Maria Antonia and her family are incredibly lovely people and look forward to welcoming your kids with open arms. Your hostess is even a trained kindergarten teacher and her five grandchildren, living in Alcácer and Lisbon, can’t wait to take your children to say hi to the sheep, donkeys and chickens.
Monte do Olival in Portugal’s Alentejo region: A sun-kissed design farm stay with idyllic beaches nearby
Calling all design enthusiasts and nature-loving families! Prepare to rejoice, for we have discovered a true gem of a farm stay located a mere hour’s drive south of Lisbon, nestled in the undulating hills of the Portuguese Alentejo region. Only a quick 20-minute car ride from endless stretches of pristine white beaches and surprisingly chic villages lies the Monte do Olival farm. Here, you’ll relish your time in one of four fancy apartments, freshly completed in 2021, and indulge in a delicious farm-to-table breakfast served right next to the pool. While you relax and rejuvenate, your lovely host family attends to your every need, serenaded only by the gentle hum of mooing cows and clattering storks.
Monte do Olival – A truly authentic Portuguese dream vacation
Envision this: A farmhouse perched on a sunny hill, enveloped by cork oaks, olive trees, and sprawling fields where sheep graze peacefully. Just beyond the fields lies a quaint riverside village called Alcácer do Sal, with its narrow winding streets that smell of freshly laundered linens and home-baked cakes. You might even catch a breezy hint of sea air, as the rushing waves of the Atlantic Ocean are a stone’s throw away. This picture-perfect postcard setting has been the backdrop of Maria Antonia’s childhood, that of her children, and now her five grandchildren. Since forever, your gracious hostess has longed to share the idyllic beauty of her homeland with other families, extending a warm welcome to her cherished farm. Finally, in 2021, her lifelong dream came true, and we are overjoyed to be among the first to introduce you to this haven she has created – Monte do Olival!
Vibrant design in both farm & city apartments
In collaboration with her family and architect friends, Maria Antonia has created four accommodations amidst the farm’s expansive olive grove, along with two apartments and a quaint townhouse nestled in the heart of old town Alcácer do Sal – each exuding undeniable passion and devotion to their beloved homeland. Drawing inspiration from the colors of the region, the farm apartments (all of which are, by the way, generously sized to accommodate four to six guests and outfitted with full kitchens!) are an enchanting fusion of white, blue, and beige. Against the backdrop of white limestone, soft wood and colorful Portuguese ceramics blend together seamlessly. The three city lodgings comprising Casas do Olival, with their whitewashed ceiling beams and gleaming plank floors, may be situated in the heart of the village, yet possess the same laid-back charm as their counterparts on the farm.
Pool, animals + boundless beaches = a children’s paradise!
Should you choose to stay on the farm, the infinity pool, offering a meditative view of the fields with grazing sheep, cows and donkeys, lies at your doorstep. But before you take the plunge, start your day with a wonderfully fresh farm-to-table breakfast served in the communal space right beside the pool. Complete with home-made cakes served by none other than Maria Antonia herself! Occasionally, even the cheeky farm cat Tico will pop by to bid you good morning and weave playfully around your legs. For a leisurely city stroll, Alcácer do Sal, with its array of authentic eateries, is only a 10-minute drive away. And you’ll need less than half an hour to reach seemingly endless stretches of pristine white beaches with laid-back beach bars along the Atlantic coast. Even the hustle and bustle of vibrant Lisbon is right at your fingertips, just an hour-long car ride away. Simplesmente perfeito!
Contact: Cláudia Rico
E-mail: [email protected]
Address: Monte do Olival, CCI 2407, 7580-516 Alcácer do Sal, Portugal
Phone: +351 934 846 717
Web: www.montedoolival.pt
Text: Vanessa Bujak
Images: Monte do Olival & Vanessa Bujak
Your child-friendly hosts
Farm flair, but in style
The apartment design has swept us off our feet with its wicker lanterns, hanging chairs, and modern rain showers that somehow seamlessly blend into the centuries-old olive groves of the farm. Modern comfort in timelessly beautiful design – we love it!
Quiet beaches even in high season
The many beaches around Monte do Olival are some of the most beautiful in Europe, and unbelievably, even in July, the white sandy beaches along the rugged Atlantic shore never get too crowded.
Open all year, even in winter
With an average of 300 days of sunshine per year, the Alentejo region is a wonderful year-round vacation destination, and the Monte do Olival (equipped with heating and a fireplace!) welcomes guests throughout the year. September and October are still ideal for enjoying warm days on the beach and relaxing at beach shacks, while winter offers opportunities for long walks along the shore, hillside hikes and beach horseback riding.
Great to combine with a city trip
Since you will most likely be flying to and from Lisbon anyway, why not combine your vacation in the natural paradise of Alentejo with a few days in Portugal's bustling capital? Lisbon is not only SO worth visiting, but it’s also a very child-friendly city. In our Lisbon blogpost, we’ve put together some tips on what to do, and, of course, where to stay.
It hums and buzzes in summer
This area is renowned for its rice fields, but the high humidity needed for rice farming also attracts mosquitoes. To ensure a comfortable stay, remember to use insect repellent at all times. Additionally, all accommodations come equipped with mosquito nets for your convenience.
We recommend a car
To reach the beach and explore the surrounding villages, located 10 to 20 minutes away, a (rental) car is essential. The public transport system in the region is nearly non-existent.
HOTEL INFO & FAMILY FACTS
Peak season with two children
295 Euro*/night in Casa do Alecrim or Casa do Rosmaninho including breakfast.
Off season with baby
185 Euro */night in Casa da Oliveira including breakfast.
* This price is just an indication. All information is supplied without liability.
In the two-bedroom accommodations on the farm – the Casa do Alecrim and Casa do Rosmaninho – a baby cot can be added to the parents’ room and up to two extra beds can be added to the second bedroom, meaning a total of six people plus one baby can stay here.
In the farmhouse apartments, breakfast is included and some light snacks (home-made cakes, juices, fresh fruit and a cold vegetable soup called “Gazpacho”) are available during the day near the pool. Each apartment is equipped with a small kitchen so you can cook your own meals. Just one kilometer away is a little tavern where you can pick up delicious take-away. In the town of Alcácer do Sal (10 minutes by car) and in the whole surrounding area, there’s a wide choice of supermarkets and restaurants.
The farm is home to sheep, cows, donkeys, chickens and the cheeky farm cat Tico. Storks are welcome guests on the farm, too, as well as herons and – in the summer – dragonflies of all colors.
The farm has a panoramic infinity pool with salt water.
Your babies and toddlers are more than welcome, the accommodation provides free cots and high chairs. The pool is not fenced, so always watch out for your little ones! While there’s no official laundry service at Monte do Olival, your host family will be happy to help with some laundry if needed.
Teenagers can have a great time here with free wifi, table tennis and a chillout room (parent free area).
There’s no designated playground, but the huge property will seem like a nature adventure park to your children. And the animals need to be visited regularly, too…
Bauernhof, Bed & Breakfast, Ferienwohnung
Casa do Alecrim and Casa do Rosmaninho have two bedrooms.
Portugal boasts an average of 300 days of sunshine a year, making it a wonderful off-season destination! During the months of September and October, you can still have a great day on the beach, the beach bars and restaurants in the area are open year-round. So, there’s always some movida! Only the sunbed rentals close after high season. In winter, you can take long walks along the beach or hike up the hills of Alentejo with older kids. Another highlight during off-season is guided horseback riding along the beaches, which is forbidden during summer.
The nearest airport is Lisbon (about one hour by car). There are direct flights to Portugal’s capital from all major German airports, flight time is about three hours. To get from the airport to the accommodation and to explore the area, we recommend renting a car.
No wellness area.
No gym.
Dogs are not allowed.
Completed in 2021, the farmhouses were designed for maximum energy efficiency and have solar panels on the roofs. All contractors, engineers, architects and carpenters involved in creating the accommodations are local. The wood used for the fireplaces comes from the branches cut when the farm’s own olive trees are pruned. The ornamental plants in the accommodations are native and need very little water. Your hosts use mainly glass and other reusable containers to avoid plastic as much as possible. 80% of the food is organic and/or regional/seasonal. There are many part-time parents working on the farm who are also allowed to bring their children to work when necessary.
Wir sind gerade im Monte do olival und es ganz zauberhaft. Die Wohnung ist so schön eingerichtet, diese Farben? Die Besitzerin und die Angestellten sind unglaublich nett und versuchen einem jeden Wunsch zu erfüllen und das Frühstück ist einfach nur lecker. Ganz klare Empfehlung, wir würden immer wieder kommen.
Vielleicht verratet ihr noch wie die kleine Taverne (ca 1 km entfernt) heißt? Die würden wir gerne mal testen ?
Liebe Nadine, das freut uns riesig zu hören! Die kleine Taverne ist ein Tipp vom Monte do Olival, deshalb fragt am besten mal direkt die Gastgeber, welche sie denn meinen :-). Habt noch eine schöne Zeit in Portugal und liebe Grüße ans Monte do Olival, Vanessa