Villa 223 Manor w/ Heated Indoor Pool and Tennis

Ponte de Lima - Villa

I've been hosting retreats in this amazing Manor for a decade. And everyone travelling here from different countries and continents loves this place! The surroundings are luscious and so well-maintained. There is so much space to explore and enjoy at any time of the day. The comfort and service are outstanding, a luxury treat! Distinctive Portugal service is brilliant: efficient, friendly and you feel looked after, including if something comes up during your stay. They always on the case to assist you and are great ambassadors of the warm Portuguese hospitality.

Recently I was part of a group of American vacationers who rented accommodations through Distinctive Portugal. Prior to and throughout our visit, Distinctive Portugal provided a truly remarkable level of service, support, advice, and assistance to our group as a whole and to individual travelers. In addition to arranging for our stay at Villa 223, a stunning estate near Ponte de Lima, Diana at Distinctive Portugal provided extensive advice about leisure and touring activities, from wine tours to hiking to soccer matches. When necessary, Diana made all of the arrangements for various activities, including two incredible Douro River Valleyexcursions for which she arranged transportation to the region, sailing on the river, reservations at top restaurants,and tours and tastings at several fascinating vineyards and wineries. Diana impressed us from the start by responding to all of our queries and requests very promptly, often the same dayeven given the time difference. We all agreed that her assistance enhanced our trip immensely, especially given the lack of English-language information about Northern Portugal on the Internet or in books. The region is spectacular, but we would have missed a great deal of it if Diana had not provided as much advice and assistanceas she did! In addition, Diana identified two local chefs to prepare dinners for our group, coordinating meal dates, times, and menus both before and throughout our stay. The chefs were wonderfully skilled! The dinners they prepared for us were very reasonably priced and among the very best we enjoyed during our stay. Diana also identified local babysitters for couples in our group who were traveling with their children, helping them tonegotiate a reasonable daily rate and clarifying requirements before our arrival and during our stay. American travelers might want to note a cultural difference in expectations for babysitting: the sitters were quite competent, ensuring that the children were safe, fed, and getting along well - but they generally were not as proactive in planning activities for the children and required explicit guidance.) Finally, Distinctive Portugal went “above and beyond” for me personally when my rental car was towed while I was exploring on my own in Viana do Castelo. Because I could not contact my fellow travelers, I e-mailed Diana to ask if she could relay a message to them about my situation. Instead, her husband Sergio showed up at the police station to help me personally, a good thing because none of the officers at the station spoke any English! Sergio remained with me there for more than two hours, handling all negotiations with the police until they expedited the process and returned my vehicle to me that very same night. I can honestly say that Distinctive Portugal saved my vacation from potential disaster! Northern Portugal is beautiful, and the opportunities it offers for touring and sightseeing are extensive and varied. I feel like I got to know the region quite well, and I hope to return some day. And when I do, I definitely will make arrangements through Distinctive Portugal, not only because the company provides access to truly unique and historical accommodations, but also because I know Diana and Sergio will help me enjoy a great deal more of what the region has to offer. Best Regards, Craig Jerald

Good morning Diana, I do have to make you a huge compliment Diana! In all my years as a fashion editor and organizer of our fashion shoots I have never had contact to such well organized and cooperative agency! Thank you so far for everything you have organized for us. It has been a great help! Have a nice day, kind regards Julia Rebstock, BILD der FRAU

Dear Diana and Sergio, We rented Villa 223 through you last spring and had an absolutely marvelous time. The accommodations were just spectacular and the location was terrific. Your services were wonderful. Maria was a delight and we loved her food. My friends who took your wine tour told me it was the highlight of the trip for them. Now its time to look into a trip for 2012 and we are thinking about Spain....specifically the Rioja area. Does Distinctive Portugal have any contacts in that area? If so, we would love a referral. I just think you all are the best! Hope this note finds you well. Kind regards Pam