10/10 Excellent
Simon
9 Jan 2018
Super house - conveniently located and easy to get to, in upper part of Arco da Calheta.
We were here between the 18th December and 29th December (2017). This is a 5 bedroom house, two bedrooms are ensuite and the other 3 share a bathroom on the upper floor (four of them have sea views and the other a view of the mountain). There is also a full bathroom, easily reached from the upper floor, on the ground floor. With another full bathroom accessible from the kitchen door on the ground floor in the garden.
Very comfortable beds.
Balconies at the rear of the property (one very large) run the entire length (outside the bedrooms) with sea views, and on the 28th December we sighted 5 pilot whales from the larger of the two in the bay (for 1/2 an hour).
Heating is provided by electric heaters in 4 of the bedrooms and one in the TV area downstairs with a very easy to light and effective wood burning stove (as much wood as you like) in the open plan living area.
The kitchen is very well appointed with seating for at least eight at a table.
Outdoors plenty of seating and a very comfortable hammock.
We didn't use the barbecue or pool. But both looked great.
The area at the top of the village in Arco da Calheta is quiet with an uninterrupted view of the bay. Supermarkets are available either in Loreto (medium size and 5 mins driving) and Calheta Beach has a decent size Pingo Doce with all you would need. There is also a very good Continente supermarmarket in Ribeira Brava in the commercial area on the road out to Sao Vicente (about 15 minutes from the Villa). They are all open for long hours late into the night and are very well priced despite the poor Euro exchange rate at the moment (cheaper than the Canaries for example).
Good Wi-Fi coverage in the living area downstairs and in one bedroom upstairs.
I would recommend this house to anyone who wanted a large well appointed house in a good area. A car is vital to get around on the superb, but vertiginous Madeiran roads.
The weather was great with daytime temperatures up to and over 20 degrees C on most days, but falling sharply in the evening.
The owner Lili is available by telephone or email and went out of her way to make us welcome. She has a couple locally who will deal with any questions or problems (we didn't have any), Maria and Jose.
Milk and fruit and the traditional Madeiran cake were there on our arrival to greet us.
There is a very good Italian (pizza) restaurant in Loreto (5 mins away) and about 5 bars within the same distance.
Highly recommend.
Simon
Stayed 11 nights in Dec 2017