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Villa Ponta da Gaivota is a very spacious attractive, 4 bedroom Viilla capable of sleeping 8 people. It's situated in a quite area, with fantastic sea views and just a short walk - about 10 minutes to the centre of Praia da Luz with its golden sand beach, cafes, shops and restaurants.

Built into a hillside, the living room and kitchen are on entry level and the bedrooms and pool are on the lower level. The living room is spacious with tasteful, modern furniture - it has a large dining table, 3 sofas and a woodburning stove. There is a LCD TV with Full Sky TV package and a CD player. Patio doors lead from the living room onto a balcony which dining furniture for 'al fresco' dining, and steps down to the pool.

The open plan kitchen is next to the living room and has a gas hob, electric oven, fridge/freezer, dishwasher and microwave. There is also a guest WC on this level.

Downstairs there are 4 bedrooms - 2 twins, sharing a shower room, a triple bedded room with patio doors to the pool and full bathroom en suite, and a master double bedroom with patio doors to the pool and full bathroom en suite. Two of the bedrooms are fitted with Aircon.

Sky TV (Full Package)

Heated Swimming Pool

Air Conditioning in all bedrooms

Utility Room (washing machine, Spin Dryer, ironing facilities)

Fully WiFi for internet access

4 Bedrooms
Dining Table
3 Sofas
Woodburning Stove
LCD TV
CD Player
Balcony
Gas Hob
Dishwasher
Microwave
Fridge Freezer
Patio Dining Furniture

Local Ameneties

Weather

March to October are warm with little rain in the south. The north-west has shorter summers.

Festivals

Lisbon hosts most festivals in June for the Santos Populares, on 13, 24, and 29 June. The celebration on 13 June is the largest, and all begin the previous evening. People hit each other over the head in the streets with plastic hammers. City events also run in June as part of the Festas da Lisboa. The Estoril Festival takes place in July and August, and Estoril also hosts a Handicrafts Fair during the same months. A small carnival celebration is held in Lisbon in February or March, while regattas and parades are put on in August as part of the Oceans Festival.

Highlights

Portugal boasts its own version of the blues: fado, the bitter-sweet music of Lisbon’s old docks, brimful of the sadness of partings and departings

The likeable capital is a relaxed port, overlooked by a ruined castled. Whitewashed, cobbled streets form a labyrinth upon a hill, populated by fantastic architecture, and Art Nouveau shops and cafes. A statue of Christ stands by the river, arms outstretched, surveying the grand suspension bridge and river ferries. Travellers should visit the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos, the Manueline complex that houses the tomb of Vasco da Gama, and the Gulbenkian Museum, home to a superb art collection.

At the mouth of the Douro River, this atmospheric city of tangled tiers reaching up from the river’s north bank has more to offer than simply its port-producing suburb of Vila Nova de Gaia. Spectacular bridges span the wide river, contemporary art is on display at the Fundação de Serralves, and the old town bustles beside its riverbanks.

Estremadura and Ribatejo

Just north of Lisbon, these regions are home to a number of delights. Surfers should head to the Atlantic rollers at Enceira, those interested in religion should visit Alcobaça’s twelfth-century monastery and Fátima’s famous shrine, while geologists will want to explore the Grutas de Mira de Aire - a vast and extraordinary cave system.

The Algarve

Long sandy beaches have brought mass tourist development to the area. The charms of the area may be overwhelmed, so it’s best to skip the high season and the area from Faro to Albufeira.

Etiquette

A leisurely way of life, coupled with old-fashioned politeness. A unique national character combines with individual traditions for each province. Beachwear is only suitable at the beach. Smoke in restaurants only at the end of a meal.

Food and Drink

Seafood features strongly. Many soups are main dishes, including sopa de marisco (shellfish soup cooked and served with wine) and caldo verde (green soup with kale leaves). Other specialities are caldeirada, a stew with several types of fish, and carne de porco á Alentejana, pork covered with clam and tomato sauce. Portuguese wine improved considerably over last decade. Brandies are also good.

Shopping and Souvenirs

Leather goods copper, ceramics, embroidery and tapestry, cork products, porcelain and china, crystal and glassware.

People and Places

Capital: Lisbon.
Language: Portuguese.
Population: 10,407,000.
Population Density: 112.7. (pop per km²)
Size: 92,345. (area km²)

Transport

Lisbon (LIS) 7 km from the city, Faro (FAO) 4 km from the city, Oporto (OPO) 11 km from the city.

There is a rail service to every town, and every town and village can be reached by an adequate system of roads. Car hire easily available.

Red Tape

International Driving Permit or foreign driving licence, a Green Card must be obtained. UK: 11 Belgrave Square, London SW1X 8PP, tel (020) 7235 5331, fax (020) 7235 0739, email london@portembassy.co.uk. USA: 2012 Massachussetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20008, tel (202) 328 8610, fax (202) 462 3726, email embportwash@attglobal.net.
UK: 33 Rue de São Bernardo, 1249-082, Lisbon, tel 2139 24000, fax 2139 24185, email ppalisbon@fco.gov.uk. USA: Avenida das Forças Ar-madas, Sete Rios 1600-081 Lisbon, tel 2172 73300, fax 2172 69109, email conslisbon@state.gov.