, and if possible we wanted something with character in a location away from the busy package holiday market - and this was everything we wanted. Martin was a perfect host and made sure we were well looked after. The house is beautiful and located off a quiet road just a stones throw away from the lagoons of the Ria Formosa and beyond that the amazing sandbank beaches. We hired a car so access to all the attractions on the algarve was very easy but you could cycle to and from nearby Olhao if you fancy. I was really impressed by the algarve, it had much more to offer than we realised, and staying at Hoopoe house was an absolute pleasure. If you like peace and quiet, wildlife, and fantastic views I can only recommend a visit!”
Sara, Belfast, Ireland, May 2011
“Sehr schönes Haus und moderne, funktionelle Einrichtung. Vor allem hat uns die persönliche, sehr nette Betreuung vor Ort durch den Besitzer, der auf dem Gelände wohnt, gefallen. Der Vermieter ist aufrichtig daran interessiert seinen Gästen einen angenehmen Aufenthalt zu bieten.. Das Storchennest in direkter Nachbarschaft hat uns gut gefallen. Haben uns gut erholt, kommen wieder!”
Herr Voss, Germany, Mar 2011
“We wanted a quiet week not to far from anything and we got this little haven.
We had a very nice week flamingo cottage facilities where fabulous and more than enough of everything i.e bbq sun beds sun terrace to sit on the owner was on hand if you need any advice as to the area.We hired a car which is a must but you are in a good place to visit beach or town for shopping not to far to drive to spain. The shopping centre only 15 mins away for food take aways too. Everything is spotless and would be lovely for children plenty to do football swing, pool plenty of room to play and a locked gate to keep them safe.
Thank you again for a lovely week hope to book again. Next year.”
Paul Moe, UK, Oct 2010
“We stayed in Stork House in July. Lovely cottage, decorated tastefully with great kitchen, beautiful bathroom, tv, computer, lots of English books. Outside a nice Weber bbq. And a great roof-terrace with lovely views. As the weather was very hot, the aircon was very welcome. Pool is small but good enough. Our 7 year old son really enjoyed swimming in it, and running around vineyard. We can absolutely recommend this cottage!”
Scott, UK, Jul 2010
“Das Haus war eine traumhafte Idylle abseits des Touristenrummels.”
Herr Wieland, Germany, Nov 2010
"For anyone who enjoys peace, tranquility and being surrounded by nature then this place is perfect. We had a brief stay in Stork house and thoroughly enjoyed it. The apartment was spotless and had everything you could possible want. Martin was an extremely knowledgeable, helpful host and made our stay very comfortable indeed. As keen bird watchers the accommodation was very close to many good bird watching sites and the pair of nesting White Storks were a delight to watch from the rooftop terrace. A nearby cafe/grill served good wholesome food especially the freshly caught fish. If you want to explore the surrounding area or further afield then a car is a must as the property is in a very rural situation but, for us, this was part of its charm."
K. Langbridge, UK, Feb 2011
"We found Hoopoe House through a websearch and can't believe our luck! The site doesn't do it justice. We had a wonderful holiday at this beautiful, peaceful location. We had everything we needed. Martin and Alexandra are so welcoming and helpful. Nothing is too much trouble. We count them as friends. The property is well located to explore the region. In the end we spent a lot of time relaxing and we will just have to go back to finish off the itinery! it's hard to drag yourself away from a rooftop terrace in the sun with a beautiful view. There are great beaches, restaurants, boat trips, towns/villages to visit.......Olhao isn't to far away to enjoy a coffee or ice cream whilst watching the world go by. It has a fantastic fish market for the BBQ. Tavira isn't too far the other way. The birdwatching is fantastic. Whether it's out of the back garden through a field to the Ria Formosa lagoons or trips in the locality, there is so much to see. I'm sure Martin would put you in touch with me for further details. We took two guided trips which were really worth it. Birders won't be disappointed here! if you have a bike or you walk/run then the cycle path along the lagoons is perfect. The spring flowers and wildlife make it even better. The kids loved the place and keep asking to go back. It's that simple. Enjoy!"
A. Townsend, UK, Mar 2010
I will recommed this lovely athentic Algave getaway to everybody! Martin and family takes care of you in every possible way. From the beginning to the end. The lovely decorated house has everything you'll need. We brought our two girls age 9 and 12 and the property had room for them to play and swim. The guesthouse is almost new and we like the feel of this being a second home. The bathroom is nicer than what we have seen at 4 star hotels and everything is clean and neet. Olhao is a 10 min drive and is a quite little town. You'll find restaurants, a fantastic market but no turist shops - and hardly no turists. Certainly not like many of the other cities along the Algarve coast. The place is very quite - no trafic or industy - and it's clear that this place is being renovated with the heart.
Enjoy the sunsets from the roof terrace with a fantastic view to the Ria Formosa area with the sea in background. We enjoyed one week here and we certainly be back soon :-)
Jacob E., Denmark, Dec. 2011
“Wir hatten einen tollen Urlaub bei Martin und seiner Familie. Das Anwesen ist sehr schön und idyllisch. Die Häuser sind mit sehr viel Liebe restauriert und eingerichtet worden. Die Austattung ist hochwertig, umfangreich und alles ist sehr sauber. Wir werden sicher mal wieder kommen und hoffen dann nur auf etwas besseres Wetter. Vielen Dank.”
Tina & Sebastian, Munich, Germany, Apr. 2011
“We stayed at the Hoopoe house for 2 weeks in July 2009 and enjoyed every minute. We are a family with 2 children aged 8 and 13, and the house was perfect for us, especially we loved the roof balcony giving a fantastic view over the Ria Formosa.
If you are looking for an un-spoilt and non-touristic place to spend your holiday, then Casa de Flor is absolutely right for you. However we recommend that you rent a car, otherwise transportation will be too difficult.
The weather is always perfect and sunny, and there lots to see along the coast. If you are looking for a great beach, you should go to Olhao, and take the ferries to one of the small islands just off the coast. You should also take advantage of Seville, Spain being within a 2 hours drive.
We highly recommend the Hoopoe house to family and friends”
Lyngby, Denmark, Dec. 2009
“I simply cannot praise the owners and the property enough. We found the house by surfing the internet and it appeared to be exactly what we were looking for. On arrival we realised that what we had read and seen on the photographs did not do the property justice. You cannot get a feeling for the beauty and peacefulness without actually being there. The owners live in half of the house, whilst the other half is the rental. They are extremely friendly and helpful, but at the same time it really does feel like you have the place to yourself. The garden is lovely and you can sit on the upstairs terrace and take in the beautiful views over the Ria. We like to visit unspoilt/non- touristy places but we do have an 8 year old daughter who wants more than the peace and tranquility that is offered in the immediate vicinity of the house. She is a fairly well-travelled 8 year old and this holiday rated as one of her best. There is swimming in the lagoons just a short walk away, fantastic beaches within 10 minutes drive and the lovely towns of Olhau (where you can take cheap boat trips to the sandy islands) and Tavira are only 15-20 minutes away. The more typically touristy areas west of Faro are easily reached - we went to Zoomarine in Albufeira and it took about 40 minutes. You can be up in the hills around Monchique in an hour and there are lots of lovely villages to explore just inland from the house. We also drove to the beautiful city of Seville which is only 2 hours away. The highlight though was swmming under the waterfall at the Devil's Pond (Pego do Inferno) near Tavira - absolutely stunning. This is a fantastic place to stay if you don't want to go very far and just laze around the property, have a swim, visit the beaches, walk or cycle around the lagoons, see the water fowl etc. But there's plenty more as well if you want to get out and about. You do need a car to get around but the property is very well situated near the main road that runs along the coast. However, when you are at the house you wouldn't know you were anywhere near a main road. The best of both worlds! This is without doubt one of the best properties we have stayed in. Perfectly clean, well-maintained and great customer service both prior to and during our holiday. Would I recommend it to a friend? I already have, many times!”
Darvon, Preston, England, May 2009
“My wife and I really enjoyed our stay at Stork House in May 2011. Martin was a very helpful and informative host. The facilities in the house were excellent. The bathroom was very large and well-designed with a mechanized skylight for ventilation. The kitchen was very well equipped and modern. There was a outdoor patio just outside the kitchen with an outdoor sink and a Weber BBQ which we used frequently. There was a second outdoor sunning patio above the kitchen. Overall a very spacious, comfortable and well thought out accommodation. The property was very well maintained and clean. The location was very quiet but convenient for day trips to Sagres or other towns on the Algarve coast. I would certainly recommend this property to a friend or relative and would not hesitate staying here again.”
A&S, Ontario, Canada, May 2011
“From first setting foot across the threshold we were greeted by impecable cleanliness. All fixtures and fittings were of top quality with no apparent skimping on value. The available space was more than adequate, and the surrounding grounds helped give us a most comfortable 2 week break from the hussle and bussle of our normal every day back in the UK. It was really nice to be left to our own devices and have all our needs attended to without any fuss. The overall ambiance felt safe, and put us really at ease. If you want a safe, self catering venue in quality accomodations with top class facilities, you will not get better value than this.”
Bob, Dorset, UK, Oct 2010
