Experienced host
Ocena
Ocenione na: 04.04.2025 Length of stay: 1 month
We recently stayed in Vitoria’s apartment for a month and a half as a family of four, including two school-aged children, and overall, we had a pleasant experience, thanks to Vitoria’s exceptional hosting.
Vitoria was an outstanding host from start to finish. She was incredibly helpful, friendly, and quick to respond to all our questions, often replying within minutes. She was also punctual, meeting us on time for check-in and ensuring we had everything we needed to settle in. Her warm communication made us feel welcome and supported throughout our stay, which was especially important as we navigated life in a new city with children.
The apartment itself is quite spacious, clean, and well-maintained, but it is noticeably old. Some elements reflect its age. Especially, the wiring: the circuit breakers would shut off the entire apartment when we tried to use more than 3 appliances at once.
The living room had doors that allowed us to use it as a private work area, which was invaluable for remote work and our children’s online studies. The fireplace was a pleasant feature, working well and producing minimal smoke, which added warmth and coziness to the apartment during cooler evenings. The bedding, mattresses, and pillows were new and very comfortable, ensuring we all slept well. There were also plenty of extra sheets and towels, which was convenient for a longer stay.
However, the couch in the living room was very old, with shedding upholstery that required daily sweeping, even though it had fabric covers to mask the wear. This was a minor inconvenience but noticeable over time.
The apartment is on the first floor, yet it was surprisingly quiet, as the surrounding streets are not busy with traffic—a definite plus for a restful stay.
The kitchen was well-equipped with a wide range of appliances, utensils, and even plastic containers, which was great for cooking family meals. However, there were simply too many items, many of which were old and worn, and they took up most of the kitchen cabinet space. This left us with limited room to store our own groceries, which was frustrating over a month-and-a-half stay. A decluttering of the kitchen items would make the space more functional for future guests.
The internet, however, was a bit of a challenge. With a speed of about 30 megabits, it was slow by today’s standards, and the signal was quite weak in the far bedrooms. We managed to work and study, but it required some patience, especially when multiple devices were in use.
Overall, we truly appreciated our stay in Vitoria’s apartment and would recommend it to other families visiting Palmela. Vitoria’s hospitality and the apartment’s thoughtful layout made our time here comfortable and enjoyable, and we’re grateful for the warm welcome we received. With a few updates, this could become an even more delightful home away from home for future guests.
Neighborhood
The apartment is located in a quiet, residential, and safe neighborhood in Palmela, which suited our family well since we needed quiet for our work and kids’ studies. It sits separately from the historic old Palmela. Reaching Palmela Castle requires a 30–40 minute walk along a highway.
The neighborhood itself has a few small amenities: two cafes, two coffee shops, and a bakery. However, there are no grocery stores nearby, which was a slight inconvenience. The nearest supermarkets are a 20–25 minute walk away, but we found that several of them offer delivery to the door for a nominal charge, which made grocery shopping manageable during our stay.
Transportation options in the area were a mixed experience. There’s a commuter train that connects Palmela to Lisbon in about an hour, which was convenient for day trips to the capital. However, the train schedule was unreliable, often running late, so we had to plan extra time for these journeys. For local transportation, we relied on taxis like Bolt, which were affordable. For longer drives, such as exploring the region, we rented a car in nearby Setúbal, which worked well for our family’s needs.
Recommended places nearby
Palmela Castle can be reached by a trail through the woods covering the hill it sits on; it’s a nice, slightly challenging hike that takes about an hour. An alternative path leads to the remains of an ancient Roman road visible along the way.
Serguei L.
Ocenione na: 23.10.2023 Length of stay: 1 month
Excellent) experience with this rented home & property manager.
This is a large apartment, with separate rooms, there are very large windows, lots of fresh air, light and AC in every room.
There is a workspace and the Wi-Fi works well throughout the place.
The property manager is delightful communicative and professional, took the time to show us everything around the apartment's open arrival, and explained the nearby shops.
Neighborhood
Palmela is located strategically between Lisbon and Setúbal.
This is a quiet and lovely neighborhood.
There is a place to exercise & meditate both in and around the apartment.
if you are looking to work out outdoors there is also a running/bike path right around the corner, there are also lovely trails for a nature walk some are on really comfortable sand.
As for Groceries fast food and ordering online almost anything you need can be ordered with all major apps (such as Bolt & Uber) and online grocery shopping will Dilver here.
A 5 -10 min' ride or a 20-30 min walk will get you to a few supermarkets.
The city of Setúbal is just a short 20-30 min' ride away and you can get there by car or by ordering an Uber/Bolt there are also bolt scoters located randomly in the area.
Public transportation is also available a short walk up the road and you will reach the bus stops to Setúbal or walk for 15 min to the train that will get you connected to anywhere in the country and of course to nearby Lison ( about 1 hour ride ).
Recommended places nearby
As A little bonus, you can see the impressive view of Palmela castle in all its glory soaring high above is available from the street.
It's a short 5 min' drive and I recommend watching the sunset from there while you enjoy a breathtaking bird's eye view of the whole area to Lisbon and Setúbal, it's always great to get the lay of the land and realize how strategic Palela has been historically.
Noga F.
Ocenione na: 17.05.2023 Length of stay: 1 month
Thank you so much!
Konstantin Z.
