Rural Escapes Portugal has really sprung into life these last few months – What with three retreats under our belt and now people are staying here for their holidays, we literally feel like we’ve just moved mountains!
The other day we were having a conversation with one of our guests who referred to Rural Escapes Portugal as ‘the resort’ … I was quite taken back and gasped a little to hurriedly “well it’s not really a resort is it?” but she was adamant that it was!
I have to say it feels quite surreal to be at this stage of our project after so many months of mud, dust, sweat, tears and laughter to suddenly be managing a resort (lol!) – and a very exclusive one at that! We’ve decided we want to keep our place small and intimate and not have more than 8 guests staying here at any time. Currently we’re taking accommodation bookings for just two of our bell tents so that we can see how we go in our first year. So you can rest assured that if you decide to stay here there will be no more than 4 guests here at any time, giving you a chance to enjoy the ‘resort’ facilities exclusively.
“Why not give yourself an exclusive break here at our Rural Escapes Portugal Resort!”
What do we offer? We offer yoga most mornings, optional breakfast and dinner, flight transfers and trips out – giving you the chance to do absolutely nothing but lounge around our little pool, choose a book from our library and hang out in a hammock under the shade of a tree to while away your days or for those who are more adventurous you can take a walk along the many paths that zigzag through the valleys, or hire a bike and explore the local area, and even take a beautiful drive or if you prefer have us drive you through this landscape to one of the many beaches that are situated less than 40 minutes away. It’s all here for you to choose and enjoy!
Two retreat guests come to mind. They both attended different retreats and were both quite anxious about camping. They expressed that they had had a couple of sleepless nights before arriving and had even considered dropping out altogether. They knew from our website that they would be staying in a rural location and that our beds in the bell tents would be comfortable slatted beds, with duvets, blankets, sleeping bags if needed and even carpets – but the idea of using outdoor showers (all showers are private by the way) and compost toilets coupled with sleeping in the great outdoors can often set the imagination spiraling into a state of panic!
We have found that it is only after people have spent their first night here that they quickly realise how comfortable staying here actually is. It doesn’t take long before they are enjoying the scenery from the comfort of their roomy bell tents with magnificent views, lounging in a hammock with a book or podcast, they soon forget their concerns as they relax into the natural rhythm of ‘glamping’ life in our valley.
And when the night descends and the solar fairy lights begin to sparkle as the night sky fills with stars, they are soon transported into what feels like another world. The majority of our guests have shared how incredibly well they sleep here and find they fall into very deep states of sleep full of dreams thus wake up feeling very rested and relaxed, and this has been said by those who usually have trouble sleeping in their normal day to day lives.
So if you are considering joining us but you are feeling a little nervous or doubtful about it, then know that you are not alone and you really are in for a treat! The best is yet to come!
The reality we face at the moment is the sheer mammoth task of preparing this place for our first retreat beginning at the end of April. As I type I can hear Ellis on his digger (also known as the man cave!!) preparing areas for the four new bell tents that we recently purchased. We’ve chosen 4 perfect locations for the bell tents with easy access to the showers and soon to be kitchen area and with stunning views across the vally and beyond to Mount Foia. We’ve also opted to have the stand alone pool in the wooded area, so people can enjoy cooling down in the shade of the trees in the long hot summer months. We’ve agreed that the yoga platform needs to be bigger, so more work to do there. 
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