The Holiday Rental Portugal Story

We’re not like other holiday companies out there so we thought it was a good time to tell you a bit about us and our story.

It starts back in 2000 when my parents Marianne and Rod decided to buy a holiday home in Praia d’el Rey Golf & Beach Resort after falling in love with the area. I was lucky enough to spend most of my summers going to the beach and playing on the sand dunes, shopping for fresh fruit and vegetables at the colourful market in Caldas da Rainha and cycling along the cliffs to Baleal where we would recharge with a coffee and a pastel da nata before making the return trip.

This Portugal lifestyle lead to a permanent move for my parents as well as Barney and Alfie, our beloved family cats. As the only permanent english-speaking residents at Praia d’el Rey, neighbours and other owners asked if my parents would keep an eye on their property and so Holiday Rental Portugal was born.

My parents’ first house in Praia d’el Rey, on the beach at Praia d’el Rey with my brother and mum, and our cat Alfie who loved his new home. 

In 2015, my parents retired and I took over the reigns of the family businesses Holiday Rental Portugal and our sister property management company Silver Coast Living, welcoming back more and more happy visitors to the region as well as introducing my own daughters to summers on the beach.

Whilst the company has now grown with over 120 family villas and apartments both within praia d’el Rey and the surrounding areas our core values have remained the same: to offer our guests the best holiday experience on the Silver Coast.

OUR PASSION

We have had nineteen years of getting to know the Silver Coast region of Portugal. Finding new restaurants, our favourite shops and cafes, markets and places that we love to visit. The cafe at the top of the hill in Obidos perfect to relax with a chilled beer while surveying the stunning views over the village and the surrounding area. The Bordallo Pinheiro factory in Caldas da Rainha to add to my ever-growing collection of plates, bowls and cups. 3House beach bar in baleal for a casual dinner while watching a stunning sunset.

We are not just an ‘agent’ who has never been to the destination they are selling. We are passionate about the ‘real’ Portugal. We know the area and our properties inside out and we pass that knowledge on to our guests to ensure they get to experience the best that the area has to offer. We are not just selling a holiday, we understand this is precious family time to relax, recharge, reconnect with each other and make memories.

My ever-growing collection of Portuguese bowls and dishes. Relaxing in Obidos on a sunny Sunday. The fruit and vegetable market on daily in Caldas da Rainha is one of our favourite morning activities. My two girls Ava and Agnes who love the handmade flower garlands at the market. 

OUR SERVICE

We know our properties inside out, all are managed by us through our sister company Silver Coast Living. Each property is checked at least once a week all year round so when guests ask if we ‘know’ a property you can rest assured that we do!

With our experience and knowledge of our properties we are experts at matching guests with the right property to ensuring they have the best holiday experience.

There is no allocate on arrival with us. The properties you see on our website are all unique and the photos you see when you make a booking will be the property that you stay in when you arrive (sounds obvious but it is amazing how many guests ask us this!) 

We have a great team all committed to providing a great service to our guests. Isabel our head of housekeeping loves to say hello to guests that return each year, often recalling family celebrations and birthdays from years gone by. In the office Elisa can switch from English to Portuguese to Spanish in one conversation, putting my linguistic skills to shame! And I have two young children, Ava and Agnes so I am very familiar with the challenges of planning a family holiday and keeping everyone happy! Let me know what you are looking for and i’ll make sure you have the property that is just right for you. We are delighted to have been awarded the 2019 Feefo Gold Trusted Service award confirming that our guests appreciate our service too.

Our dream team: Cristina, Isabel, Glendys, Elisa, Anais and Anabela. 

OUR VALUES

As a small business ourselves we really believe in supporting other small businesses in the area. Portugal is not great at promoting itself which is really surprising with an abundance of great wine, hams, cheeses and seafood, ceramics, linen, soaps and toiletries you would think and the great produce that it has to offer.  

Rather than going to the usual large supermarkets and suppliers, we source our grocery packs from a local grocer based in Caldas da Rainha with their special blend of coffee and biscuits they make by hand on the premises it is a real taste of Portugal. Our bathroom soaps and amenities are all produced an hour north in a factory that has been producing soaps for over 90 years.

Praia d’el Rey is our second home, so we really are the best people to talk to for help and advice on your holiday here. Above all, we all love Portugal and want our guests to see the very best that the country has to offer. We look forward to welcoming you soon!