File - Quinta dos Sonhos
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File - Quinta dos Sonhos
Quinta dos Sonhos (House of Dreams) Home Details Prices TripAdvisor Reviews Accessibility Picture Gallery Contact Us Luxury private villa for holiday rental in the Algarve, Portugal Other Informatiom Client Zone Help Luxury villa for holiday rental Our luxury 3+1 bedroom/3 bathroom Algarve villa with private heated pool, is available for holiday rental direct from us the owners. Beautifully situated in the Western Algarve, the villa accommodates up to 6+1, with the option to rent our adjacent cottage, accommodating up to 11 in total. The Western Algarve is one of the few remaining unspoilt coastal areas in Europe with dozens of beaches, pretty fishing villages & harbours, dramatic cliffs, amazing surfing, & excellent resort towns of Lagos & Alvor. (Details>Western Algarve) This is a very special villa, enjoying a fantastic unspoilt location in its own grounds of over 5 acres (20,000m2). It is also our home for the winter months & so you can be assured it is equipped with every modern facility, including automatic air conditioning, private heated pool & jacuzzi, free broadband & guest computer for convenient internet access. (Details>Villa) Each winter we carry out new projects with the aim of being even more special each year. We also do all our own marketing as we prefer to deal directly with our clients. You can read about these & about us on our About us page. For guests with restricted mobility we also offer far better accessibility than the vast majority of holiday villas. (Details>Accessibility) All the information you need is here – just click on the menu above, then any of the sub menu links. Some pages have slide shows which you can drive yourself! (need Flash Player installed) but in summary:3+1 bedrooms – villa sleep 7: 1 double master suite, 1 double/twin, 1 twin, 1 small single for occasional use. See Details>Villa 3 bathrooms - 2 ensuite, 1 with level access shower optional – casinha 1 bedroom – sleeps 2+2: 1 double, 2 bunk beds in separate area – casinha stays empty if you don’t need it. See Details>Casinha full air conditioning: independent, automatic, efficient a/c in all major rooms (not 4th bedroom) - free of charge (conditions apply – see FAQs). own gated grounds – 5 acres gives privacy, security, space - allows children to wander safely. See Details>Pool & gardens private heated pool – environmentally friendly & luxury! Pool heating is free of charge (conditions apply - see FAQs) heated jacuzzi Uses same environmentally friendly system as pool for heating with solar heat topup. fabulous views panoramic views over unspoilt conservation area, distant views to the mountains. very private unoverlooked, no passing traffic except the occasional goatherd good accessibility single storey throughout villa, pool & terraces. see Accessibility for more details. Local village 10-15min walk (5min drive) for small supermarkets, cafes, restaurants. Centrally placed in the Western Algarve with main resorts Lagos & Alvor close at hand, Loads of beaches of every description 15-45min range See Details>Area Golf, horse riding, water sports, auto racing, cycle hire close at hand. Faro airport 45min by road, Lisbon 2.5hrs. Quinta dos Sonhos (House of Dreams) Proudly powered by WordPress. converted by W eb2PDFConvert.com converted by W eb2PDFConvert.com Quinta dos Sonhos (House of Dreams) Home Details Prices TripAdvisor Reviews Accessibility Picture Gallery Contact Us Luxury private villa for holiday rental in the Algarve, Portugal Other Informatiom Client Zone Help Villa Details The villa is spacious, comfortable, & interesting! Living Room: Large open plan room recently refurnished in an Andalusian style. An unusual feature is the large panoramic window giving breathtaking views over the countryside to the Monchique mountains. Armchairs & sofas provide seating for 8. Patio doors lead out directly to the pool terrace. satellite TV (UK), Flat screen LCD, video, good quality HiFi system, DVD player selection of videos, books & games provide indoor entertainment. Laptop computer with free internet access, fully automatic air conditioning. New in 2007 is the addition of a new reception room in the villa – ‘The Orangery’, a spacious dining room offering a ‘sub tropical’ ambience, in the style of the Victorian conservatories of the same name, with fantastic views. Panoramic views during daytime, elegant dining by night. Good quality audio system accepts connections from guests’ Ipod, PDA, MP3 etc (3.5mm stereo jack). Fully automatic air conditioning. Kitchen/breakfast room Brand new for 2008 is large, modern, fully fitted with granite surfaces & oak units, & has all the equipment you’d expect:- fridge/freezer, gas hob, electric oven, microwave, dishwasher, washing machine. Table & chairs for 6 cannot be seen in the photo). Fully automatic air conditioning. Master Bedroom Suite comprises a sleeping area, a beautiful shower room, dressing area , & a private sitting area . Patio doors on both sides allow access to terraces on west & east. This is a large & luxurious suite with enough spare space for 2 travel cots if needed. Fully automatic air conditioning. 2nd ensuite double/twin bedroom. Twin/double bedded room with patio doors to pool terrace. The ensuite bathroom is spacious having bath with shower over & screen, WC, bidet, handbasin. Fully automatic air conditioning 3rd twin bedded room Large twin bedded room with patio doors to pool terrace. Has its own private bathroom just a few steps across the hall. This is a large room with enough space for a cot if needed. Fully automatic air conditioning. 4th single (occasional) bedroom This is not a full bedroom but a small room, adjacent to the 2nd ensuite bedroom see floorplan. It is useful where a child needs a room of their own but close to parents, or for an au-pair or other single person where proximity to the 2nd bedroom & where the curtained doorway are not issues. When not used as a 4th bedroom it can become part of the 2nd bedroom suite (e.g. dressing room, nursery etc). Ceiling fan. To see more photos, larger photos, view our Picture Gallery To see a floorplan of the villa click here converted by W eb2PDFConvert.com Quinta dos Sonhos (House of Dreams) Proudly powered by WordPress. converted by W eb2PDFConvert.com Quinta dos Sonhos (House of Dreams) Home Details Prices TripAdvisor Reviews Accessibility Picture Gallery Contact Us Luxury private villa for holiday rental in the Algarve, Portugal Other Informatiom Client Zone Help Pool & Gardens The villa & casinha sit within their own grounds of 20000m2 (5 acres) offering unparalleled seclusion & breathtaking views due to its hillside location. Privacy & seclusion are guaranteed by our gated entrance. At night the gate pillars & driveway illuminate automatically giving a magical aura. The pool terrace is a sheltered sun trap, facing south. The terraces are paved & afford generous areas for sunbathing, dining, or simply wandering about! Padded sunbeds can be positioned in full sun or beneath a shady pergola. A shady dining area for 8 is supplemented by other dining tables in the shady courtyard garden, & on the barbeque terrace. The table tennis area is a new addition for 2012, providing a covered play area for players of all ages. Also new for 2012 is a boule pitch. Our home designed solar heating system for the pool has been so successful that we have designed & built a spa – hot tub – paddling pool adjacent to the pool, so that people who cannot swim, or choose not to, can enjoy the relaxing warm spa bubbles. There is ample covered shade, poolside furniture & dining facilities for any size of group. A built in barbeque stands on a separate terrace nearby. At night the pool terraces can be floodlit and, together with lighting in the flower beds & lanterns around the villa & casinha, create a special after dark ambience. The Quinta dos Sonhos is in a conservation area where wildlife proliferates. The hoopoe is just one of the visitors to the gardens. Quinta dos Sonhos (House of Dreams) Proudly powered by WordPress. converted by W eb2PDFConvert.com Quinta dos Sonhos (House of Dreams) Home Details Prices TripAdvisor Reviews Accessibility Picture Gallery Contact Us Luxury private villa for holiday rental in the Algarve, Portugal Other Informatiom Client Zone Help Casinha Details Casinha Dos Sonhos is a recent addition to our home in the Algarve. A cottage located just a few metres from both the villa & pool, it is totally self contained & offers privacy & seclusion for up to 2 adults & 2 children. It is ideal for a second family, or grandparents, or as a romantic retreat. Newly finished in 2005, it provides surprisingly spacious accommodation to a luxurious standard within a small package. The interior has a bright, modern ambience & comprises open plan kitchen/dining area/sitting area, a separate double bedroom, an alcove with 2 bunks, & ultramodern shower-room. The kitchen is equipped with hob, microwave, fridge/freezer toaster & electric kettle. Maple faced kitchen units contain all the necessities for simple self catering. The dining/sitting area has patio doors opening onto the casinha’s own south facing terrace. A HiFi DVD system & fully automatic air conditioning complete the facilities guests at the casinha enjoy. The double bedroom has views over open countryside to the mountains beyond, whilst 2 bunk beds are reached in a “cabine” area between kitchen & shower room. The strikingly minimalist style of the shower room yields a spacious ambiance to this compact room. To see more photos, larger photos, view slideshow (Flash Player) To see a floorplan of the casinha Click here Quinta dos Sonhos (House of Dreams) Proudly powered by WordPress. converted by W eb2PDFConvert.com Quinta dos Sonhos (House of Dreams) Home Details Prices TripAdvisor Reviews Accessibility Picture Gallery Contact Us Luxury private villa for holiday rental in the Algarve, Portugal Other Informatiom Client Zone Help FAQs For full details about our luxury villa in the Algarve, including photos, floor plans, prices & availability, click here. Frequently asked questions For accessibility FAQs please go to our Accessibility page & click FAQs. Can you provide a travel cot & high chair We have two travel cots, 1 high chair & 1 clip on high chairs which are available free-of-charge. . Please tell us that you will need them & they will be put up for you. The master bedroom the twin room & the casinha have sufficient room for a cot. How warm is the pool/jacuzzi Pools can often be surprisingly cool, even in warm weather. This is because of coastal breezes which, although helping you to keep you from getting too hot, also suck heat out of swimming pools by evaporation. Our solar thermal heating system, when used in conjunction with our pool cover provide temperatures in the range 31C (88F) in June, July & August, and over 26′C (79′F) from mid September. We also provide supplementary heating when needed (usually late summer/autumn) using a highly efficient air source heat pump. We provide this level of heating free of charge up to maintain a pool temperature of 26′C. If you require a higher temperatures then we can offer 24hr pool heating (up to 31′C) for £10 per day supplement. there is no “markup” on these prices, this is what it costs in electricity only. Is the air conditioning free? Which rooms have aircon All main rooms in the villa have air conditioning, each room being individually controllable. (n.b. the 4th bedroom, hallways & bathrooms do not have air conditioning). This facility is offered free of charge but we make some restrictions on operation of the units, not to cause inconvenience but to prevent inadvertent misuse. Specifically: Room units will not operate when adjacent outside doors/windows are left open; All units are disabled when the villa is empty. Periodically through the day the system will reset (all units will switch off for a minute after which time they can be switched on again if required) How far is the villa from the nearest beach The nearest beach is Meia Praia – 2 miles of sand. About 15 mins by car. There are dozens of beaches with a 45min radius. Go to Details > Western Algarve for more details How far is the villa from the nearest shops The nearest shops are in Mexilhoeira Grande, our local village – 5 mins by car, 15 – 20 if you walk. The supermarket caters for all day to day needs. The nearest hypermarket is 10min by car. How far is the villa from the nearest resort We are between the Western Algarve resorts of Alvor, & Lagos (about 15min by car). How far is the villa from the airport From Faro airport 45 min by car. See flights for details of other airports. Do I need a car at Quinta dos Sonhos converted by W eb2PDFConvert.com Most people hire a car, some bring their own. A car gives you transport to/from the airport, shops & supermarkets, beaches, resorts, restaurants, scenic routes & other places holidaymakers like to visit. It is possible to satisfy daily needs in our local village (small supermarkets, a few village bars & restaurants) 15mins walk away but all other journeys would be by public transport. There is no taxi “rank” but we have a local English speaking company that can be booked in advance (see card on noticeboard at villa) For disabled or wheelchair dependent guests a car is essential for getting out. The lane linking the villa to the main road is up hill & too bumpy for a wheelchair. Quinta dos Sonhos (House of Dreams) Proudly powered by WordPress. converted by W eb2PDFConvert.com Quinta dos Sonhos (House of Dreams) Home Details Prices TripAdvisor Reviews Accessibility Picture Gallery Contact Us Luxury private villa for holiday rental in the Algarve, Portugal Other Informatiom Client Zone Help The Western Algarve The Algarve is the southern most province of Portugal, extending along the whole of its southern coast, from the Spanish border in the east to the Atlantic coast in the west, some 120 miles. Whilst the coastal belt is quite built up in places especially in the central area from Faro to Albufeira, in the Western Algarve the coast is littered with beaches, bays & coves of almost every description. View a local map Our nearest beach Meia Praia, 2 miles of unbroken sand stretching from the Alvor estuary in the east, right along to Lagos in the west. West of Lagos the coastline is more rugged & the beaches smaller, but always sand, & at Cape St Vincent, the far south west tip of Europe, the coast becomes spectacular. Turn the corner onto the west Atlantic Coast & there are yet more beaches & coves, the emphasis here is on the fine surfing waves. Our local resort towns are Alvor & Lagos Both have developed for the tourist from their fishing origins, & both retain strong links with their past. Lagos which is the principal resort in the Western Algarve with dozens (possibly hundreds) of cafes bars & restaurants in the cobbled streets of the old town, fronted by the fishing harbour (seen here). We are just 8km from Lagos. Away from the coast you can still see the old world Portugal such as this working donkey (see pic) enjoying the shade in our local village Mexilhoeira Grande. For more details take a preview at: Places to Visit Quinta dos Sonhos (House of Dreams) Proudly powered by WordPress. converted by W eb2PDFConvert.com Quinta dos Sonhos (House of Dreams) Home Details Prices TripAdvisor Reviews Accessibility Picture Gallery Luxury private villa for holiday rental in the Algarve, Portugal Contact Us Other Informatiom Client Zone Help TripAdvisor Reviews Shown below is our TripAdvisor Review page. Unfortunately it can be a little difficult to find the reviews for all the advertising! We have scrolled you down the TripAdvisor page to show our most recent reviews, which are listed 3 at a time. At the end of these (depending on your screen size you may have to use the inner vertical scroll bar to scroll below the last review dispayed)) you can click the lower right buttons to load earlier reviews. Alternatively if you would prefer to visit the TripAdvisor site, click here We noticed that you're using an unsupported browser. The TripAdvisor website may not display properly. We support the following browsers: Windows: Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome. Mac: Safari. Has Terrace and Private Outdoor Pool (Heated) - Rental in Mexilhoeira Grande, Portugal Mexilhoeira Grande Hotels Flights Vacation Rentals Restaurants lking tours, luxury hotels, Joe's pizza Things to Do Forum Best of 2016 Near: Mexilhoeira Grande, Portugal Europe › Portugal › Algarve › Faro District › Portimao › Mexilhoeira Grande Luxury 4+ bedroom Algarve villa, with heated pool Overview Reviews Amenities Availability Map Excellent 21 reviews 1 of 13 Quinta dos Sonhos (House of Dreams) Overview Villa 6 Bedrooms, 4 Bathrooms, Sleeps 9 converted by Web2PDFConvert.com 6 Bedrooms, 4 Bathrooms, Sleeps 9 Mexilhoeira Grande, Portimao, Faro District, Algarve Send to a friend Our luxury 3+1 bedroom/3 bathroom Algarve villa with private heated pool, is beautifully situated in the Western Algarve, the villa accommodates up to 6+1, with the option to rent our adjacent cottage, accommodating up to 11 in total. The Western Algarve is one of the few remaining unspoilt coastal areas in Europe with dozens of beaches, pretty fishing villages & harbours, dramatic cliffs, amazing surfing, & excellent resort towns of Lagos & Alvor. This is a very special villa, enjoying a fantastic unspoilt location in its own grounds of over 5 acres (20,000m2). It is also our home for the winter months & so you can be assured it is equipped with every modern facility, including automatic air conditioning, private heated pool & jacuzzi, free broadband & guest computer for convenient internet access. With space,... Read more About the Owner, Mrs E Quinta dos Sonhos (House of Dreams) Proudly powered by WordPress. converted by Web2PDFConvert.com Quinta dos Sonhos (House of Dreams) Home Details Prices TripAdvisor Reviews Accessibility Picture Gallery Contact Us Luxury private villa for holiday rental in the Algarve, Portugal Other Informatiom Client Zone Help Accessibility FAQs For full details about our luxury villa in the Algarve, including photos, floor plans, prices & availability, click here. Below are answers to specific questions on accessibility: Is the villa suitable for all types of disability No. Quinta Dos Sonhos is a normal house which has been adapted in many respects to make accessibility easier for many types of disability. However only you can say whether the villa is suitable for you, based on what you read here, on the website, & from responses we are very happy to provide to your specific questions. Is the villa suitable for an exclusively disabled party No. We aim to provide accessibility for a range of disabled people who have the assistance of a carer or family member(s). If you have more than one disabled person in your party please discuss with us as not all rooms may be suitable. How many rooms have accessibility features We have just one bathroom that is adapted for disabled use (level access shower, shower/w.c chair, grab rails etc). Whilst any guest in any bedroom can access this bathroom (shown as Shower Room on the floor plan), the 3rd bedroom is physically closest. The 3rd bedroom also has: twin beds, that can be moved for you; 3 different exit doors (one with direct access to the pool terrace) allowing the shortest wheelchair routes. large area of free floor space e.g. for turning, or for moving a bed hoist. What can I assume about accessibility We would prefer that you assume nothing. Generally however unless we state otherwise, assume a normal house with normal facilities. Be careful not to assume that we have features & facilities that you may have encountered elsewhere. If in doubt – please ask. How do I access the pool/ how deep is the pool The normal pool access is by steps in the corner of the shallow end. There is a firm handrail but you may need help to get in & out. Alternatively we provide a pool hoist. The hoist is operated by an assistant for entry & exit to the pool. The water depth at the shallow end is 1m (3ft 6″) & is level across the width of the pool, & for about 2 m along its length How do I access the jacuzzi Wheelchair users can use the ramp to gain access to the turning deck which is designed such that the lip of the tub is level with a standard wheelchair seat. By sliding onto the lip of the tub & swinging legs over the tub can be then entered via 2 steps Is there a level access shower Yes – in the 3rd bathroom Can you provide a shower chair/ a w.c chair/ a commode Yes. The chair we have can be used or adapted for all three functions. It is provided on request free of charge. Has the kitchen been designed or adapted for disabled use No. The kitchen is modern & spacious but is not designed specifically for use by disabled people to (say) prepare meals or do the washing up. Can you arrange wheelchair friendly car hire Currently we don’t know of a car hire company in Portugal that hires adapted vehicles. Some of the solutions that have been adopted by our converted by W eb2PDFConvert.com guests include: Hire an estate car into which an electric wheelchair can be folded up. The disabled passenger has to be manoeuvred into the regular car seat however. Hire a minibus size vehicle e.g. a Mercedes Vito & hire ramps to allow an electric wheelchair to be “driven” into the back. We can arrange this type of vehicle combination. Travel down in your own vehicle – the drive from Santander (ferry to Plymouth) in northern Spain can be completed in a day (we can advise on routes etc). Use a wheelchair friendly transfer just from/to the airport (which we can arrange). Can you arrange hire of mobility aids Yes we can arrange hire of most mobility items e.g. pushers, wheelchairs, electric scooters. Click on “Accessibility equipment hire” in the sidebar. Remember that we provide: pool hoist, shower chair/commode. Is the casinha suitable for disabled use Not really. Please check with us to discuss specific situation Quinta dos Sonhos (House of Dreams) Proudly powered by WordPress. converted by W eb2PDFConvert.com Quinta dos Sonhos (House of Dreams) Home Details Prices TripAdvisor Reviews Accessibility Picture Gallery Contact Us Luxury private villa for holiday rental in the Algarve, Portugal Other Informatiom Client Zone Help Accessibility guide to the Algarve For full details about our luxury villa in the Algarve, including photos, floor plans, prices & availability, click here. Some general points first. The Portuguese have a much more informal approach to managing disability & conforming to regulations relating to disability. You will not find “disabled friendly” restaurants, for instance. What you will find are people willing to bend over backwards to enable a wheelchair user to be able to access the premises. This will often mean that a few waiters will just lift wheelchair & user & transport them to where they wish to go. Similarly for shops, beaches etc. Where infrastructure has been altered it is often not thought through very well. A few years ago it is unlikely that the local authorities in Portugal could even spell “disabled access”. To their credit they have committed considerable effort & expense towards improving the situation however the best that can be said currently is that the efforts are patchy, rarely “joined up” & leave a lot of scope for improvement! All this means that you will not find perfection, & some degree of compromise will be necessary wherever you go. To be candid it is also early days for us & we are learning all the time. We have (as you will see) made great strides at the villa to improve disabled access & will continue to do so. We are now starting to compile briefing notes to advise our guests what they might expect in the resorts nearby. This is going to take time & so these pages are just a start. We hope that our disabled guests will help us by feeding back both good & bad in their experiences so that we can progressively fill out these pages in the same way as we have the main briefing notes. An email or some photos of what you’ve learned will always be very welcome. Listed below are the places we have visited with our disability “hats” on & what we learned there. Read these in conjunction with our Places to visit guide. As in “Places to visit”, they are listed east to west. Southern Coast The cliffs at Marinha These famous cliffs appear on the front of virtually every guidebook of the Algarve. (Directions – drive east along EN125 past Lagoa. At International School – green lawns & palms on LHS, turn right signed Caramujeira, Marinha Benegil. Follow signs to Marinha until you reach a car park. The cliffs themselves are not “accessible” but there is a wonderful picnic area at the top of the cliffs(see pic) which is easy to reach by wheelchair. Note – there are no facilities here at all (loos, cafes, shops) Carvoeiro With a steep approach, no close parking & tiny beach we do not recommend you try Carvoeiro. Ferragudo Whilst the sea front & village are accessible, the beaches absolutely aren’t. Praia da Rocha We do not include Praia da Rocha in our main “Places to visit” guide as it is a resort with dozens of apartment blocks & we think frankly that there are better places to visit, even though the beach “beach of rocks” is quite spectacular. This beach is totally inaccessible for wheelchair users, but, in compensation, there is another beach at Praia da Rocha which is at the eastern end of the stretch of coast below Portimao. Follow Marina signs then when you get near you will see “Praia Accessivel” signs. There are only a couple of disabled parking bays but there is a drop off turnround zone where you can offload passengers then find somewhere it park. The beach itself is huge & so should never get overcrowded. Significantly there is a network of boardwalks spanning large areas of the beach to improve access. Along the back of the beach there are lots of bar restaurants (visible in top pic) & these share public loos which include large properly designed disabled facilities. Overall we would say this is one of the better disabled beaches we’ve seen in the Algarve – if you can put up with the package tour folks. converted by W eb2PDFConvert.com As well as the beach the marina is a nice place to spend some time. The whole marina area is accessible as are a range of shops, cafes & restaurants. We have also seen a boat operator offering boat trips with a wheelchair designed to go on the boat (2013). Alvor Alvor has become the real hero for leading the way in disabled access! To reach the beaches at Alvor, follow the signs for “Praia”. When you get to about 400m from the beach car park you will see this type of sign – encouraging! The car park looks like a forest of palm trees at first – drive right to the end – you will see a P sign with a small wheelchair motif. There are a number disabled parking slots here but, because there is no windscreen sticker system or penalties for misuse, many Portuguese can’t resist the opportunity for easy parking. A few metres from the parking a board proudly announces the opening of the accessible beach of Alvor June 2005. Nearby you will find a boardwalk running from the car park to the top of the beach. There are in fact several of these at intervals along the beach. It was not however clear what you were expected to do then……. Guest comment: Alvor – as well as the disabled parking and access to the beach at Alvor there is an amazing 4km or so Boardwalk across the lagoon. Best to park at the Marina and the Boardwalk starts from there. Also from Marina is a Promenade that leads towards the town centre and beyond, all flat. It passes numerous accessible restaurants and there are lots of boats to see! The beach at Alvor is wonderful – 2 miles of level golden sands but the sand is very soft – but no chance of getting a wheelchair over it. 2016 update The above information all relates to the beach & lagoon to the west of Alvor. However, at time of writing (May 2016) a huge new boardwalk is almost complete stretching along most of the eastern section of the beach. with drop down ramps to the beach & numerous cafes & sunbed/sunshade areas on the beach this is an exciting new development that brings well developed beach facilities within the accessible range of a wheelchair user – well done Alvor! In the map here the car park is centre screen. you can just see the board walks east of the carpark, but none to the west, where all the beach facilities are! This addition gives wheelchair access most of the way westwards to Praia dos Três Irmãos By chance however we met a local who told us that during the summer there was an accessibility centre (see next slide) with people on hand to assist & with a “beach buggy” to help people into the sea. (This tent is the accessibility centre – it was being used for something else when we photographed it here.) converted by W eb2PDFConvert.com Here is one of our guests using the beach buggy (2012) Also “accessible” are beach cafes, again at intervals which do have disabled toilets (they were locked on the day we visited – get the key from the bar) – you might need to get into training for the ascent however (see pic)! You will find that the beach at Alvor is a fair distance from the town centre & it’s promenade. The promenade is lovely & has these cafes at intervals along its length – beware however, non of the loos are remotely accessible & we did not see any public loos in the vicinity Lagos In our main briefing notes we suggest parking at the Lagos marina & walking across the river bridge to the town centre. The route is reasonably doable for wheelchair users albeit about 1/2mile each way. There are loos in the marina at the outset & cafe bars along the marina front. Shown here is the bridge linking the town to the marina – a steepish push up the slopes but otherwise no steps along the entire route. Praia Da Luz Just west of Lagos, Praia da Luz is a buzzy resort with a smallish beach & nice promenade (the promenade is surfaced with calcada – small rectangles of stone – which might be bumpy for wheelchair users. The best place to park is at the eastern end of the promenade (see Rua da Varzea on the map here. You will find the well marked disabled parking shown in the photo. Some effort has been made with a small network of board walks around the near beach area however there is still a shortfall between the edge of the boardwalk, & the area of sunbeds/shades The main cafe/bar/restaurant is accessible via ramps & they have a full sized disabled public toilet. Overall – an effort has been made but we suggest getting there early (especially in peak weeks) as the parking near the beach will go very quickly. Burgau The next town along the coast from Praia da Luz, accessibility is really difficult & although Burgau is a pretty place, we would say its just too converted by W eb2PDFConvert.com difficult. The main problem is that it is a very steep hill down to the beach through the town over cobbles. Even if you manage this then the ramp shown is the only access onto the beach – fine if you can drive a car right down but we suspect that Burgau becomes a complete zoo during peak months (single narrow street up/down is the only access) so best go somewhere else! Salema Is a much better bet than Burgau. Similar in being still an active fishing village it scores on several fronts. Firstly there is a lot more parking by the sea front all of which is level. There are some disabled slots but they are poorly marked & will probably be illegally parked in however any parking in this area is fine. There are two rampways down to the beach both shown in photos. They are reasonably sloped & the 2nd one shown (see the concrete slope in the photo below) is the old slipway for the fishing boats. At the time of writing (4/09) new public loos were under construction in the meantime however there is one “accessible loo” (not inspected – locked until end April!) underneath the Atlantico restaurant bar. Altenatively the hotel Salema has a ramped entrance & so called accessible loos (handrails etc) but are very cramped for proper wheelchair access) Sagres Guest comment: Sagres – long paved wheelchair walk. Go first to Cabo San Vincente which has good disabled facilities –a ramp down to a disabled loo and also in to the souvenir shop. Then return to Sagres and park at the Fort (there is a disabled space on the road back down from the Fort at the top of the public parking area). Inside the Fort there is a newly paved “Ponta de Sangres Panoramic Walk” maybe 3 or 4 km long right around the headland with views back across to the lighthouse. For lunch afterwards visit “A Casinha” on Rua de Sao Vincente – after leaving the Fort turn right at first roundabout and it is on the left just beyond a small supermarket. Flat access, a good disabled loo and also a disabled parking space in the small courtyard! Western Coast The western coast is rough, wild & beautiful. Whilst wheelchair access down to the beach itself isn’t available, it is a wonderful place to visit for its scenic qualities. Carrapateira Carrapateira is a small resort on the west coast known by surfers for its Atlantic waves, & by others for its rugged coast & 2 lovely beaches. Both are reached via a coastal track signed “Bordeira” north of Carapateira, & “Amado”, south of Carrapateira. Both areas have recently been improved by the addition of a number of board walks – aimed at accessibility for all. The beach on the left is Bordeira – the board walk runs in a loop from a car park & gives views across the beach, but not wheelchair access to the beach. not all of the boardwalks are wheelchair friendly however The general theme of the boardwalks is to give greater access over rough ground to a viewing point or headland, often with a small platform & bench. As such they provide quite a range of interesting viewing points along this most beautiful stretch of coast. This is Amado beach where there is cafe/restaurant which is accessible & gives great views as shown & is the most popular surfing beach. converted by W eb2PDFConvert.com Access down to the beach however is along a gravelly track. Vila Do Bispo There are two further signposted beaches on the west coast, both reached viaVila do Bispo Only Colegio beach has any wheelchair access at all – as far as the cafe you can see in the picture. However even this access is not without problems – here is the ramp down to the lower terrace! Quinta dos Sonhos (House of Dreams) Proudly powered by WordPress. converted by W eb2PDFConvert.com Quinta dos Sonhos (House of Dreams) Home Details Prices TripAdvisor Reviews Accessibility Picture Gallery Contact Us Luxury private villa for holiday rental in the Algarve, Portugal Other Informatiom Client Zone Help Accessibility equipment rental We can arrange hire of a range of accessibility equipment. Prices shown below are in Euros, payable locally on your arrival. The delivery charge shownis payable in addition to the rental. Where more than one item is hired however, only one delivery charge equal to that for the most expensive item is payable. The refundable deposit shown will also be required. You can make out a separate sterling equivalent value cheque for this if you prefer which will simply be destroyed when the equipment is returned in good condition. Items are delivered to & collected from the villa unless otherwise arranged. If you wish to hire items we would be grateful of having earliest possible notice, as all items have limited supply. If you need something that is not listed here, please ask. Description Price in EURuros per week 1 week 2 weeks delivery EUR Deposit EUR Frame 15 25 10 50 Pusher 25 40 10 150 Wheelchair 45 75 10 350 Electric wheelchair 100 190 50 750 Pool Hoist 250 500 50 500 Electric Scooter (range of sizes, same price) 100 190 50 750 Monkey Bar 25 45 50 150 Electric bed hoist 50 100 50 500 Quinta dos Sonhos (House of Dreams) Proudly powered by WordPress. converted by W eb2PDFConvert.com Quinta dos Sonhos (House of Dreams) Home Details Prices TripAdvisor Reviews Accessibility Picture Gallery Luxury private villa for holiday rental in the Algarve, Portugal Contact Us Other Informatiom Client Zone Help Adapted Vehicle Rental We can arrange rental of a fully adapted vehicle: Renault Kangoo, fully adapted vehicle, takes up to 5 including wheelchair occupant; Available from Lisbon. Can be delivered/collected at Faro, but we recommend if at all possible that you arrange your flights in/out of Lisbon. Rental is from €62 per day plus €175 delivery/collect charge (2013 rates), please check with us first. click the image for larger version. We have another supplier (2014) so please let us know if you need a larger vehicle. In either event if you need this type of vehicle please book it as soon as possible as there are only a handful in Portugal. Quinta dos Sonhos (House of Dreams) Proudly powered by WordPress. converted by W eb2PDFConvert.com Quinta dos Sonhos (House of Dreams) Home Details Prices TripAdvisor Reviews Accessibility Picture Gallery Contact Us Luxury private villa for holiday rental in the Algarve, Portugal Other Informatiom Client Zone Help Wheelchair friendly airport transfers We recommend Algarve wheelchair transfers for wheelchair friendly transport in the Algarve and Faro airport transfers. You may book directly online with instant quote and confirmed voucher. No extra fees, full assistance and dedicated private service. For more information visit ezClick-Transfers.com Quinta dos Sonhos (House of Dreams) Proudly powered by WordPress. converted by W eb2PDFConvert.com Quinta dos Sonhos (House of Dreams) Home Details Prices TripAdvisor Reviews Accessibility Picture Gallery Contact Us Luxury private villa for holiday rental in the Algarve, Portugal Other Informatiom Client Zone Help Booking Terms These are the Terms & Conditions which will govern your booking of our villa Vivenda Dos Sonhos, or cottage Casinha Dos Sonhos (the cottage). It is important to read & understand them before making your booking. 1. A reservation becomes a contract by you completing the online booking form, paying a reservation deposit, & receiving back from us a booking confirmation. The reservation deposit is £200. 2. Rental prices depend on number of occupants, as stated on our Prices page & are confirmed in your booking confirmation. 3. We ask that the deposit is topped up to 25% in January of the holiday year, or within 2 weeks of the reservation date - whichever is the later . This date is shown on your booking confirmation. 4. The balance becomes due 8 weeks prior to the holiday date, together with a refundable damage/keys/telephone use deposit of £200. 5. We absorb credit card fees on the £200 reservation deposit but you are responsible for any charges made by banks, credit card companies or other intermediaries in transferring payment to us. 6. What you can expect. The features & facilities at the villa are as described in the pages of our website at the date of your booking. In the event that any facility is faulty or fails , we will make best efforts to restore the facility within a practical timescale but this may not be immediate or within the duration of your stay. 7. The price is inclusive other than swimming towels which you must bring yourselves. The rental period is from 3pm on the holiday date, to 10am on the departure date. We provide solar pool heating free of charge, & can offer supplementary pool heating at additional charge (see FAQs) 8. You are responsible for the actions of your party & any loss or damage that results from their actions. 9. You are responsible for the safety of your party. This includes reading the notes that you will receive concerning safety at the villa, & communicating them where necessary to your party. Specifically the notes concerning pool safety are of paramount importance – especially if you have young children in your party. 10. You undertake that all members of your party are, or will shortly be covered by a travel insurance policy which will include cover against cancellation, personal injury/ illness, loss/damage to personal property, and personal liability during your stay at the villa. 11. Cancellation. Your reservation deposit becomes forfeit on cancellation. For cancellation within 6 months prior to the holiday date we may hold you responsible for any losses arising from the cancellation up to the full rental due. Cancellation will be treated sympathetically and provided it is possible to relet the villa, only losses incurred to date by us will charged to you. There are no cancellation charges on the Casinha. 12. The pool & hot tub are primarily solar heated. The heating is not unlimited & their temperature will depend to a degree on whether or not you use the pool covers provided. Additional heating by heat pump can be provided, at extra charge. 13. The Casinha can accommodate a maximum of 2 adults & 2 children. Unaccompanied children (under 18) must not be the sole occupants of the Casinha. If you do not require the casinha, it will be closed throughout your stay (i.e. not rented to others). 14. The air conditioning is subject to some common sense restrictions to avoid wasteful use. See FAQs for details. 15. Maid service is twice weekly. The maid’s duties are to keep the house clean (not clean up after guests). 16. You are over 18 years of age. 17. In the event of dispute English law will apply to the contract . converted by W eb2PDFConvert.com Quinta dos Sonhos (House of Dreams) Proudly powered by WordPress. converted by W eb2PDFConvert.com