Casa Paço D'Ilhas — Hotel in Mafra

We stayed here in the first week of March, in cold, rainy and very humid weather. We were on a yoga retreat with a group of 18 yogi. Our stay was a disappointment by a total lack of comfort resulting in severe sleep deprivation. For privacy reasons, my wife and I opted for a separate double room in a separate entity (Casa Nova) in the garden. The place was very small (ground flour 2.5x2.5m) with upstairs a mini-double bed 140x190 cm) that was simply too small for 2 adults to sleep comfortably. The rainy weather and ocean humidity was very present in our room, with our cloths soon feeling damp and moist. This was worsened by the owner-controlled timer on our electric heating, with only heating on from 8-10h and 18-23h, and no heating in between. We could not dry our cloths or towels, so all became humid. Due to old sanitary pipes, we were not allowed to flush the used toilet paper but had to discard this in a bin. This bin was never cleaned by the staff, we had to do this ourselves to avoid fecal smell. Also, during our entire stay, our room was not cleaned once. The damp linnen was replaced one. By the end of the week, our claustrophobic room was damp, dirty with overflowing dirt bins. I ended up sleeping on a 1-person mattress on the cold concrete floor to give my wife some space to sleep. Luckily, I had company of spiders, a swarm of ants and multiple interesting garden bugs that crept under the door in our house, so I was not completely alone. ||We had a private shower, which was OK, but on 4 of 7 days I ran out of warm water, after a 4 min shower by my partner. So I showered mostly lukewarm or cold. The shower was very dirty with sand and dust after a couple of days, and was not cleaned, nor could we clean ourselves. ||The 2 swimming pools looked nice on photos, but they were both unheated and ice cold in the first week of march. ||The garden likely becomes beautiful in summer, but in ealy spring it was somewhat abandoned, and quite disorderly. ||If you stay here, maybe the main house is the better option in terms of warmth and shelter for humidity. The main house is cosy. I missed a good lazy chair with decent lighting to read a book in the evening, since also the lights were dimmed so I read with my camping light. ||The surrounding area is by no means bucolic: dirty shacks as neighbours, a lot of asphalt roads with quite busy car traffic so not inviting to walk or bike. No undisturbed nature nearby. The only nice walk was a 20 min stroll over a sand path to the ocean. If you want to walk to a restaurant, count 60 min to Ericeira (nice walk, partly by the ocean) or 25 min to Ribas (ugly road).||We occupied the BB with a group of 20 people, of which 18 yogi. This was simply too much people for the capacity of the BB. The yoga shala was simply too small for 18 people, and it felt very claustrophobic and stressfull, with constantly touching neighbours during active flows. Also the roof of the shala was too small for outside yoga with our group. Also the dining room was cramped, and we had to dine with 6 people on a table destined for 4. Due to the bad wheather, we could barely enjoy the outside space, so this exacerbated the experience.||The vegetarian food was excellent, but on 3 of 7 evenings there was barely enough and only a few people could get a second serving, hungry after surfing. During breakfast, the coffee was not strong enough. There was a machine with ground beans, but this was old and had insufficient capacity for our group. There was a machine with filtered water at extra cost of 2 euro per bottle, which I found not so generous. We were promised access to abundant healthy snacks, but quite often the fruit bowl was empty. This gives the impression of a mentality of the owner that maximal savings had to be executed on all fronts. ||The staff, however, was extremely friendly and warm, and did their best to answer all our questions. The owner was not present during our stay, so we could not confront him with our desperation about the housing experience. ||It is possible that part of our sad experience was caused by the organizers of our retreat who accepted too many participants for the capacity of the BB. I left Ericeira exhausted, sad after the most unromantic experience in my 20 years happily married life. I am a gentle and forgiving person, and not the type that needs luxury nor complains, but at this moment I would have gladly paid not to having...

We stayed here in the first week of March, in cold, rainy and very humid weather. We were on a yoga retreat with a group of 18 yogi. Our stay was a disappointment by a total lack of comfort resulting in severe sleep deprivation. For privacy reasons, my wife and I opted for a separate double room in a separate entity (Casa Nova) in the garden. The place was very small (ground flour 2.5x2.5m) with upstairs a mini-double bed 140x190 cm) that was simply too small for 2 adults to sleep comfortably. The rainy weather and ocean humidity was very present in our room, with our cloths soon feeling damp and moist. This was worsened by the owner-controlled timer on our electric heating, with only heating on from 8-10h and 18-23h, and no heating in between. We could not dry our cloths or towels, so all became humid. Due to old sanitary pipes, we were not allowed to flush the used toilet paper but had to discard this in a bin. This bin was never cleaned by the staff, we had to do this ourselves to avoid fecal smell. Also, during our entire stay, our room was not cleaned once. The damp linnen was replaced one. By the end of the week, our claustrophobic room was damp, dirty with overflowing dirt bins. I ended up sleeping on a 1-person mattress on the cold concrete floor to give my wife some space to sleep. Luckily, I had company of spiders, a swarm of ants and multiple interesting garden bugs that crept under the door in our house, so I was not completely alone. We had a private shower, which was OK, but on 4 of 7 days I ran out of warm water, after a 4 min shower by my partner. So I showered mostly lukewarm or cold. The shower was very dirty with sand and dust after a couple of days, and was not cleaned, nor could we clean ourselves. The 2 swimming pools looked nice on photos, but they were both unheated and ice cold in the first week of march. The garden likely becomes beautiful in summer, but in ealy spring it was somewhat abandoned, and quite disorderly. If you stay here, maybe the main house is the better option in terms of warmth and shelter for humidity. The main house is cosy. I missed a good lazy chair with decent lighting to read a book in the evening, since also the lights were dimmed so I read with my camping light. The surrounding area is by no means bucolic: dirty shacks as neighbours, a lot of asphalt roads with quite busy car traffic so not inviting to walk or bike. No undisturbed nature nearby. The only nice walk was a 20 min stroll over a sand path to the ocean. If you want to walk to a restaurant, count 60 min to Ericeira (nice walk, partly by the ocean) or 25 min to Ribas (ugly road). We occupied the BB with a group of 20 people, of which 18 yogi. This was simply too much people for the capacity of the BB. The yoga shala was simply too small for 18 people, and it felt very claustrophobic and stressfull, with constantly touching neighbours during active flows. The vegetarian food was excellent, but on 3 of 7 evenings there was barely enough and only a few people could get a second serving, hungry after surfing. The staff, however, was extremely friendly and warm, and did their best to answer all our questions. The owner was not present during our stay, so we could not confront him with our desperation about the housing experience. I left Ericeira exhausted, sad after the most unromantic experience in my 20 years happily...

Our wedding at Casa Paço d´ílhas, nestled in the beautiful town of Ericeira near both the sea and mountains, was an absolute dream come true! From the very beginning, Jarnie and the entire staff were incredible. Jarnie, in particular, was a huge help throughout the planning process, guiding us with such kindness, expertise, and attention to detail. She, along with the rest of the team, made us feel completely confident that everything was in the best hands, allowing us to relax and enjoy the lead-up to our big day.

The venue itself holds a special place in our hearts, especially the principal house, where we had our first date 18 years ago. Celebrating our wedding there made it all the more meaningful. The various spaces at Casa paço d´Ilhas and Alma do Paço were perfect for each part of our celebration. The ceremony in the magical ruins was intimate and breathtaking, the cocktail hour and dinner in the garden were beautiful, and the party with the DJ and lights in the ruins was unforgettable. Ending the night in the charming small chapel added a truly special touch to an already incredible day.

One of the standout features of our celebration was the food, expertly crafted by the phenomenal Chef Elizabeth and her team. We chose the smoked flavours for the meal, which was not only incredibly tasty but also gave a relaxed, laid-back mood to the dinner. Each dish was a delight, featuring local, fresh ingredients that offered our guests a true taste of the region. The meal was beautifully presented, and our guests are still raving about the unique and delicious dining experience.

We also want to thank the wonderful babysitting staff who took amazing care of our three children and the other little ones at the wedding. Having such capable and attentive care allowed us and our guests to enjoy the evening to the fullest.

The accommodations were equally perfect. The houses on the property were cozy, comfortable, and ideal for hosting our guests, creating a warm and intimate family-like atmosphere throughout the celebration.

If you’re looking for a venue near the sea and mountains, with breathtaking views, stunning spaces, delicious local food, and a dedicated team that goes above and beyond, Casa Paço d´ílhas is the perfect choice. All the team made our wedding an unforgettable experience that we will...