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Tranquil family villa with lovely sea view, easy stroll to centre and beach.

Photo gallery for Tranquil family villa with lovely sea view, easy stroll to centre and beach.

Pool
View of Casa Elena from the cul-de-sac with lagoon at the bottom of the hill.
Living room
Outdoor dining
Sun warmed master bedroom.

Reviews

9.6 out of 10

Exceptional

5 bedrooms4+ bathroomsSleeps 12300 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Pool
    Pool
  • Barbecue grill
    Barbecue grill
  • Washer
    Washer
  • Parking available
    Parking available
  • Kitchen
    Kitchen
  • Air conditioning
    Air conditioning

Explore the area

Map
Foz do Arelho, Leiria District
  • Obidos Lagoon
    4 min walk
  • Foz do Arelho Beach
    19 min walk
  • Escola de Vela da Lagoa
    19 min walk

Rooms & beds

5 bedrooms (sleeps 12)

Double room

1 Double Bed

Downstairs bedroom.

1 Double Bed

First Triple

3 Single Beds

Master Bedroom

1 Queen Bed

Second Triple

3 Single Beds

4 bathrooms, 1 half bathroom

Downstairs shower room

Soap · Towels provided · Toilet · Shower only

Ensuite

Soap · Towels provided · Bidet · Toilet · Shower only · Hair dryer

Ground floor toilet

Soap · Towels provided · Toilet

Upstairs bathroom

Soap · Towels provided · Bathtub or shower · Toilet · Hair dryer

Upstairs shower room

Soap · Towels provided · Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Kitchenette
Balcony
Garden
Dining Area

About this property

Tranquil family villa with lovely sea view, easy stroll to centre and beach.

We understand that travelers are concerned about coronavirus and are being extra careful over hygiene as a result. We will ensure that there are three days between the arrival and departure of guests as long as this is a Portuguese government requirement.

Casa Elena is a sumptuous modern villa which looks onto the Obidos Lagoon Nature Reserve, itself a short hop from spectacular blue flag Foz do Arelho beach. This spacious house has 5 bedrooms, including one in its basement apartment which also has its own sitting room, bathroom, TV and cooking facilities. On the ground floor, the villa has a large dining-room/sitting room which opens directly onto the pool area with its lovely lagoon views, a fully equipped kitchen, a TV room and a laundry room. There are four bright bedrooms on the top floor, of which the master bedroom has an en-suite. There are a further two shower rooms. The upstairs balcony is a great spot from which to watch the sun go down!

Near the pool there is a barbecue area and a covered area for those who want some shade.

You can park your car away from the summer sun in the underground garage where there is room for two or three cars. While you are inside there are plenty of family DVDs and games.

Casa Elena is a two-minute walk from the shore of the lagoon where you can swim, or wade with the locals looking for shellfish, or join the flamingos for a stroll in the shallows (it might be a bit chilly if you are used to the Med)! A ten-minute walk will take you to the centre of this friendly village where there are grocers, bakers, an excellent butcher, a pharmacy etc. A stone’s throw further lies the Atlantic coast where you can eat delicious fresh fish in any of several reasonably priced local restaurants. The views from these onto the cliffs across the lagoon are glorious, particularly at sunset.

The town of Caldas da Rainha has hypermarkets, a shopping centre, a cinema showing films in English, a lovely park where you can hire a rowing-boat and a fish and a fruit market, both bursting with cheap, fresh local produce. It's only a fifteen-minute drive away.

Foz is a great place for all sorts of sorts of water sports and you can sample many of them at the local sailing school. But pride of place on the Silver Coast must go to surfing, and there is a friendly local surf school which can arrange a great experience for all the family. It’s not as hard as it looks!

Further afield, a short drive will take you to the charm of the walled town of Obidos (one of UNESCO's first world heritage sites) and its summer festival celebrating its medieval heritage, or to several top-class golf courses. Just up the coast is the town of Sao Martinho with its glorious, almost circular beach where you can enjoy a calm sea without the Atlantic surf. Beyond is the old fishing town of Nazaré, famed for its monstrous winter waves. To the north and the south stretches a beautiful coast where in many places you can walk for miles along quiet, sandy, cliff-lined beaches.

And only an hour away you can visit cosmopolitan Lisbon with its fabulous old town and pastelarias where you can eat delicious cakes.

Property manager

Ian Howie

Languages

English, French, German, Spanish

Amenities

Pool
Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Free WiFi
Air conditioning

Similar properties

House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 30
Check out before 10:00 AM

Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
Please contact us if cots/high chairs are needed.

Events

No events allowed

Pets

No pets allowed
Occasional exceptions. Please contact us.

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
The Portuguese government requires all owners of holiday properties to give it the passport details of their guests. Thanks for your understanding.
For all stays of 10 days or more, the house the linens will be changed roughly half way through your stay.

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit and a deadlock
Property Registration Number 36080/AL

We should mention

This property does not have any lifts
A car is recommended for transport to and from this property

About the area

Caldas da Rainha

Located in Caldas da Rainha, this villa is on the waterfront. While the natural beauty of Sao Martinho do Porto Beach and Baleal Beach can be enjoyed by anyone, those looking for an activity can explore Praia D'El Rey Golf Course. Travelling with kids? Consider Escola de Vela da Lagoa and Grande Mercado Medieval de Obidos. Surfing/body boarding and fishing offer great chances to get out on the surrounding water, or you can seek out an adventure with cycling and horse riding nearby.
Map
Foz do Arelho, Leiria District

What's nearby

  • Obidos Lagoon - 4 min walk
  • Foz do Arelho Beach - 19 min walk
  • Obidos Castle - 16 min drive
  • West Cliffs Golf Course - 27 min drive
  • Praia D'El Rey Golf Course - 32 min drive

Getting around

  • Caldas Da Rainha Station - 12 min drive
  • Lisbon (LIS-Humberto Delgado) - 69 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Café Central - ‬20 min walk
  • ‪Ala Norte - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪Tibino - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪Restaurante Tavola - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪Bica da Lagoa - ‬24 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Does Tranquil family villa with lovely sea view, easy stroll to centre and beach. have a pool?

Yes, this property has an outdoor pool.

Is Tranquil family villa with lovely sea view, easy stroll to centre and beach. pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Tranquil family villa with lovely sea view, easy stroll to centre and beach.?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Tranquil family villa with lovely sea view, easy stroll to centre and beach.?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Tranquil family villa with lovely sea view, easy stroll to centre and beach. located?

This family-friendly Caldas da Rainha villa is located on the waterfront, within 1 mi (2 km) of Obidos Lagoon, Escola de Vela da Lagoa and Foz do Arelho Beach. Dom Carlos I Park and Jose Malhoa Museum are also within 6 miles (10 km).

Reviews

9.6

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
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Rating 10 - Excellent. 24 out of 31 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 6 out of 31 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 31 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 31 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 31 reviews" "

9.0/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

9.4/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Fiona D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Portugal 24
Casa Elena allowed our family to come together in a beautiful location. The villa was well equipped and any issue we had was promptly taken care of by the property management. The pool was spectacular! Thank you Ian and Francine for being great hosts.
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

John M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great stay at a very spacious house!
House was very clean and spacious.. Communication with Ian was easy and quick.. Everyone in our large family appreciated the location, proximity to the lagoon, the ocean and to Lisbon.. Highly recommend this house! Thank you for your hospitality Ian and Francine..!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Michael W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Brilliant location
Plenty of space and facilities for our big family group. Local town and Historic Obidos are great visits. Lagoon beaches are feally interesting and fun.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2023

8/10 Good

Dominique P.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Feedback foz de arelho
Emplacement très sympa avec superbe vue et piscine très agréable. Propreté médiocre et chambre au sous sol avec forte odeur désagréable d’humidité. Manque quelques ustensiles de cuisine. La vue, l’organisation de la maison, et le calme du quartier était super. Région intéressante avec beaucoup à visiter dans un rayon de 50 km
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Caroline L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Beautiful location and a lovely villa
We had a fabulous time. Our family age range was from 2-60 and we all enjoyed ourselves in the villa and surrounding area. Quiet and peaceful location. Recommend a car to visit nearby attractions and for supermarkets. A few hiccups at the villa but easy to get hold of owners and dealt with quickly. Made some lovely memories to last a lifetime 💕
Stayed 14 nights in Jul 2023

8/10 Good

Mark C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Stunning views
Had a amazing stay at Ian's villa, only a 20min walk to some really nice restaurants and around 15mins to some amazing towns and beaches, highly recommend getting a car if you are staying for than a few days.
Stayed 11 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Malin A.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great villa
Great villa with plenty of space, a fantastic view and s very Nice pool!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jason H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Fully-appointed home in wonderful location
We stayed here with 8 family members ranging in age from 60+ down to 9. The home has everything one can ask for for a great family get away. Private pool, plenty of bathrooms, appliances utensils, and towels for everyone. There is plenty of indoor and outdoor furniture for everyone as well. It is a short walk to the lagoon or a medium walk to the centre of town to enjoy parks, cafes or restaurants. The inside of the home is spacious and has more than enough separate common rooms to provide privacy for larger groups if required.
Stayed 8 nights in Jun 2022

8/10 Good

Katharine D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
A lovely family holiday
Villa was very comfortable and well equipped. One of my adult children is keen on making pizzas and was disappointed to find no pizza oven. During our stay we had a large excavator working right up to the boundary!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Celina P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Fantástica
Casa com vista fabulosa, muito bem organizada e decorada. Piscina muito limpa
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2020

10/10 Excellent

Ana C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Stay
amazing clean house, great location!

8/10 Good

roberto l.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Preciosa casa, buena localizacion
Buena relacion calidad precio
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2020

10/10 Excellent

irene g.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Casa y sitio estupendos
El propietario muy atento a todo y la casa fenomenal salvo un colchón del piso de abajo que habria que mejorar
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2020

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Genial para familias con niños
Alojamiento bien equipado, amplio, situado cerca de playa y muy tranquilo. Zonas abiertas muy buenas
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2020

10/10 Excellent

alvaro b.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Vacaciones en familia
Una gran casa en un lugar muy tranquilo y cerca de la laguna y playa.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2019

10/10 Excellent

John A.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great holiday
Fantastic view of the lagoon. Everything you could want in a holiday property. A real home from home.
Stayed 12 nights in Aug 2019

6/10 Okay

jean francois u.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Bed and underground room
We was so happy regarding all the house and place and outside, but the less point it was the bed on the master room and on the underground room.

10/10 Excellent

Penny M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Beautiful Villa
We had a fantastic family holiday in this beautiful villa in Foz do Arelho The villa is a good size with a lovely outdoor area , good for outdoor dining and a well maintained pool, If it drops a bit cool there is a large dining table and sitting area inside, which was perfect. We had an 11 month old with us, high chair, cot and baby walker were available for our use which was great for us not to worry about bringing any of these with us. Good WiFi signal anywhere in the villa The village is about 15/20 min walk, where you find good restaurants, bars and a couple grocery stores, I would recommend a car for your grocery trips, there are a couple of larger supermarkets about 15 drive away. The beech is lovely about 15min walk you will find bars and restaurants on the front we had a couple of really nice meals on the sea front I would highly recommend this villa, we all loved it and had a wonderful holiday Penny Murdoch
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2019

10/10 Excellent

Manuela O.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Empfehlung der Villa Elena
Wir waren zu neunt (Zwei Familien) in der Villa Elena. Am Anreisetag standen Wein, Wasser, Milch, Brötchen, Wurst, Käse und Butter bereit. Da wir spät ankamen haben wir uns sehr darüber gefreut. Vielen Dank dafür. Die Villa ist geräumig und gut durchdacht. Alle Zimmer sind schön. Die Küche bietet eine gute Ausstattung und drinnen und draußen gibt es ausreichend Essplätze. Die Lagune ist fußläufig zu erreichen. Einkaufsmöglichkeiten, Surfschule (sehr freundlich und man kann dort auch gut essen) und Strand sind in der Nähe. Der Pool war für unsere Kinder das Highlight. Wir haben uns sehr wohl gefühlt und können die Villa Elena weiterempfehlen.
Stayed 16 nights in Jul 2019

10/10 Excellent

Susan P., Kansas City, MO, US

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Amazing home in an amazing location
Our family and another couple stayed at Ian's lovely home for 6 days last week - our party included six adults and a five-month old baby. The house is in an excellent, quiet location just outside Foz do Arelho, and is a quick 10-15 minute walk to the lagoon beach, the Atlantic side beach another quick 5 minutes, with many local beachside eateries along the way. It is a perfect location for quick day trips to Sintra, Obidos, Coimbra, the Douro valley, Nazare, Peniche, or up to Porto. It is also a quick 70-minute drive to the Lisbon metropolitan area and the airport. The house is roomy, quiet, with a downstairs bed/bath/kitchenette space that was perfect for our son and his wife and baby. The pool was lovely and where we spent much of our time. All amenities were very much appreciated: the dishwasher, washing machine, drying line outside the laundry room, WiFi (which did have to be tweaked mid-visit), cooking accessories, electric shades, pool lounges, and bikes. Everything we needed was there, with complete written info about everything in the house in a binder. The couple of minor issues that developed were quickly and easily taken care of by Ian and his property manager Allison, who were incredibly responsive. I would unhesitatingly recommend this property - it was a delightful vacation for all of us.
Stayed 6 nights in May 2019

10/10 Excellent

Roman P., Kyiv

A lovely place with a good location
Thank you Ian. We spent two nice weeks in your house and really enjoyed this quiet and peaceful place. The villa is well equipped and had enough place for 11 adults. When we booked the villa we had concerns about the size of the house but in reality, it was bigger than shown on the website. I hope we will stay there again.
Stayed 14 nights in Sep 2018

10/10 Excellent

Cherokee B.

Fantastic
Thank you so much Ian, for all of your help in the run up to our holiday. We couldn't have asked for a nicer place, everything you needed was there! The villa was just beautiful & the pool was perfect. I do hope to be able to visit again in the future, there is so much more to see. I do wish we had hired a car now, but this is something to consider for next time. We found the most fantastic taxi company that more than met our needs. Thank you again.
Stayed 10 nights in Sep 2018

10/10 Excellent

richard a.

Perfect holiday villa
Superb villa in a quiet private location yet only a few minutes stroll to beaches and restaurants. Spacious bedrooms, most with great views of the lagoon and very comfortably furnished throughout. Owner extremely helpful and considerate. A bumper welcome pack was much appreciated while "extras" like the 4 mountain bikes and extensive DVD and book collections were a real bonus particularly for the younger members of our family group. Would highly recommend for families or groups.
Stayed 14 nights in Aug 2018

10/10 Excellent

Sue A.

Lovely villa, has everything you need to make your stay comfortable and easy.
We had a family holiday at Casa Elena, children and adults, 12 people altogether. The pool was definitely the favourite with children and grown-ups alike. Lots of laughter and fun times in the pool with the inflateables and water squirters. The villa is very well equipped, everything you need In the villa and round the pool. We used the bbq a couple of nights, and ate out one night in Foz. Very reasonable prices and large portions. We all tried clams which most of us had not eaten before and they were amazing, Really peaceful location with amazing views. We walked to the beach at Foz and loved it. Lots of clean soft sand. We watched the surfers, collected pebbles and shells and the more adventurous of the family had a dip in the Atlantic. Our visit to the Buddha Eden Gadens at Quinta dos Loridos was a big hit with all of the family. Well worth a visit and not expensive. Another great day out was at Óbidos where we walked the castle wall and explored the inner town. If you want to visit a great beach try Peniche, this was a beach that we returned to as it was perfect for swimming or just paddling which our 2 and 4 year olds preferred. Nazare was beautiful too and a must to visit. As we had booked an early evening flight home we had time to enjoy the Oeanarium in Lisbon, not cheap but it was a great way to spend a couple of hours before heading for the airport. We met Jose who looks after the pool and garden, very nice and speaks perfect English. All in all we could not recommend Casa Elana highly enough. Right from the owner who was very helpful to the smallest well thought out detail in the villa. A fab time was had by all and the memories of our holiday at the villa will be happy ones.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2018

8/10 Good

Tanya M.

A lovely property situated in a fantastic location.
This lovely house was situated in a quiet, very safe feeling, cul-de-sac and had the most amazing views. All the way through the process Ian, the property owner, was friendly and prompt to reply to questions. The house was clean and well equipped, the pool was very big with a good depth to the deep end and the BBQ area was great.
Stayed 11 nights in Jul 2018

About the host

Hosted by Ian Howie

Host profile image
We are a British/German family with four grown-up children.
Ian left a career in investment management and now, like Francine, is a part-time student, carer and volunteer, as well as being part-time retired.
We enjoy travelling and speak several languages between us: English, German, French and intermediate Spanish, with Portuguese a work in progress.

Why they chose this property

We loved the location by the sea - both the peaceful waters of the lagoon and the wild Atlantic surf a little beyond - and the tranquility of the house and its modern, clean lay-out. It is in a perfect position to stroll to the town centre shops and to the seafront with its restaurants and lovely views.
We had been thinking about buying a second home somewhere for years but couldn't decide on the location. We had visited the Silver Coast a few years before on a surfing holiday with Ian's cousin who was a surfing instructor in nearby surf hot-spot Peniche.
The area was one of our favourite potential locations. We loved the beautiful coastline, the friendly people, the low cost of living and the fact that this area is one of the few on the southern European coast which hasn't been over developed.
Then, in quick succession, friends of ours bought a property a little to the north of Foz do Arelho, and Ian's surfing cousin became an estate agent in the area. We decided that this was a sign that the Silver Coast was the place for us and the time to buy was now.
On our second property viewing trip, after seeing a lot of villas that were, frankly, disappointing, we came to Casa Elena and we knew almost immediately that this was what we wanted. The house passed all of our subsequent checks with flying colours and in September 2016 we bought it.

What makes this property unique

Magnificent views onto the lagoon, tranquility along with excellent, spacious living areas.

Languages:

English, French, German, Spanish
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