Villa Ana Margarida

We rented all 12 Villas for a week for a wedding party. Everyone had a brilliant time. They worked brilliantly for our gang and were the hub of the week’s activities. It was great having the place to ourselves and we actually did a catered bbq there for all the wedding guests. It went down a bomb, actually almost felt like a wedding :) They are certainly very unique, they are spectacular. The surfing went well, we just did it for 2 days and everyone had a lot of fun. I didn't go but people who did loved it. They were very happy with the instructor too. Town was great as well and it was brilliant that you could walk in to the cafes, restaurants, shops etc. It just made for a really easy week where we didn't need to be in the car all the time. Thanks again for all your help. I'm so glad we stayed there and there's already talk of a reunion and renting out the whole place again but I can't see that for another few years :( In the meantime though if I know of anyone going there I'll defo put them into contact with you

Thanks surf holidays for a fab holiday. We’re brown & relaxed (& feeling the cold now back home). The town is great, love that it’s not commercial, Renata is soo kind, Toby & the instructors took such care of us, (especially Brian who is diabetic). The 3 boys now consider themselves expert(!) surfers, especially Brian, the 9 year old!! I’m afraid that I should stick to the body boarding at my age, but really enjoyed being in the water every day. It was great staying in the Vila Gale hotel for the few nights first as we got a handle on the town from day 1. Great views, pool & food. The Villas are great for the kids, they loved all the birds & the quirky little houses & the pool – all afternoon. Had some lovely neighbours too. We all loved the facilities at Foz, the boys had lunch while I surfed – which worked out well. Why can’t we have facilities like that in Ireland? If we had a car we would have explored the other beaches around. We got the regular bus to Lisbon one day – very doable and cheap (€17 each way for the 4 of us). Didn’t get to Sintra but we have to leave something for next time! We ate in town a few nights & had bbq at home too. Food is so much cheaper than here, both out & in supermarket. Did lots of shopping in surf shops – the boys are all Billabonged out!! Thanks again for the recommendations – will probably be in touch about surfing in Ireland next year. Eimear and family, Ireland

We had a great holiday thanks. We really liked the Ana Margarida Villas, we were at the very top where there’s only 2 villas with a barbeque, hammocks and a sun area overlooking the beach where you could watch the late evening surfers (with the ducks and peacocks). We went to Foz do Lizandro for the surf lessons, nice beach. We also went to Riberia D’Ilhas which was pretty cool. Regarding restaurants, as per the Welcome Pack, Tik Taks and Tik Tapas are definitely the best places to eat. Good backup restaurant was Pedra Dura, lovely pizzas. We used our barbeque a fair bit as the meat from the supermarket was really good, they’d make up skewers and burgers for you. For beers etc. Pedro Pescadores was a great spot, good atmosphere and cheap beer/cocktails, no idea what time they close at as we’d fall out of the place early enough There’s another couple of small laid back bars around the square that we went too which were nice. I’ve already recommended Ericeira and www.surfholidays.com to friends as we’d defintely go back.

Well it was an excellent holiday, Ericeria is a very charming place, so clean and laid back, with excellent facilities and everything really that you could want for a family holiday.   We loved wandering around the town in the evening along with all the locals, eating, wandering again, having a coffee, more wandering and then maybe an ice cream or a glass of wine before the final wander of the day.   There was a lot of surfing and posing at surfing done by my three, allowing me all the time in the world to chill and read and watch the passing parade of surf dudes on Foz de Lizandro beach, so you could say there was something on the trip for everyone.  We explored most of the beaches in the area, one nicer than the other, but the favourite was Foz de Lizandro because of the size of the beach, the surf breaking onto sand rather than reefs and the excellent facilities for food, showers, parking, we could really learn a thing or two from the locals there on providing facilities for access to beaches and then maintaining them, and I have to say the family orientated atmosphere everywhere made it very relaxing, we never felt we needed to watch our gear or be on high alert.   We went to Mafra to see the Palace ( there was some protesting, but I felt we had to be a bit cultural, and the library did impress, even if the actual Palace is very gothic and gloomy), we also went to Sintra which was a huge hit and climbed up to the Moorish Castle and sat in the square watching the traffic chaos....I’m surprised they haven’t pedestrianised Sintra entirely and put a park and ride in place for visitors.  The Anna Margarida Villas were the most unique place we have ever stayed, we were always finding something new in the design to admire, it felt a bit like a cross between Gaudi’s Barcelona and Alice in Wonderland, and we weren’t surprised to find people taking pictures of it from outside or stopping to have a look over the wall.   There is a lovely vibe there, and the location is perfect, we had a spectacular view of the sea, the sunsets were simply magical, and having a pool five feet from the door made it very easy to get up in the mornings.   My daughter Katherine adored the peacocks and had them visiting twice a day for crumbs, so much so that some mornings they would be standing outside the door waiting for her, or calling her from the roof.........peacocks are not subtle when it comes to calling, but she was delighted.  We had excellent food everywhere, we went to Tik Tak twice and the Tapas restaurant but our favourites were the little pizza Italian place in the main square near the taxi rank called Boccalino and the Pedro Duro restaurant at the far end of the street after the Tourist office.    Eating out was less than half the price of home, and the food was always outstanding, we wept over coffee’s for 70 cents to 1 Euro almost everywhere, on one occasion in the main square we paid €7.15 for an espresso, a latte, a pot of tea, a Cokes and three buns........ Needless to say we would highly recommend Ericeria for a perfect family holiday even if you just want to do beach and pool, and even better still if you want to surf or learn to surf from scratch.  It would be hard to beat. Mary and family, Ireland

Anna Margarida Villas are amazing. Really loved the place , it will be hard to match.My older lad loved the surfing, I would have preferred a gentler introduction  - but I will try again !! The whole area is very scenic and beaches amazing. Overall give the place top marks  - and we will defo go again. Regards, Barbara and family, Ireland

We had a fantastic surf holiday again.  This time we spent a week in the Ecolodges and a week in the Anna Margarida Villas, The surfing was great and the teachers fantastic for the kids.  Unfortunately Alex hurt her ear whilst diving in the sea so only got to do 5 lessons but Tomas did 10 days and loved it.  The coaches are very good.  The Villa was fantastic – we loved it.  I would find it hard to say which I preferred between them and the Ecolodges but I think Anna Margarida wins!  The villas by the pool are all individual, beautifully decorated and kitted out.  The whole pool area and gardens are magical and in the evening you can sit out by the pool, looking over the sea with peacock’s sitting on perches high about the villas!  It was amazing.  We did miss the frog chorus you get at the lodges but the sound of ocean at the Villa’s is spectacular too!  We definitely plan on going back some time in the future..Thanks for all your help

The Villa Anna Margarida was way cool. Upon arrival into the villa parking area, we were a bit surprised. First, the guard dog--next to a windmill and a sign certifying eco-friendly living, then the peacock cage with the 'tom' bird in it, and the pathway down to the duck/swan pond. The swans are gorgeous, as are the ducklings. We continued our walk through the pathway to be greeted by peacocks roaming freely and then the mini fisherman village! This had the wow effect on us. The photos don't do it justice. Very eclectic and decorated with lots of tilework, hidden pathways like the stairs up to our roof with even more amazing views of the ocean. The best part is while my husband was down surfing in the very chilly May water (with a wetsuit and happy as a Flipper), I was able to comfortably enjoy the pool with the children and peak over the fence at the cliff to take close-zoomed photos of my him surfing. The walk to the beach by the villas is perhaps 5 minutes with a 5 & 3 year old, bag of beach toys and towels, and a husband with a surfboard--probably faster if you have less with you LOL. Shopping iat the Billabong Outlet north of the villa = smart. I purchased 2 of the 'local' swim styles--very daring and adventurous, but glad I did it. Shopping at the main Mercado in the town center is closed Monday but open other days before noon. Get your food shopping done after your beach walk and before noon. Enjoy the rest of the day at the pool, beach, exploring different beaches, and then grill out by your villa. We purchased amazing ribeyes from the supermarket mercado across the street about 500 meters away for a very good price. They grilled up great! I purchased red snapper (I think) from the main Mercado in town--in simple Spanish to the Portugese fisherman's wife...flash fried it while the calimari grilled and finished the snapper on the grill-amazing seafood! Thank goodness for the Spanish I studied years ago (Gracias Senora Gordon!). Ericeira is a small village with a number of mercados, small surf shops, and eateries. The outskirts of the village offered very natural beaches with amazing views from the tops of cliffs and rocks all the way down to the beautiful sand and water. Early morning beach walks (8am for vacation 'early') surprised me, my husband & our children with all sorts of amazing sea life. We saw two start fish, shrimp, and small fish at low tide within the tidal pools. Just a gorgeous place to refocus and reenergize the family. We will gladly return--already setting aside $$ for next year's return trip. Can't wait!

We had a really great time in Ericeira. We loved the Villa Anna Margaida houses, the interior was decorated in the style of Barcelona's Gaudi. It was very unexpected and the most unique place we have ever stayed in in Europe. The view of the Ocean was breathtaking - the highlight being the BBQ evening in the gardens while watching the sunset.  The town centre was a short walk and we ate in most of the restaurants recommended in the Welcome Pack, We went back twice to Canastra and TikTak!  The surf lessons were great, was the first time we surfed in a hot climate and it amde all the difference.Steve and Maeve, Dublin

We loved the place, the houses are so cute and you feel like a millions miles from anywhere - it was like having our own private beach. The kids were really impressed with the unique style of the houses - we named them the Hansle and Grettle houses as they were really magical. The town is a real gem, its good to see places like this are still around and mass tourism hasn't interferred.  The surf school were great also, the instructors gave us great individual attention and although i wouldnt say i will be getting sponsored by any surf label the kids seemed to feel they will!! Thanks for a great surf holiday. Sarah, Reading

The gang had a great time, loved the little houses and the grounds. It was really private and different from a resort type holiday. We usually book a package holiday but were delighted to choose this option instead of a big anonymous hotel. The kids loved the surf and we loved the old town and the walks around the cliffs. will definitely be back. Keating family, Cork

We loved Ana Margarida, amazing place, unique is the word. Didn't go more than a few kms away from Ericeira in either direction - didn't need to. We found the surf harder to ride than we're used to, but had some fun. Restaurants nice for a small town. Great holiday

Surf lessons were great, everyone felt they were well looked after and encouraged. Anna Margarida Villas are fabulous. Very clean, spacious, wonderfully quirky, it was good to have your own outside area too, along with plenty of grounds and sun beds to lounge in. The frying pans need replacing - as a note to the owners, as the household equipment was more than adequate, and provision of a coffee maker made it exemplary for us! So glad there was a pool, it made it like your own private resort when you wanted to laze around and enjoy the heat. It was lovely hearing the chickens and peacocks and seeing them around, and it meant we never wasted any stale bread! We timed our stay with the peacock moult, so my daughter now has a fine collection of feathers. Ericeira has plenty of food to choose from, from the daily market to the array of restaurants. Food shopping was reasonable, with fruit and fish being cheaper than England, but eating out was surprisingly expensive. We didn't get a cheap meal until we travelled up the coast, having hired mopeds from the Blue Ocean surf shop, which was good value, as it happens. The mopeds took us to Sintra on a very hot day, but it was amazing there, a family joint ticket for the Palace and Moors Castle was worth the outlay, with free spring water pouring out of the mountain on your way up! The coastline is lovely with clean beaches and interesting rock pools amongst the smooth rock shelf that goes in to the sea. Overall, it's good for surfing, and lazing, but you need transport to get variety in the area – Deborah, Devon

We liked the Villas very very much, the animals, the pool, everything really very unique and nice. Hundreds of details really funny, beautiful, astonishing....how much work was that ?????????? The cliff top situation, the possibilities to relax at sunset with view of the sea...very nice ! For sure we will come back sooner or later. Ericeira we know from holidays before - I have been there 7 or 8 times (or was it more often ?). I don't have to say anything about this other than it is one of my absolute favourite places in europe for a surf holiday. And now we know an accomodation that is also perfect for the family

Lovely hols overall. The villa location and unique features were really great with fab sunsets and pool side beds ! On the negative our villa had quite small windows and bit dark inside but we weren’t inside too much. The hospitality bar and communal fridge was great, Re: Ericiera, the old town was really lovely - food and drink really cheap . And beaches nice. You can hire a car in town and rates were reasonable enough - in fact - a lot cheaper than hertz online - the airport transfer via ab2 was quite late and we had to ring twice to chase . Surf lessons were good, Grace really enjoyed it. Ulysses good fun if a but disorganised !!! Overall we had a great time x

The logistics were excellent, the villas were just beautiful. Ulisses was a brilliant instructor, along with Mario, and the location excellent. We did not venture anywhere else, and found the people of Ericeira wonderfully friendly, and the town lovely

Just loved the quirky arty details of every villa. Amazing location about Matadouro surf beach. Wonderful views. All well maintained by the owner who seemed to be on site very day we were there. Pool, peacocks and flowers were all good too. Intermittent wifi. Slightly over hard beds. Surf was good most days. A couple days blown out. Was generally better towards Empa to the right. Great options around Foz do Lizandro. Went up to Praia Azul - great for long sandy and empty beach. Good little cafe too - fresh crab, sardines, polvo etc. Baleal also excellent - Brazilian cafe is very good for meat lovers! Quiksilver skatepark opposite villas was really enjoyed by my teenage skater son+++ It seems to be fairly state-of-the-art. Local restaurants were generally very good. I highly recommend Mar d'ariea for seafood in town. tik tapas better than tik-tak. Beach cafes at Foz do L good. We'll be back!

We had a great time. We absolutely loved the Villas, they were obviously someone’s labour of love. They were so unusual and they couldn’t have been better sited, with the view of the sunset in the evenings. We rather wished we had stayed there for both weeks rather than moving to the hotel, which was fine but nowhere near as beautiful as the villas. We loved Ericeira and the fact that it wasn’t touristy and full of Brits abroad, if you know what I mean. We ate out in lots of different restaurants, including some of your recommendations. Our favourite little find was a little Tapas bar, not far from the hotel Vila Gale called Adega Tipica, where I had the best glass of wine in the whole time we were there. The owner is really friendly and somewhat unusual! The surf lessons were fun and my children and I both managed to stand and catch a few good waves but sadly not so much success for my husband! Ulisses was fun and we did enjoy the lessons. One of the days we did feel that the class was far too big. We did get out and about in our second week and took a trip to Sintra, which we really enjoyed. We visited Quinta de Regaleira, which we thought was fascinating. We also drove up towards Obidos and tried some waterskiing on the lagoon, which was fabulous. We tried loads of different beaches, all of which had different qualities but we loved them all. The coastline is so spectacular and we loved that you could have a giant sandy beach with lots of facilities or a giant sandy beach with not a soul in sight! All in all a fabulous holiday and we would definitely go back to Ericeira and do some more surfing, but I think private lessons next time!

the villas are great and the ocean view is amazing. The village is really nice with plenty of good and cheap restaurants.My friends surfed and they liked it - Mathieu, Lyon, France We loved the Ana Margarida villas, the villa gaudi was great and the pool and surroundings really clean and well cared for. Restaurants were brilliant, especially Mar de Areia which we went to several times during our stay. All in all we had a wonderful holiday and look forward to returning again

Once again had a great holiday in Ericeira. Surfholidays .com seems very highly regarded there. Both kids keen to book again for next yr

We had an amazing couple of days. The weather was fabulous, day of the wedding was great fun and went really well and the day after in the Villas - we couldn't really have asked for any better. Ann put on a seriously impressive spread, the pig on the spit was savage, food was beautiful and most of the gang were in the pool by 11! It was a brilliant party and the villas were perfect – Des & Charlotte, Dublin

We had a brilliant holiday in Ericeira. The villas are fab...would recommend them to anyone. Anna Margarida has such a nice feel to it...very relaxed and location overlooking the sea is spectacular! Pool area is fab, facilities are top notch! I have nothing negative to say about it. Surfing was a challenge for me but I had no surfing experience. Conditions are tough to deal with but I imagine that would be a plus for more experienced surfers. My boyfriend loved it...Ulysses, the instructor, was great craic! Ericeira is a beautiful town...so quaint and relaxed. Lovely food and prices are reasonable. All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Ericeira and I definitely hope to go back there some day!

Holiday was excellent. Villas were outstanding – location was best ever, anywhere, anytime. Villa itself (10) was a knock-out – perfect for honeymoon couple. Villas location was way above expectations – cliff top view of surf beach with easy walk to town. Surfed Matodoura straight from the villa a bunch of times in different tides, some great sessions (could have done with reef shoes!). Also had some good mid-tide sessions at Ribera, getting hosed by 8year old locals! No joy at all with Foz – dumpy shore-break every time I went. Genuinely cant imagine holidaying anywhere else for foreseeable future. Lads surf break next sept at a minimum – the “Boat” might be an option

Everyone really loved the place, the villas are so beautiful and the location is perfect!! I think the waves this week where not as good as normally because it was windy and rainy some days but as we are all beginners we did not really mind and went out every day. The guys from the surf school made us a really good group price where we just had to pay 12€ per surfboard per day. We went to tic tapas and mar d'areia and really loved the food, the party in ourico on friday was really nice and I would definitely recommend this place to everyone. The transfer from the airport worked out perfectly, thanks again for that. If the group is still together the next years we would for sure contact you again – Fabienne, Aachen in Germany

Ericeira was deadly. So quiet and laid back. The villa was perfect for what we wanted to do, which was relax. Loads of places to chill out and right on the beach. Unfortunately I'm not quite at that level to surf that beach, yet. Surf lessons with Ulisses were very good. I was a bit apprehensive about surfing the reef when I saw if first but he put me at ease and has us all up on the board in no time. Top bloke aswell. The town of Ericeira is brilliant. I loved the shops and the people we met. I enjoyed quite a few cocktails in Bamboo Bar. It was just one beautiful beach after another. I really enjoyed the restaurants too and I'm a fussy eater. Already planning a trip back next year

We had a great time thank you although the weather could have been better. The villa and complex was better than described - we never tired of its quirkiness. It was beautifully kept and if I'd gone nowhere else for the 5 days' stay I would have been perfectly happy. My son and husband found the surf a little too much to cope with but we went up to Peniche one day where they got their 'fix' for the holiday. Also they said the rocky beaches were a bit off putting as they aren't experts and their boards were quite expensive. Ericeira itself was absolutely delightful and all the meals out were reasonably priced and delicious. As always the Portuguese themselves were very helpful and friendly. Surf Holidays' info was spot on except for the directions from the airport to Ericeira. Your route and signposting out of the airport is not the same as in reality - maybe you should look at updating that. Also I took things like tea towels, washing up liquid, etc but all that was there in the villa. And there is a large communal fridge where people who are going home put any leftovers which we could have used to feed ourselves all week which wasn't mentioned in your blurb

We had a really good time thanks! It was a bit quiet as we were there off season, but the villas and the grounds were spectacular. Clearly a lot of thought and effort had gone into their development. The surf was pretty good as well. Ullyses was a great instructor. I think the next time we go surfing in Portugal, we might try Cascais, after we went to the ASP surf competition. Seems like there was some good surf there (when the weather was kind enough). Ericeira was really nice, and friendly. We didn't spend too much time on the beaches because of the weather, but I would definitely recommend the area to friends. The also really enjoyed some of the restaurants. Great variety and plenty to choose from. The only issue we had was that the villa we stayed in was not very 'bad weather' proof. During the heavy rain, water would leak into the villa and flood the floor next to some of the windows. Other than that, no problems!

Ericeria was brill. Skate park across the road was an added bonus and well used by my nephew. Had a few good surf sessions being close to the beach was ideal. Ella s surf confidence grew with the waves being a lot bigger. So she is in every opportunity she gets now as we are back home. The villa are really nice would love to go back again. Shops and local markets all within walking distance. Never made it to far as Nick managed to damage his knee and is now wearing a knee brace and on light duties at work. Unfortunately this limited our travel in Portugal used the coffee shops. Otherwise self catered as I have a serious wheat allergy we knew what was gluten free but could not find the words for wheat free. Locals really friendly – Mandy, Luton

We loved the Villas. The surfing was great with Ulysses, my partner and daughter loved it. They were taken to Peniche (smelly) one day when the surf was too strong in Ericeira. I believe Ulysses was going for a knee operation, I hope it went well! Ericeira was a little quiet off season but very attractive. It would be good to be go back sometime in the early summer when it is a little busier maybe to see if the waves were smaller, and the weather warmer and we could all go body boarding/surfing as the waves were too strong away from the surfing school for us. The taxi drivers were very helpful. The restaurants were good, the whole sea bass between the 4 of us at Canastra, the steak on a stone at Prim and Tik-tak was quite friendly. We made it to Lisbon on the bus from Ericeira, which was really easy, the bus stops right outside Sporting Lisbon football ground (go in here for toilets they are free). Then you can get the train or a taxi in to the centre of Lisbon - Adrian, Bedford

The holiday was fabulous really great place all of the comments that I read before booking were spot on. The villa looked exactly as it did on the photos perfect with the pool being right on the doorstep and the views were magnificent. We had great surf lessons and Ulysses had me and the kids standing on the boards after a few lessons. The only thing I would comment on is that it was a little too far each day to walk with the kids. That said we did like the location where Ulysses was and the burgers were the best we had tasted in a long time. In the evening we tried many of the restaurant’s on the list and a few on spec the best one we located ourselves was Matilda’s just at the beginning of the walkway through the old town. Tik Tak was another favourite as was Cesar’s when we needed somewhere close for the kids. Otis loved the skate park he got a new board and had a couple of lessons so much progress was made. We loved the café in Quicksilver so relaxing and the staff were very friendly. I even got talking to this guy I asked him does he get much surfing in and it turned out to be Tiago Pires…dugghhhh. I bought a wet suit for the UK to continue with here…definitely got the bug it’s a 5/4/3 suit which Bruno the manager gave me lots of advice on I think he knows how cold it is in the UK! As I say couldn’t fault the holiday and thanks for the extension it all went very smoothly. Also many thanks to Ricardo and the drivers from the airport they were right on time and gave us a few useful tips re the area. Anyway all this makes me want to get back out there with the family, which we hopefully intend to do next year….cant wait!

We had a great holiday thanks! Got some good surf in and Ulises took us to a few different beaches (we went about 50mins south, near Lisbon as the swell was massive and too dangerous on the reef). The girls found the lessons good but I have surfed quite a bit and found that although I said I was intermediate and want to improve, I wasn't pushed so didn't feel I got too much out of the lessons apart from equipment. Maybe guiding would be better next time. The villas were cool- just up our street. Because we has 'bad' weather (windy, cold, only 2 days of sun) the villa was quite damp so it wasn't as comfortable as it would have been in this current heat! We took a bus to Sintra but we had been surfing and were tired so didn't explore too much. New had dinner at a restaurant on the front which was great... We ate our years' allocation of cheese as our first course and the 3 of us share a talbot for main- great restaurant but I can't remember it's name! I would definitely book with you again!

We had the best holiday EVER! The location is unique, the villa was so quirky and pretty, it was clean and everything that we needed was provided. We had a view out to sea every morning and the sound of the surf put us to sleep every night. The other people that stayed there were likeminded people, we all liked surfing. The honesty bar was a great unexpected extra, the communal space to drink, chat and get on line was a revelation. We didn't take the children, but we would next time as the pool area was child friendly and the complex was set up on a network of hidden trails that they would love to explore. The surf was up most days, I think that we only had one flat day the whole week. The beach was so clean too and because it was primarily a surf beach we were again surrounded by likeminded people. Oh and the town - how pretty is that, the Moorish architecture, small winding streets; the tiles were a joy! The locals all spoke English too, so it was very easy to communicate, however, we did learn a few words which seemed to go down really well with the locals. The town centre was great with the food markets, art galleries and pottery/tile shops there was plenty to keep us occupied. In the evening we spent our time in the restaurants and local bars talking to local people and eating local food MMMmmm... I can taste the fish dishes now!! I would recommend this holiday experience even to people who don't surf as there are plenty of surf schools teaching the sport to beginners. While we were there we had three couples ask us what it was like in the complex as they had been told how amazing it was - We confirmed this. We loved every minute of this holiday

Just getting back on top of things now, still recovering from a shopping trip to Lisbon :-) We really had a great surf holiday and thoroughly enjoyed the villas, the food and the surfing. Feedback below, it might be useful. Accommodation: I have to say the Anna Maragrida villas were a highlight and one of the nicest places we've stayed - both of us loved the unique charm and individual character of the accommodation, the panoramic sea view & sound of the breakers, and the helpfulness of Casado and staff. The attention to detail and imaginative craftmanship of the sculptures, tiling and garden areas is exceptional and a real pleasure for anyone who appreciates creativity. The nautically themed architecture and interior design is both clever and humourous and we loved spotting myriad small features on an almost daily basis. It took us a night or two to get used to the beautiful peacocks on our roof, but they do typify the idiosyncrasy of the place! A few minor niggles: Once we picked up the key on the first night, the directions supplied by the office in the town were spot on - but a sign on the road (or at least on the back gate) is really needed, as we passed by the closed iron gates twice before figuring it out. Also we didn't realise at the time that there's a "take it / leave it" area in the common room for stuff like olive oil, washing up liquid etc, so it might be worth mentioning in the welcome pack or in the leaflets they leave in the villas. They're all small things, it's hard to fault the place and Casado & co. were very obliging with stuff like cushions, firewood etc. Ericeira & Around: We liked the easy going ambience of Ericeira and it's great to see a working fishing port and world class surf spot co-existing, as it makes for an interesting mix of locals and blow-ins. I get the sense that it hasn't been spoiled by tourism and there's a nice relaxed vibe about the place, due in part perhaps to the time of year. The beaches are all spectacular - almost as good as Banna strand and Barrow beach in Kerry, but with the distinct advantages of warmer water, consistent swells and more sunshine. The fruit / veg / fish market was fantastic - we couldn't get over the quality of the produce and and the prices - it was good fun practicing the cúpla focal "em Português" and Louise managed to pick up a recipe for Bacalao from a hairdresser! I think a car is handy as it allowed us to get around Mafra, Sintra and Lisbon for some sightseeing. One place a local recommended was the Aldeia típica de José Franco - kind of an open air museum of traditional rural Portugese life with a windmill, model village and a working bakery - it's quaint in a Bunratty kind of way, free and the bread was tasty. Sintra was really beautiful, both the Palacio Pena and the Castelo dos Mouros are very interesting and offer spectacular views of the country and the winding medieval streets of the town are a pleasure to potter around in. The shopping in Lisbon was great, apparently. I drank a lot of coffee and knocked around Bairro Alto & Chiado, which has lots of art galleries, boutiques, bookshops and the like - it's a pretty cool, bohemian, funky area. I stuck out like a sore thumb. Surfing: The lessons were fun and Ulisses is a real old school dude :-) I was pleasantly surprised at the warm water temperature. His gear was good, by and large - he had a variety of boards, the suits were in good nick and ideal for the water temperature. His rotational method is excellent for beginners and introduces the idea of the line-up well, as beginner lessons can often be quite chaotic, especially when the water is crowded. P.S. I took advantage of your discount in Boardculture, thanks

We had a fantastic time in Ericeira. The villas were fantastic and were better then our expectations. Having a swimming pool directly outside the front door with the Atlantic Ocean just beyond that was amazing. The kids really loved the place and needless to say didn't want to leave. The surf was great and Ulisses really looked after us. He was completely flexible with the lessons as Aoife decided not to take her 3rd lesson and Louis also wanted to take a morning off mid way through. He was fine with me taking the extra kids lessons so myself & Louis ended up doing 5 lessons, Martin did 4 and Aoife 2. We all really loved Ericeira itself and had some great meals out but also cooked at home quite a bit. We didn't do any trips while we were in Ericieria as we had spent 3 nights in Lisbon prior to our week in Ericeira. Overall I think we had a fantastic holiday and the villas and Ericeira are definitely places we would consider going back to & somewhere we would recommend to friends. Thanks for all your help in the organisation – Martin, Jean, Louis & Aoife, Dublin

Ericeira is absolutely beautiful, we were fortunate enough to have very warm weather for most of the week. The villa was out of this world; a cross between Portmeirion and Gaudi - fabulous, and with a pool and sea view.The surfing went well, Ulysses looked after Steve who now has the surfing bug.The beaches are divine and the lovely little town is quaint with everything you need. We ate good food at Prim and a few other places and found the supermarket for breakfast essentials. We would definitely return

We had an absolutely amazing time in Ericeira, it's such a gem of a spot, so unspoiled and natural - which is difficult to come by nowadays! The villas were gorgeous, we all loved the quirky designs. The surfing went really well - Ulisses is definitely a character! We had planned on moving on - however we were all just so taken with Ericeira - we actually ended up spending all of our time there (bar one night in Lisbon!). It was exactly what the doctor ordered. The food, beaches, amazingly friendly people and stunning weather made it incredibly difficult to leave!! Thanks for all of your help prior to our arrival. I reckon we'll definitely be back :-) Edel, Anne, Angela & Kerry, Cork

We had a fantastic holiday, the villas were perfect, beyond our expectations, we had a problem with our hot water one day and a man arrived within 15 minutes of my phone call and fixed it. My daughter surfed with Ulisses every day of our holiday and really enjoyed it, she can't wait to surf again. We were very lazy and didn't go further afield than Ericiera, except along to surfing beach which was great. We tried most of the restaurants on your list and found the food to be lovely. I also wanted to say how grateful we were that we had the use of our villa until 4pm on our last day as our flights were not until the evening. This made such a great difference to us, not having to vacate by 9am. We are already talking about booking for next year – Sue, Richmond upon Thames, London

The villas were amazing, so cute - really nicely done. It's unusual to book a place that's actually nicer than the website photos. We also had a sea view so thanks for that - it was a 5 star location. Have recommended them to loads of people. Ericeira itself was really relaxing. Loved going for coffee and pasteries. We ended up using the bar-beque a few nights and that was great. Ulisess at the surf school was cool - his beach was the best beach we went to. The waves were huge and great fun. Spent 2 nights in LX Boutique hotel in Lisbon - which was a little bit of luxury for a great price. We used public transport all the way and it was perfect. We had a great holiday - I look forward to booking next years holiday already

The villas were just great what a perfect set up for surfer with family ! I mainly surfed Coxos up the coast a bit but at certain stages of the tide the surf was good right out front and no messing about going to check surf every hour just looked over the balcony or out my window. it was a great place for my wee toddler too and my wife who is pregnant again and thoroughly enjoyed the pool and villa thank you so much

We had a really nice holiday in Ericeira. To say the Villas are unique is somewhat of an understatement. We had a great villa for the week we were there and were able to explore the surrounds. The peacocks and pheasants wandering around were a nice touch. We enjoyed the town of Ericeira and had some good meals. Being allergic to shellfish I was somewhat limited as far as choice goes, though enjoyed the fish I was able to eat. For the surf lessons Ulisses was very helpful and friendly. We still enjoyed our stay with a trip to Sintra which was great and a day and night in Lisbon before we returned home. The taxi driver recommended with your information mail ,Joao, was very helpful. He picked us up from the airport, drove us to Sintra and drove us back to Lisbon and provided some helpful information and tips. Overall I would say the area of Ericeira is very beautiful. My wife was a little disappointed with the shopping options which in turn probably helped our overall budget. We ate at Tic Tak twice as we enjoyed it so much the first time

Ericeira was absolutely amazing... that is the 3rd time I have been to Portugal and can’t wait to go back to Ericeira again – it is my new favourite destination. We were blessed with total sunshine and large swells, the Anna Margarida Villas really made it that much better – especially our villa the boat! We didn’t do Lisbon or Sintra – we literally just enjoyed Ericeira and neighbouring beaches as well as one day trip up to Peniche and Supertubos etc. well worth the trip. The fresh seafood seemed to make it impossible to choose a bad restaurant – although we did have the help of the recommendation list provided by yourselves. One highlight which was not on that list was the Quiksilver surf shop across the road from the villas. They had a reggae DJ set on one evening and we sat on their large decking area on the sunbeds, had a few beers and cocktails and watched the sunset / local young guns on the skate park below the deck. Priceless moment. Cheers again for the recommendation and I look forward to the next trip – Joel, Brisbane, Australia

Although we only spent 5 full days in Portugal, we have had some great holidays. The villa's are quite unique! We loved it. I do have to mention that we first stayed in villa no. 8, one of the 2 villa's on the top of the compound. Ulisses, is a very nice teacher. We really enjoyed the classes. The beaches are really very nice. We managed to go to Sintra one afternoon after surfing. Next time we'll still have other parts of Sintra to explore.And also we went one day to Lisbon. We were very glad that we had our rental car. One moves around the area (also to the surf-class beach) much more easily (and quickly). I am quite convinced that in future we will return to Ericeira, to these unique villa's. So alltogether, when during the current crazy times at work, I think back to our holidays at the villa's in Ericeira I get very relaxed :-)

The Ana Margarida Villas were very good, special in fact, the surf was great almost every day I got waves and Amy enjoyed her lessons with Ulisses. The beaches are great, weather nice, all very positive, there was a couple of negative points not enough storage for 4 people in the Villa we were in! We cooked at the villas (BBQ) great supermarket food fish and meat, great food at tiki tapas. We went to Sintra and found it well worth the visit .Girls went shopping in Lisbon and went by bus no worries easy and cheep they tell me shopping was good. We are very happy – Garry, Ann, Daniel & Amy, Cork

All went very well, extremely well. You can also say "we would highly recommend this holiday". The best aspect was the weather, so thanks for organising that! Villas were great in particular, location, views, Facilities; pool, BBQ, washing machine, Bar, sun beds, hammocks, wild animals... etc... The local town was wonderful, people, variety and quality of the food, value for money. Beaches were great too, we only did 3 beaches as they were so good there was no desire to explore more. The surf was top quality and Ulisses was great too, I would highly recommend him as a surf instructor. We hired a car for the 2 weeks and only did 3 day trips, to tell you the truth we liked the place so much we weren't bothered spending time in a car travelling - Robert, Roisin & Eoin Mornington, Meath, Ireland

The Ana Margarida Villas were amazing and a complete surprise! We were delighted to find something new, amazing and 100% original hiding within the complex every day! The pool and view were gorgeous, having the sea so close was unbelievably handy and a lovely place to go for the long afternoons! The barbeques were a great addition, it was great to have the option to stay in a few nights. But the food was great everywhere and everybody loved eating out, especially for the sea food and the pastries! The town itself was beautiful, we knew a bit about it before leaving as we knew someone who has been on a few occassions but it was really sensational and unbelievably cheap. We went off season and at first it seemed a little dead but that just added to the relaxing atmosphere of the week on the whole. A few of the guys on the trip (and one of the girls, not me) got out surfing with Ulisses and loved it. They have all been surfing and had lessons a few times in Ireland but thought the standard was much higher in Ericera, they were very impressed with it. I think the resounding proof we enjoyed ourselves is that when telling the stories of our week we have convinced people to seriously consider it as a holiday destination in the future, some have even started looking it up online!! I'm sure I have forgotten to mention a heap of stuff we really enjoyed about the week, but all in all it was a complete success, thank you so much for giving us all the opportunity to spend a week here!

We had a great time. The villas were beautiful and the pool area was fantastic. We had some good surf too. We were planning to go to Lisbon but it didn't happen

We had a great time in Ericeira. The villas were lovely and Ulisses was very helpful. The surfing was great fun and the area was lovely. We loved the town and the restaurants, we had two lovely meals in one called Toca de Caboz. We would definitely recommend a holiday there and may well be back in the future!

We really enjoyed our time in Ericeira and are looking forward to going back again. We loved the villas and the location was spot on! The surf lessons seemed to go well and Ulisses was great. Because I had made a decision NOT to hire a car, we did not really explore anywhere else but that was fine cos I just wanted a rest, sun, food and nice people and that was what I got. The people were so friendly, the restaurants were great and the prices were good. All in All, we were all very happy. Constructive Criticism: It would be helpful if there were more instructions on the using of the Bar B Q's as it was not very clear about cleaning and all of that. We will start saving for next year! – Liz & Mick and the family, Dublin

Loved Ericeira. Location of Ana Margarida Villas just perfect and they are so unique in their gaudiesque style! Weather fab. Beach and surf great. Hammocks and loungers in all nooks and crannies fantastic. Ulyisses surf lessons great and looked after the kids well. Restaurants and food superb. We made it to Sintra and enjoyed that too – Deirdre, Eamonn & Sean, Dublin

We had a really good holiday in Ericeira-the accommodation was really impressive. The site and situation of the villas was excellent. The surfing was good-Ulysses was a great guy and took real interest in the kids and they thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience, The town itself was great-loads of good restaurants and a really nice feel to the place-not too commercialized. We went to Mafra to the Palace and to Sintra and also did a day trip to Lisbon-all well worth doing and pretty close by so no problem with travel. Overall a really good holiday!

We had a great time. The villas were in a beautiful location and are very unique. ~Ulysses was very good with the kids and the surfing was a big success. The pizza restaurant at the surfing beach was great. There was a music festival on just behind the villas last weekend and that suited our gang very well. We ate great food and barbequed lots of fresh fish. Will recommend it to friends!

Holiday was great - preliminary info which you forwarded was very helpful. We hired car and used sat nav to get there - all v straightforward. Handy being so close to Lisbon. The location of the Ana Margarida Villas was super – we stayed in a Sea view villa and the woman in charge was really friendly and helpful. loved view of ocean and proximity to quiksilver shop/ skatepark, town etc. Ericeira was fantastic - not v touristy, v Portuguese, cool atmosphere. Restaurants etc were v good - seafood fantastic everywhere. Prim, Tik tak, ribeira d'ilhas pizza, Pedra dura and Matilde were all super. Portuguese people were very friendly and seemed very fond of Irish tourists!! Prices everywhere were much cheaper than home. Surf lessons with Ulysses and Rodriquez were great. Rodriguez who was with our boys most was excellent - v positive and patient. All in all we loved the area, the surf and the whole experience

We had a great holiday in Ericeria. The villa margarida were lovely, clean and comfortable. The view from the pool area was fantastic. The weather was brilliant, sunshine everyday. We did not take part in the surf lessons, but we enjoyed watching the classes as the were going on, on the beach below the villas. The beaches are lovely but the week we were there , there was quite a strong breeze, therefore you had to pick your time to walk them. The restaurants we went to were very nice particularly Tik Tak, Prim,Dreams. Great Value. You could get a take away from dreams, unfortuantely, they do not deliver but you can order and collect, a taxi is € 3.90 approx from the restaurant to the villas, and there is a good pizza restaurant close to the shopping centre. They also do take away

We had a great time, loved the villa's and the whole layout/area. We had our 11mth old with us plus I'm 6 mths pregnant so not much surfing but we could have got out every day. Got to lisbon, peniche and sintra all well worth the trip. Had a fab time and will recommend it to all couples, singles and families with teenage kids (a bit dangerous for 1-6 year olds). Two things I think u could address are 1. Give people the wi fi code for the area before they arrive oh and 2. Advise people to bring grippy shoes or runners - lots of steep hills on cobbles. That's all, I loved the whole area and will go back and stay in the villa's again some time, they really are unique plus safe with great facilities and an amazing view of the beach

The villas are very unique. And the location of the place are very nice. I did not surf, but my two boys did it a lot. They spent most of the time in the water surfing. The beaches and restaurant are superb. I had the best seafood ever. We had a trip to Sintra and Lisbon. The shopping in Lisbon was great. In Sintra we visited the castle. It was nice to see some more of Portugal - Svein, Oslo

We absolutely enjoyed our stay in Ericeira! We found the villas the perfect setting for the 4 families, and the 8 adults had a great view of our 11 kids surfing daily on the beach below. Some of the adults also tried some surfing, but found the buggy boards to be a little less challenging. The eclectic nature of the villas was great, and we all enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere of the place. We had a couple of big bbq’s at “home”, and found most of the really good restaurants in town. Friendly service and good prices all around. We did a few excursions in the area, and if you want a recommendation to pass on, we really enjoyed our visit to Quinta de Sant’ana – the vineyard east of Mafra. Good wine and great hospitality! We might well decide to go back, and will get back to you in such case. Thanks for your help in putting it all together!

We'd a great surf holiday. We really loved the town, food was fabulous and we went through nearly every restaurant on the list you sent us. That welcome pack was great, we certainly utilised it. The villas were also lovely, the pool area was great. If I'm being picky, we thought it was a bit odd that we paid extra for sheets and towels and they were never changed - I wouldn't expect them to be changed every day, but I thought we'd get one change at some stage in the week, especially the towels. Aside and from that I'd stay in the villas again, great location and a lovely spot – Siobhan, Julian & Siobhan, Dublin

We had a great time in both Ericeira and Lagos, particularly liking Ericeira. Holiday started well with pick up at airport from Joao, who took the time to orientate us seeing as we didn't hire a car. The villas and pool were ideal and a great location. The freezer compartment in the fridge was broken but still worked fine and made ice. We actually surfed for 2 days with a day off in the middle because it was too calm for the more experienced in the group..The first day was great, the second a bit more difficult (because we were surfing onto the rocky shore on the north side of ribeira beach). The best bits were the sea and waves, the long promenade to walk along , and fabulous ( good value) food. The skateboard park opposite the villas was a bonus, as was the takeaway part of the restaurant next door. We had decided just to enjoy the local area on foot so didn't get out and about at all! Oh and we really appreciated the local information you provided. Booking and payments were handled excellently. Overall , we had a lovely time, and think we will book again in Ericeira next year – Sue, Stuart, Erin (12) & Daniel (9) – Wirral, UK

Had a great time thanks – the Villas were great –haven’t stayed anywhere quite like it. Ulisses was great – had a really good week with the surf school. Surf was small a lot of the time but we made do. Got to Sintra but as we hadn’t rented a car and spent most of the week surfing that was fine. Would definitely go back – food simple but really well done – loved it all to be honest and have already recommended to friends – must try Peniche as that seems to be the real surf hotspot – all in all a great week so thanks for all your help and let me know of any other places that you think would be worth a visit though they would have to go a long way to beat this. I would thoroughly recommend Ericeira as a holiday destination and Ana Margharida Villas – might even persuade the family to go again next year

Our holiday in Ericeria was very pleasant and at times relaxing. The Villas are very unique and architecturally very interesting. You could not get bored looking at the very types of lodgings. Our kids found the pool to be a very valuable resource. Our particular vila was nice and adequate. The living room cum kitchen area became a two person bedroom, I do not think that it was big enough for 4 adults. However, we had good neighbours both weeks, with whom we chatted a lot and sat out front all the time. Surf with Ulisses was good, the kids found him different to what they had been used to. They hired boards from Boardculture, across the road. They were excellent, made us welcome and laughed and joked through the whole encounter. It was a pleasure to give him money, you know what i mean. The beaches are really nice, the water was colder than i expected and after two days with Ulisses, we had three days on Matadouro beside us. Day four was flat and a non runner. Restaurants, we tried a few but we settled on Pinto in the town. We found all of its food to be excellent, the staff were excellent and the prices were not bad. We travelled to Lisbon by bus. In Lisbon, we did Tram 28, the Oceanarium and the Benfica Braga match. A great experience. Would we go back? Yes is the answer. However, we would have to plan the surfing differently, next time, and book more lessons – Brendan & family, Sligo

We had a lovely holiday thanks. The accommodation was very unique and the setting with the views over the beach were stunning. Had a good surf lesson with Ulisses and his crew were excellent with the children. Board hire was more expensive than expected and in hind sight it would have been more sensible to take my own board so will do that for next time. We didn’t make it to Sintra, Lisbon or Peniche as the children were having so much fun on the local beaches

We had a great time in Ericeira, the villas are lovely and as you said very unique, especially the peacocks and pheasants! We ate out most evenings in the town and particularly enjoyed Canastra (I think that's what it was called) the fish restaurant which was enhanced by a beautiful sunset! Laura really enjoyed her surfing lessons and now has been bitten by the surfing bug (and intends to join the surfing society at her university!) We went to Lisbon for the day which we loved and also Sintra which I would certainly recommend to anyone visiting the area. Beachwise we went obviously to Ribiera D'Illhas and also to Foz (not sure about spelling?) both were lovely

Ericeira was fantastic, lovely place. Excellent food, lovely people. Ulisses was grand and the lesson was fine. Villas were cool, no complaints. The surf was good. The restaurants were actually excellent. Ate fresh fish for the week. Really was an excellent holiday and am sure I’ll be checking out some of your other holidays in future

We had a fantastic time in Ericeira. The villa was beautiful, and in a great position; we found it easy to find beaches and all the bars and restaurants we needed. We had spent 3 days climbing in Covilha before arriving at the villa and we were so pleased with the amount of things happening in Ericeira...the mountains were very quiet! Ulysses looked after us very well. We felt the quality of equipment and the amount involvement from the instructors was much greater than other surf schools we saw. We visited Cascais and Lisbon too but we have already decided to come back to Ericeira next year. The only problem we had was that in hindsight we should have booked more time surfing...so next year hopefully we can get more time! In general an awesome holiday all round!

We had a great time in Ericeira, the houses are really special. The kids loved it too, especially the pool area and the kiddie farm. We didn't surf as much as we wanted too as we didnt bring our own gear. We had some really nice diners. Went to Lisbon for a day and to Peniche, to surf and to watch the Rip Curl pro. We had a great time!

Ericeira itself is a charming little town. It is also ideally located, not far from Lisbon and Sintra. A visit to these places is a must. As to the accommodation – it is perfect. We stayed in a villa for 5 nights. Villa has everything you will need for living. It is one of the Anna Margarida Villas. It is just on the beach. Views are great. It is great to hear the noise of ocean the whole day. The windows look directly at it. I liked it. If you haven’t lessons you can just relax near the pool. As to the surf lessons, they were great : there are a lot of fun there. It was my second surf experience in Portugal . Hope that is wasn’t the last

This was our 4th visit back to Ericeira with surfholidays.com and it keeps getting better every year. We love the town (it’s so cute – not too touristy at all) and also the fab surf lessons and general chilled out atmosphere. We stayed in the Anna Margarida Villas for the first time and they were out of this world. The photographs really don’t do them justice at all! There are so many quirky little places to find, I don’t want to give too much away, but……. there is a secret staircase up to the top of the roof terrace (the 2 bedroom villa) which gives a lovely view of the pool and beach. There is also a little walkway up past the top BBQ area which brings you to a cute seating area (behind the hammocks) where you can sip a drink whilst watching the sun set over the sea….. There is also a hidden pathway to the left of that seating area where there is a hidden sun lounger perched overlooking the sea. I’m sure there are many more things we didn’t find on this trip too…..we’ll just have to come back again and find them I guess! We were a group of 7 and we shared the 2x bed villa (shaped like a boat with its own moat!) and also the neighbouring 1x bed house which had a really quirky ceiling (sea & Pool view Villa). The boat villa was huge! The 1x bed we stayed in was just beautiful, it had a very quirky ceiling decoration and a shower made out of glass bricks which made you feel like you were showering outdoors (tucked inside a rock wall thankfully, so not exposed!). Then there is an honesty bar, free roaming peacocks, a lovely pool and (at least) 2 BBQ area’s. The beach is a 2 minute walk down a few steps. We didn’t surf on that beach, but there were people out there most days. The Quicksilver surf shop opposite the villa’s was really good too. Aside from selling lots of surf related clothing / sunglasses etc, it also has a really cheap bar in it (great idea….!). We were walking on Friday night and noticed there was a live band playing in-store so we popped in…..it was a great night! It also has an area with huge mac computers which can be used and outside there is a balcony where you can order a drink or two and watch the local kids in the purpose built skate park (Ericeira has some pretty cool skate kids!). There was also a DJ box outside…. but we didn’t see that used whilst we were there. We found the food and drink in Ericeira to be very cheap and we ate like kings for the week. Our favourite in-town restaurants were, Tik Tapas and Prim. But our favourite meal had to be the sushi which they serve down at the beach where the surf lessons are held (I think this is usually on a Thursday night). It’s the best sushi I’ve ever tasted. I would seriously consider booking a Thurs – Fri holiday next year just so we can have sushi twice during the holiday! It’s one not to miss (make sure too book up early at the Na Onda bar to reserve a place). If sushi isn’t to everyone’s taste, they also serve great pizza’s. If you like mojito’s, I’d recommend you try the local cocktail “caipirao” which is made with Beirao Liqueur, freshly squeezed limes and sugar (I think it contains sugar as it tastes quite sweet) – you won’t be disappointed. Ericeira town itself is lovely, a few little cute shops (although I never got to grips with the opening hours to be honest!) The surf lessons and surf instructors are really good. The lessons are fun too, so even if you’re like me and inclined to spend more time falling off the board than surfing on it, you’ll enjoy yourself! The waves were too strong to surf on the main beginner beach for a couple of days during the week so the instructors packed the boards and wet-suits into a van and we all made our way over to Peniche beach instead. I was very impressed with that as otherwise we would not have got as much surfing done. This was also the first year that we did not hire a car, we used the stop-and-go taxi’s (Renata) and it really did make such a difference. Renata is fantastic, we’ll never hire a car again. She picked us up and dropped us back to the airport, dropped us off and picked us up from our surf lessons every day (via the local supermarkets as required!). She also drove us the hour to Peniche beach and then waited until after our lessons to drive us home again. A very relaxing and stress free alternative to car hire (and it cost us less to use taxis than it would to have hired a car)! All-in-all, another fantastic, relaxed holiday. Nicky, thanks again for all of your help organising our 2011 trip! I’m certain we’ll be in touch with you before too long about organising our 2012 trip!

The villas that we stayed in were fabulous. The fisherman design was amazing, it was almost like a fishermans Disney!! The villa was perfect for the two of us and again we loved the design. The kitchen was kitted out with all we needed. The light in the bathroom wasnt working but as soon as we told them in the office they had it fixed before we got back. We were staying there quite late in the season so it was relatively cold in the evening for a few of the days. It was good to have the fire, as it was necessary. The town of Ericeira is great, extremely friendly people (we once asked for directions to a restaurant and the man gave us a lift there!) Again being out of season it was quiet but still lovely for a stroll around and a great meal out with a glass of wine. €1.50 we paid for our glass of wine on the square! Our favourite restaurant was the one by the sea where we picked our fish on the way in. The views were fantastic, as was the food! The staff there were so friendly. We went there twice. We did visit Sintra and it was definately worth the visit and also Lisbon and another few towns nearby. Really nice towns and villages along the coast. So much to see and do as we had a hire car. I would definately recommend booking with your company to my friends. As you replied to all my mails so quickly, even my last minute mail from the aircoach! The pack you sent was so comprehensive, and everything was easy to find and all details were covered

Absolutely loved the place. Beaches excellent as well. Went surfing on x4 days. Can't quite remember the names of the restaurants we went to other than Tik Taks's- which was fab- both service and food great! Had a few problems as we arrived- we got a toll fine, it seems we opted for a booth that didn't give us a ticket, but then got charged 48 euro's at the next one!! Other than that- amazing time, weather great, accommodation fantastic

We had a great surf holiday last week. The villa was brilliant....bit of a surreal experience arriving late at night and being attacked by ducks then woken by a peacock the next morning! Jake and the children really enjoyed the surfing - they are in the process of putting together a thank you note for their instructor Flavio. We relied heavily on your restaurant list and really enjoyed every meal - went twice to Tik Tapas as it was so good. Went up to Sintra too which was cool. All in all we had a great time

We had a great time, we loved the villas, they are certainly unique! surfed every day usually early morning before the winds came up. the weather was perfect but the week we were there had relatively small waves. there is so much potential there in such a small radius that i definitely want to get back. the town is nice and great to walk around, we ate out every night and tik tak twice! food was great and everywhere else. took a trip down to Sintra for day and went up to palace which was certainly a must see. view was spectacular!! overall a great holiday in an amazing place and we will certainly be returning

Holiday was great. all the places you told us to eat were fantastic, tic tac tapas was our favourite. the surf lessons were very well run and were very good for all levels, as they pulled you aside and asked you to do different things so you can progress to the next level. the villas were different to say the least but fantastic all the same. all in all the area, villas, surfing could not be faulted. we are thinking about going back in September

Wow the Villas are unique indeed, never seen anything like it? And our villa was truly amazing and we had a great stay, very nice. We spent a few evenings at Tik Tak and we also spent a “few” euros on drinks at bamboo bar, hehe.. We spent 8 days surfing, mainly at Ribeira d’illhas, rented equipment at the semente surfshop, which was a good deal.. the waves was excellent except one day which it was too small to surf, however I would say summertime in ericeira is very good for beginners as the waves are not too big. Loved Ericeira and learned a lot, so next week I’m heading up to Lofoten, in the northern parts of Norway to surf!

Our holiday went very well, we enjoyed it very much, The weather was very good and the surf was good. The villas were excellent with regard to location and pool. The view of the sea was exceptional as was listening to it at night as the waves crashed in on the cliff wall. The surf lessons went very well, the boys were placed in the kids class rather than the adult class but this was reasonable as the adult class was really 16/17 years plus. The class was very good and as you mentioned the café area beside the surfing beach was a pleasure and very reasonable with regards to price. We eat out most evenings as we like the sea food, Tik Tak was very good and we were well looked after there. We also tried out a few other local eating houses which were also very good, no difficulty finding a place to dine. We went to Lisbon, mafra, sintra for a trip and enjoyed them great. The accommodation classed among the best we have experienced in our summer holidays and our third trip to Portugal, we would think about going again, only possible disadvantage was our flight from Cork were late evening so we arrived very late on the Friday

We got on great in ericeira - the Villas were very unique and loved the spot. Only got a few days of surf but didn't mind as chance to relax. Will defo recommend to others – Kevin & Sarah, Dublin

We had a magic holiday. I loved Ericeria and west Portugal. Felt very local, friendly easy and not too commercial. The Villas are really special and even though we had seen the photos online the location, fun, madness and beauty of the place has to be experienced to be appreciated. We tried lots of the restaurants on the list, Tik Tak, Pedra, Dura, Prim, all nice places - we liked Canastra the best. Ones we wanted to try next time are Tik Tapas and Mar A Vista which is a local seafood place that gets great reviews. We spent most of our beach time on Foz De Lizandro. I adored the beach cafes, really good quality food and easy. Special mention to Anje in Na Onda surf school - she was lovely and welcoming everyday. Our 14 year old son did great and became a very self sufficient surfer by the end of the 6 days. We visited the aquarium in Lisbon which was OK - it was too hot to wander around outside so it was a brief visit! Also we went to Sintra - Moorish Castle and King and Queen castle (can't remember the name) Well worth it, way more touristy than I expected but would go there again - very vibrant fun town. So all in all - fabulous, thoroughly recommend it and we may be back!

We had a fantastic time and would and have recommend to everyone!! Yes the villa and complex was eclectically beautiful and as for the sea views well.... still dreaming about them! We surfed and felt old but elated finding all sorts of muscles... our daughter able to stand on board first day!! We went to the brother version tapas bar called Tik Tapas... the people welcoming, atmosphere vibrant and food delicious. We had a whistle stop tour of Lisbon and hope to return. Went to the Eden of Sintra and palace at Mafra. Needless to say coming home and trying to settle back has been truly difficult... but we have wonderful memories

We had a great time. We were totally unprepared for the Villas, which are amazing. We rented the one by the pool instead of the courtyard which we were happy with. It was like living in a work of art for a week. Why doesn't the owner have a leaflet describing how he constructed the place? We were dying to know something about him and his work. I gather he is a former mayor and a bit if a local celebrity. Ben can answer for himself for the surfing lessons, but he rated the holiday 9/10 overall. Beaches were great, Ericeira was lovely, and the food good. I think we ate at Tik Tak 3 or 4 times. Its good value. Something you might want to add to your notes for visitors is that the municipal park in town – it also has free wi-fi. Renata was very helpful with transfers too and meant we didn’t need to hire a car

The villas were just great, peaceful and quiet but still close to everything. We liked it so much that we skipped the three days we planned to have in Lisbon, so the only thing we saw there was the museum of modern art! Pretty great that place to. My son was really happy about the Quicksilver store and skatepark next to the villas, me too actually. Great people and bar. Bought a skateboard and spent a big part of our stay up there. One of the guys there took us out one night for the festival going on at that time and it was really nice to see Ericeira through a local. Had two surf lessons learned a lot and had so much fun, we also rented gear and went out by ourself to. Had 2 dinners at Tik Tak, lovey food and staff! Also had a night at the nightclub with a friend one of our last days, had so much fun and found great people there to. Think we got all that we wanted from this vacation and I´m sure that I will come back for more later