5/5
Why Go Anywhere Else?

DavidP London
Review Submitted: May 27, 2011 Date of Stay: July 2008

Have you ever had one of those times when you wanted to get away from everything and have a truly laid back and wonderful time? I have, and thank God I went here.

My wife, son and I spent a great week at Yavanna winding down totally. The accommodation was perfect, the pool was a dream and Mark and Eunice are born to be hosts.

If you want things to do then cycling, fishing, tapas in Spain, canoeing down the Minho.... the list goes on... is all on tap. However if all you want is sleep brought on by the gentle thwack of the fantastic Vinho Verde (thank you Eunice) then look no further. They even have a top notch DVD library if you so wish.

I can't wait to go back and just hope that everyone who reads these reviews hasn't got in first.
 

5/5
Cycling & Family Holiday

Jason Sussex
Review Submitted: May 27, 2011 Date of Stay: September 2010

I have visited several occasions for cycle holidays and also with my family. The rooms/houses are very clean and comfortable and can cater for small or large groups. The grounds and area is beautiful, charming and relaxing. The salt water pool is divine. The hosts are very friendly and helpful. You can have lovely walks and cycling in the area is great with some challenging hills and quaint villages and coffee bars. There are plenty of nice restaurants in the area and places to go shopping. You can also pop into Spain or visit various beeches. All in all a lovely holiday place which we will visit again soon.

5/5
Fantastic villa in a beautiful part of Portugal!!!

Peter G Salamanca
Review Submitted: May 25, 2011 Date of Stay: May 2011

Myself and 9 other friends stayed at both houses and we had a wonderful time. The villa is everything you could ask for. Lovely furnishings, clean, spacious, tastefully designed, practical. The owners have done a great job converting this 300 year old farmhouse. The pool setting is wonderful, it's especially beautiful at night with the lights around it. There are games for the kids, a ping pong table, sports equipment to use, beautiful large grounds. The garden is immaculate with a nice array of plants/flowers. The location is good, not far from the nearest supermarket. The area is very beautiful, especially in the 'green season'. Lovely river and sea beaches aren't far away and Porto and Vigo are within a shortish drive. The owners are really nice and very helpful. They supply you with excellent information about the house and area. I'm sorry I didn't get to spend more time with them.

To sum up, I would highly recommend this villa. You're not going to find much better at this price!!! Reserve asap. Thanks Eunice and Mark
 

5/5
Perfect holiday location

James F. Horsham, West Sussex
Review Submitted: May 23, 2011 Date of Stay: August 2010

Yavanna is the perfect family getaway location for anyone looking to combine downtime with exploration of the beautiful Minho region of Northern Portugal. The setting for Yavanna is authentically Portuguese, being surrounded by vine filled fields, pine forests and views over the hills. We stayed in Casa Gabriel which was furnished to a high standard and slept two adults and three children very comfortably and with plenty of space. Eunice & Mark have created a little oasis of calm at Yavanna and it is very easy (..too easy!) to simply loll in a hammock in the lovely garden or chill out by the pool. There is plenty to do in the area with visits to the superb local beaches; on and off road cycling; swimming and water skiing on the River Minho; plus interesting day visits to Viana do Castelo, Barcelos and of course Spain too! Eunice is a mine of local information and very helpful in making sure you get the most out of your holiday.

5/5
Already booked my next holiday at Yavanna!

Caroline East Sussex
Review Submitted: May 21, 2011 Date of Stay: April 2011

We chose Yavanna because the reviews were great, and so our expectations were high. We wanted the real Portugal, a slice of culture, friendly locals and good food. We were expecting to have the opportunity to experience exciting outdoor activities, amazing beaches and sun! Our accommodation should be authentic, clean and attractive with great facilities just like home and we wanted a large beautiful pool with space to relax. Eunice and Mark not only delivered but exceeded the high expectations we had, their attention to detail, good local knowledge and advice resulted in our stay being close on perfect! It only remains for me to accomplish standing on a surf board and perfection is guaranteed! Can't wait for the summer
 

5/5
A gorgeous place, with a wonderful host

MissBee United Kingdom
Review Submitted: May 18, 2011 Date of Stay: April 2011

We stayed at Casa Dolinda for a week and had a fantastic holiday. The beautiful grounds of Yavanna, combined with Eunice's hospitality, made our week perfect. Eunice is a great host – from our very first phone call to our final day at Yavanna, Eunice was friendly, helpful and knowledgeable every step of the way. She is very considerate of her guests' needs, and she provided everything we needed during our stay – e.g. we only had to mention fire logs, for the logs to appear on our doorstep the next day. Even though we had plans of going kayaking, hiking etc, we found ourselves spending almost every day at Yavanna instead, simply enjoying the lovely setting and views. The garden is large enough that everyone could find a private corner if they wanted some quiet time. Be warned, you may find yourself spending your entire holiday at Yavanna and hardly ever venturing out – the garden & pool are too nice! I highly recommend Yavanna for a relaxing and peaceful holiday.
 

5/5
Great cycling and the rest

Ian Grant addingham, w yorks, UK
Review Submitted: May 4, 2011 Date of Stay: October 2009

If you don't like cycling in great scenery, in good company, with superb food then this isn't for you! Mark and Eunice are fantastic hosts and go out of their way to make you feel welcome and your holiday memorable. The sense of achievement at conquering a hill climb and the feeling of exhilaration as you swept down the other side is hard to beat. After the exercise, food and wine you would sleep anywhere but in any case the rooms are simple with comfortable beds and good shower or bath facilities. All in all a great holiday!
 

5/5
An incredible place to stay in Northern Portugal

John East Sussex, UK
Review Submitted: May 3, 2011 Date of Stay: April 2011

Yavanna is an incredible place to visit. We were both struck by the beauty of the location and the quiet and relaxed pace of life you find in Northern Portugal.
We immediately felt at home here. Eunice and Mark gave us a great welcome and were very helpful with their recommendations about great places to visit and local places to eat.
The accommodation is very beautiful, with a wonderful garden and swimming pool. There is a great sense of beauty here.
We loved walking in the nearby hills and visiting the sea and the nearby towns.
All in all a very special place to visit. Thank you.
 

5/5
Far from the madding crowd

Gybe London
Review Submitted: May 3, 2011 Date of Stay: September 2010

Far enough away from the masses but close enough to taste the delights of both Southern Spain and Northern Portugal's varied landscape and culture. It took just an hour or so to drive from the airport to the villa, enough time to adjust from a busy UK life to the peace and quiet (crickets aside) of Yavanna. My last trip was a cycling holiday arranged by Mark and catered for by Eunice, and although we cycled far and were fed well, my abiding memory was falling asleep in a hammock under the dappled shade of fruit trees after a testing day in the mountains, a cool swim in the pool and gourmet afternoon feast. If you're looking for a varied holiday offering peace and solitude, a taste of culture (i.e. Tui) and delightful food (both in house and local restaurants) or perhaps water sports ( we tried white water rafting on the Minho) then Yavanna will tick your boxes as much as it ticked mine!

Second visit and looking forward to the next.

Magic UK
Review Submitted: May 1, 2011 Date of Stay: September 2009

Yavanna sits in the most heavenly rural countryside with far reaching views and stunning scenery. The property comprises of beautifully restored and carefully appointed accommodation with an attention to aesthetics and comfort. The garden is lush with orange and lemon trees, vegetable and flower beds, patios to sit in, hammocks to lie and read in, shade, sun and a wonderful salt water pool. The pottery studio doubled up as a meeting room / yoga room with a view to while the day away. The walks are stunning and to think that pilgrims have trodden the routes for centuries. Although I came on my own for a break and a rest I would love to return with my children, who would love the pool, the walking, the beach not too far away and the small fort town offering cafes, bars and delightful little shops.
Eunice and Mark were the perfect hosts - the food, sourced locally, was delicious, and at the end of the day it was lovely to sink into crisp cotton sheets and down duvets covered with local hand crafted bedspreads.
 

5/5
Beautiful Yavanna

Jeremy West Sussex
Review Submitted: April 30, 2011 Date of Stay: September 2010

I have stayed several times at Yavanna, and can honestly say it is one of the most stunning and peaceful places I know. A beautifully restored farmhouse with clean and tastefully decorated accommodation. Mark and Eunice have put their heart and soul into Yavanna and always provide a warm and friendly welcome. The views are wonderful over the valley and up into the hills. I particularly love the swimming pool which benefits from the same views, and is both warm and large enough to relax or exercise as you wish. I was part of a cycling group, led by Mark, and we saw some great countryside as well as shed a few pounds. I can thoroughly recommend Yavanna to anyone who wants good weather, peace and quiet and a welcoming atmosphere.
 

5/5
Exceeded all my expectations....

Dave Ileac, Lot, France
Review Submitted: April 27, 2011 Date of Stay: June 2010

Anticipation is everything as a holiday comes closer, and everything I'd heard about Yavanna meant my expectations were pretty high.
Our arrival and welcome was warm and unfussy, with Mark and Eunice making sure we were well installed and refreshed. The villa's location is quite stunning, with wonderful views across the valley towards the hills opposite. The rooms are spotless, comfortable, and well furnished, and the gardens and pool are just right for lazing a few hours away between trips to local sights and restaurants - although the catering Eunice and her team provided for us was top class.
As ours was a cycling week, with trips led by Mark, we got to see a good deal of the surrounding countryside, including beautiful vistas from up in the hills, and long rides along the coast. All challenging but extremely rewarding.
Add a wonderful location and an exceptionally fine villa to the care and attention of the hosts, and you can see why my expectations were more than exceeded. I had a great week, will go again, and have already recommended Yavanna to several friends.
 

5/5

A Little bit of Heaven!

Trish east sussex
Review Submitted: May 26, 2011 Date of Stay: October 2009

Yavanna is the most relaxing place to come to for a holiday..... it is beautiful and a haven of tranquillity. The owners have got everything you would need for switching off from life in the fast track... the most glorious swimming pool which is beautifully maintained, crisp white sheets in rooms that are completely unique in their design and wonderful walks or bike rides. If you feel like moving, I highly recommend going to sit by the sea which takes you into another world. The owners are also the best company ever! the markets are totally authentic and are great fun and the fish is a gourmets delight. highly recommended
 

5/5
Gorgeous, peaceful, elegant and friendly

Charlie Bristol
Review Submitted: April 26, 2011 Date of Stay: April 2011

Eunice has managed to create a wonderful environment at Yavanna. Even in February weather and storms it is a magical place. Her studio is gorgeous, rooms and houses are elegant and fresh and she cannot do enough to help. Go there and relax.
Mark and Eunice have managed to create a really lovely place for a holiday, lots of water sports, walking, mountain biking, sitting in the sun, swimming, shopping - everything you could want.
Go there, get a car and fly Heathrow to Vigo ... so easy....
 

5/5
A slice of heaven in Northern Portugal

Alastair Sussex
Review Submitted: September 10, 2010 Date of Stay: July 2010

It’s hard to believe that there are still places in Europe that feel almost untouched by tourism, but the Minho Region in Northern Portugal would be one of those. We stayed at Yavanna in the Fontoura valley – an area that is beautifully tranquil, lush and awash with vineyards.

When you arrive at Yavanna you instantly feel the tension ebb away as you relax into your break. The 300 year old property has been imaginatively and sensitively modernised by Eunice and Mark preserving the original rustic features whilst ensuring that the design and facilities are of the highest quality. The walk from Casa Dolinda down past Casa Gabriel takes you past the main house to the salt water swimming pool with its stunning views across the valley taking in the beautiful garden en route.

Eunice and Mark are the perfect hosts; concerned that you’re comfortable and relaxed without being intrusive. Dolinda was spotlessly clean and well equipped; everything seems to have been thought of. The notes on what was available in the area (including across the border into Northern Spain) were very comprehensive.

Whilst we there we managed to take in some Kayaking on the Minho river, Water Skiing as well some stunning beaches: The Caminha and Moledo beaches were the quieter beaches whilst surfer dudes might want to get to Afife; all within a max. 40 minute drive of Yavanna. There are some great local restaurants to choose from in the local area or across the border in Tui.

We had a wonderful stay and plan to return!
 

5/5
A really lovely place for a holiday

Mags Ireland
Review Submitted: August 16, 2010 Date of Stay: July 2003

Yavanna was a really lovely place to stay in a very unspoilt part of North Portugal. The house we stayed in was just perfect for two adults and two teenagers with plenty of space for everyone, it was very clean, well kept and better than the description on line. The garden and pool were just beautiful with a lot of care and attention to detail throughout. Everything that you needed was supplied in the house and it was really relaxing to barbeque in the evening as the sun went down. Our children loved the pool and spent as much time as possible there. Locally there was plenty to do with the beach at Ancora a very good location to visit and plenty of other interesting places to visit, such as Moncao and Tui in Spain. The owners Eunice and Mark were very helpful and friendly and took time to introduce us to the other guests and answered any queries that we had. Highlight of the trip was Kayaking on the River Minho, which Eunice kindly organised for us and which we would recommend to anyone.
There is plenty of information in the house to help anyone settle in and while the directions to the house may seem very complicated, they are very accurate and we found our way there at night with no real problem.
 

5/5
Cycling Holiday

SecretSq Fleet
Review Submitted: April 26, 2011 Date of Stay: September 2010

I went along with several guys who have visited Eunice & Mark many times before and was very pleasantly surprised at the warm welcome and accommodation on offer. The cycling tours Mark organised would suit any ability from the enthusiast to the etape trainee, there is something for everyone. You can easily visit Spain by bicycle and enjoy the natural springs in way of relaxation at the end of the day. Eunice creates a very warm and friendly atmosphere and you wont come back any slimmer...I wouldn't hesitate in recommending this to anyone who wants to step out of the rat race and invest in themselves.
 

5/5