5/5 - SUPERB ------ GO HERE :o)
I did a lot of research in looking for our holiday, I wanted somewhere secluded and with a pool and wanted the villa to be very spacious, I found this one and noticed the owners were from England and after numerous email tennis back and forward with loads of questions and photos back etc we decided to book it as it sounded just what we wanted. Few weeks before we were due to go we recieved directions and keys etc, on arrival at Faro airport, we picked up car hassle free and followed the easy directions to the villa. On approaching the gates we were very impressed of the location and privacy of the villa, on opening the door WOW the spacious cleaniness of the villa was 10/10 - 3 bedrooms, kitchen, dining room/lounge and 3 toilets, every room had patio doors that opened onto the pool area and behind the pool a large garden. This was my first time driving abroad which resulted in my car door mirror havin an argument with a wheely bin and coming off second best. I contacted the police on 7 different numbers but due to my strong Scottish accent they couldnt understand me. I contacted the owner in England and within 30 mins I had the Portugese caretaker of the villa at the door who contatced the police and stayed till they arrived to translate. I honestly dont know what I would have done without this help. The owner is also very helpful as theres loads of maps and a guest book with places to go, places to eat etc. The nearest Town is called Paderne which is about 2.5 km from the villa by car or 10km if you're walking lol. It's superb as it's not in the tourist part and very quiet just what the Dr ordered :)
The roads are easy to drive on (apart from green wheely bins that jump out in front of the car), everything's signposted and easy to find. All the main towns are with in a 30 min drive, but who wants to go to main towns when you have your own pool and total seclusion? We went to a few main towns and couldnt wait to get back. All the locals are very friendly and always acknowledge you.
For the record on holidays if there's a problem I'm the biggest complainer, this holiday I'm speechless and all credit to the friendly owners. Many thanx for a superb holiday.
George Woodcock, August 2009. Family of 4 - 2 adults and 2 boys 13 and 16
5/5 - Beautiful Villa in a Peaceful Location
Fantastic villa with everything that you would require and set in a stunning location with the addition of being very secluded. Perfect for a family holiday both young and old. The property was very clean and maintained very well. The 3 bedrooms were all good sized and the children enjoyed having their own balcony. The air conditioning was a real bonus in the sweltering heat of August.
The local management were extremely helpful and very efficient especially with the hire car crises in Portugal this year... The owner was very helpful throughout. We went to stunning beaches and great restaurants recommended by the owner and previous guests.
A car is essential if you want to make the most of your holiday. It is nice to be able to join in with the hustle and bustle of the local towns knowing that you are returning to a peaceful and tranquil villa.
I would strongly recommend Casa Norinha if you are looking for a central Algarve location away from the lively, popular tourist resorts. We will definetly return in the future.
5/5 - Fantastic Holiday Spot
The first thing to mention about this villa is that it is in an absolutely stunning location; secluded enough to feel really private but also convenient for local towns, villages and, most importantly, a great selection of beaches.The villa itself is also lovely, with three good sized, air conditioned bedrooms and a very nice open-plan communal space. While the villa has a perfectly adequate kitchen, I really can't recommend missing out on any opportunities to eat out and despite the current exchange rate it is more than possible to find places so reasonably priced that eating out every night is a viable option. The villa owner was able to give us some excellent tip-offs for good restaurants before we left.
I would strongly recommend securing the use of a car, as the centre of Paderne is only really in convenient walking distance for the more vigorous holidayers, and that's not to mention necessary drives to beaches etc. With a car, besides all the nice little villages and handful of castles, the villa is very well connected to popular tourist spots including Albufeira and its environs.
The swimming pool is quite standard though elevated to excellence by its privacy - there is barely a building in site.
My friends and I had an absolutely wonderful time staying at Casa Norinha and I would recommend it to anybody looking for an Algarve holiday away from the hustle and bustle of the busier towns and resorts.
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