My Favorite Airbnb: A Gorgeous Family Villa on a Special Stretch of the Algarve
After a blisteringly hot summer in London, the thought of feeling windswept on the Algarndiose Airbnb I’d ever seen, called the Red Chalet—sounded especially lovely. So lovely, in fact, that I didn’t think twice about booking a flight and leaving the hazy English heatwave behind for a long weekend. Pitching the idea to my family was an easy sell, too
Some of them hadn’t been abroad for 10 years, and many had never visited Portugal. Now felt like the perfect time to make the trip. When we arrived one weekend in June, we were greeted by the Red Chalet’s beautifully bright orange groves and blooming bougainvillaea. The colors sparked an immediate sense of joy, and a fizz of anticipation bubbled through our group. Swallows—the country’s most beloved and recognizable birds—darted past intermittently, a subtle but very real reminder of our location on this special stretch of the Algarve.
The house itself was even more impressive than I could have imagined. It stands tall overlooking the ocean and is set behind a wrought-iron gate between the historic church square of Nossa Senhora dos Navegantes—speckled with people drinking coffee on little folding chairs as the clock chimes and the beachfront, where locals and tourists alike lie under colorful umbrellas as far as the eye can see.
It’s not often you find something so beautiful
It’s not often you find something so beautiful this close to the local action, and I immediately knew we’d wish we could extend our stay. The Red Chalet’s entrance is guarded by weathered stone lions, and despite a full renovation (the building dates back to 1908), elements of its original architecture remain. Before we so much as stepped inside, we were warmly greeted by our concierge, a friendly local well-versed in hosting families at the property.
He was amused by our light luggage, he said, as his usual clientele consists of royalty, celebrities (the guest book is a fun read), and larger groups booked for weeks on end. He warmly introduced us to our home for the next 48 hours and gave us a tour. We were thrilled to be shown a large wraparound terrace, and a smaller beach house property with two further bedrooms plus a full alfresco dining setup with an outdoor barbecue, a sauna, a treatment room for private massages, and a small pool (with optional resistance jets) lined with exceedingly comfortable loungers and towels so big we were dwarfed inside them.
We also had private access to the beach. Inside, glass swing doors and plush velvet sofas set the scene. The bright, beautifully decorated and innately practical kitchen and family dining room were what dreams are made of—I loved the herb-filled paneling on the window, which overlooks the palms and sea. There are two bedrooms, or “wings,” at the top of a winding staircase, with walk-in closets and large en suite bathrooms with showers filled with Claus Porto products and baths that sit beneath opulent chandeliers.
In between the rooms is (another) living room
In between the rooms is (another) living room with a balcony that spotlights the sea once again. The flourishes are eclectic and include octopus lamps, tiger scatter cushions, bird cage hangings, and vintage Louis Vuitton chests alongside bookshelves stacked with some interesting reading options. If all else fails, a karaoke machine lies in wait. Venturing along the promenade, we found N’Ice Cream—a two-minute walk away—where we indulged in gelato stacked on crisp waffle cones, plus restaurants and cafés aplenty.
Tempting though they were, as the sun dropped behind the skyline, we had a private chef come and set to work preparing a spread of traditional and local cuisine, which we paired with wine from the home’s partner hotel right next door, Vila Vita Parc. We chatted and laughed while we sipped on white wine, nibbled olives from the Vila Vita grove, and slurped down fresh-caught oysters before tucking into the coastal delicacy of Arroz de Marisco.
Swallows flitted in the palms above us, and with full bellies and fuller hearts, we could see why this is a family home that has stood the test of time. This article was originally published on Condé Nast Traveller.
Source: www.cntraveler.com
