Victor and Maria Penela have built this place up over 30 years, and it had everything we could possibly want. We knew the swimming pooling looked good, but the little chill-out hut with water-cooler was icing on the cake. We were grandparents, two sets of children and three grandchildren.
Victor and Maria could not have been more accommodating, from letting us arrive early and providing a slap-up lunch to get us started, to letting the grandchildren feed the chickens and hold the baby rabbits (!) and being very relaxed about when we left on the final day. The rooms were all spacious and clean and well fitted out; there were piles of glasses, plates, etc., and basically two kitchens. And we hadn't realised there was a large trampoline and petanque court. Something for everybody, and totally safe and enclosed.
The area too is full of interest, from the charming hill of old Ourem with its castle, to the magnificent Convento do Christo at Tomar, and the monastery of Batalha not far away, plus the popular but relaxed river beach at Agroal. So much better than being stuck at the seaside in high season. And by our second week we had respectable local restaurants to ourselves.
I'd say it was our best family holiday ever. Obrigado, Victor and Maria!