Who and what are we
We are a Dutch couple and although we have known each other since 1987 we’ve only been a couple since 2005. In 2006 we decided to start living together in Portugal. When we started our relationship Wim had lived in Portugal for more than 15 years. In 1993 he was visiting his parents in Portugal for a holiday and he has stayed there ever since. At first Wim owned an estate-agency, right now he is a partner in a company that owns a transport ship which sails across the Danube. Monique had previously owned a little hotel called ‘Hostellerie Hettenheuvel’ in the Netherlands (Achterhoek). She sold the hotel and moved with all her live-stock (donkeys and, dogs) to Portugal. We are now installed in the house bought by Wim´s parents. Since the property is quite large, we decided to take advantage of Monique´s experience and run it as a Bed and Breakfast.
January 2014, ready to receive guests
The part in the house destined for guests consists a suite, two rooms with a shared bathroom and a room with a private bathroom (bath). These bedrooms give on to a small sitting-room with provision for making tea or coffee. Around 4 pm some homemade delicacies will be served. On the property already is a small guesthouse which contains a bedroom, a bathroom, a drawing room and a kitchen and a private terrace. Around the house is a garden with two large outdoor rooms and an outdoor pool. If guests are interested we open the house for breakfast and dinner.Winter 2014-2015
In October 2014, almost a year after we opened the Quinta for guests we carried out a short evaluation. This revealed that opening the house as a bed and breakfast worked well. Monique had missed her work more than she realized and Wim's worries about our privacy were all gone. At this point we like to give thanks to all last year´s guests for making it a good start and a memorable year. We have decided to no longer wait for the big project but to work within the possibilities we have. With a small change, just by moving a door, it was possible to make the former "servants room" part of the guest area, enabling us to achieve a single room, Quarto dos Solteiros (single persons room). Previously, this room was used mainly for washing and ironing but giving the garage a big clean-up, we ended up with a wonderful laundry and ironing place. Also useable for any guest who want to do some laundry. Also the couple that lived and works on the Quinta, decided it was time to buy something for themselves so that the house in which they lived became available. The house consists of two bedrooms, a bathroom, a living room, a large kitchen and private terrace. It is now prepared for receiving guests and called Quintinha do Sobreiro, after the giant cork tree under which it is situated.
