One life lodge — Hotel in Vila do Bispo

Chicks on Waves was a rejuvenating week in the Algarve. The owner Katrine, her husband Nick and her team of generous and kind-hearted women made us feel welcome as soon as we entered the lodge.

Everything was so well considered - from the daily surf lessons with the lovely instructors (who can provide a board tailored to your experience/level - they provided me with a hardboard) to the restorative yoga lessons with Iaci which helped us unwind our tired muscles and minds from surfing. The yoga was a combination of yin, hatha and mindfulness based exercises, with one day of vinyasa flow (although again this is tailored to group needs and yoga experience). She also integrated lots of exercises to help us “let go” of the daily pressures and tension we hold onto, which was unique and liberating.

The retreat is a small group format - there were about 8 girls on the camp. It attracts like-minded women, and it was such an uplifting opportunity to be with a supportive group. We shared travel stories, life experiences and wisdom and came away with plenty of laughs, sunshine (some more than others!) and full hearts (and bellies!).

The lodge also hosts families and private B&B style accommodation but there’s plenty of cute and cosy spaces to get away, and common areas if you want to get to know the group. The rooms were immaculate with plenty of storage space and a luxurious bathroom with waterfall showers! The meals were plentiful, healthy and tasty - the fish BBQ and delicious salads were a highlight, and all the meals were very filling and nutritiously sound. They also catered to dietary requirements - on my last night we had someone vegan, another gluten free, another dairy free and all meals were accommodated with no issues. We also had a day off which we used to explore Lagos, a neighboring city - take a boat for a grotto tour if you go!

I would highly recommend Chicks on Waves - whether you’re a beginner surfer or yogi taking your first tentative steps into the ocean or mat, or an experienced surfer or yoga looking to improve your skills and broaden your experience. The team were so accommodating and Nick even arranged a private surf lesson as most of my group were beginners and I had a bit more experience. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend or to go again - as a solo traveler, with friends...

The only thing chicks on waves has to offer is the very well decorated interior. Upon arriving and being shown our room, I was immediately surprised as to how 3 people were supposed to share such a tiny room. Also it was supposed to be a women only week and there were in fact men and boys there throughout the week. We never got a key to lock our room, also the staff didn’t know how the safe in the room worked. On the first day or surfing I was in a way I was lucky to have dislocated my shoulder the first week because the surf conditions were not ideal and the surf camp is truly for beginners, had I been surfing I would’ve like to use a hard board but they had none. When they found about my injury Karine told me I would get 230€ back but later turned around and told me it would only be 190€, which is not acceptable. When you tell a customer something, that should be upheld. Next, I’m from North America and a certified yoga teacher, the ‘yoga’ classes was not in fact yoga but stretching. Then, the food (HA) prepare to be hungry and be fed worse than poor people in developing countries (beans and rice). They claim to be healthy and are feeding people that are surfing extremely carb heavy meals with no protein and a serious lack of vegetables. Every night at dinner they would run out of salad and when the salad was done that was all because apparently they didn’t have more. The only decent meal was the bbq night. Monica was beyond rude and had a horrible vibe, she even forgot to make my allergy free lunch one day so all I got was a cucumber and pepper salad and I wasn’t allowed spinach or lettuce because apparently it was for the girls going surfing although had I not been injured I would’ve been going out. I was so surprised because of all the glowing reviews, also, note, I was not the only girl the week of my stay to feel this way. Overall, I do not recommend chicks on wave to anyone, it is very expensive for what you get and was not at all what...

Had such a great week staying here as part of the ‘Chicks on Waves’ program. The villa is beautiful and well kept, close to a beach but otherwise quite remote- nice and peaceful but just worth noting it’s about a 10 min bike ride to the nearest town if you need to go to a store. The lovely staff made everyone feel very welcome (my group was mostly all solo travellers). Great food too and was lovely having homemade lunches and snacks for our surf lessons! The surf instructors were enthusiastic and full of encouragement (we were all mostly beginners but they were able to cater for a more experienced surfer in the group too). I can’t...