Alentejo Retreat with Lap Pool | São Bartolomeu da - Santiago do Cacém

Casa Lisboa is the largest of three renovated cottages sharing a private saltwater lap pool in the Alentejo countryside — a genuine rural retreat built for slowing down. Self check-in means your own arrival time, no fixed handover. Two ground-floor bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms, plus mezzanine sleeping for a group of up to eight. Walk the Santiago trail, explore Roman ruins and historic churches, or drive a short way to the pristine Costa Vicentina beaches. No wifi, no hotel polish — just countryside, silence, and soul.

Your Property

The Space
Casa Lisboa is the largest of three former rural cottages sharing a single Alentejo property — fully renovated but built for guests who want the genuine countryside, not a resort version of it. It suits families and groups who want room to spread out, walkers using the Santiago and Rota Vicentina trails as a base, and anyone deliberately disconnecting for a few days.

Why Guests Love It
Two full ensuite bedrooms on the ground floor, each with its own mezzanine for extra sleeping; a private reading nook overlooking the garden and pool; a shared saltwater lap pool set among three cottages rather than one; and genuine rural quiet, a short drive from the Costa Vicentina coastline.

Location — São Bartolomeu da Serra
A small hill village in Alentejo Litoral, 8km from Santiago do Cacem, the nearest town. This is deep countryside — no passing traffic, no neighbours in earshot, just the three cottages, the pool, and open land. A car is the practical way to explore; the Santiago trail, Roman ruins, historic churches, and local gastronomy are all within reach, with the beaches of the Costa Vicentina a short drive further.

Ideal For Families or groups of up to eight wanting space across two full bedrooms; walkers and hikers using the property as a base; guests deliberately seeking disconnection — no wifi, no distractions, just countryside; and anyone who wants a private pool without the price tag of a private villa.

Sleeping Arrangements
Bedroom 1 (ground floor) — Queen bed, ensuite with clawfoot tub and dedicated workstation, mezzanine above with 2 single beds · Bedroom 2 (ground floor) — Queen bed, ensuite with shower, mezzanine above with 2 single beds.

Living Area
An open-plan living area with two sofas and a reading nook of two armchairs, positioned to look out over the garden and pool — a genuinely calm spot to read, plan the next day's walk, or simply do nothing.

Kitchen and Dining
A fully equipped kitchen (induction hob, electric oven, dishwasher, large fridge) sits alongside a dining area with table and chairs — everything needed to cook properly rather than eat out every night.

Pool
The shared saltwater lap pool sits at the centre of the property, used by all three cottages. It's a proper lap pool rather than a splash pool — built for real swimming, not just floating.

Garden
An outdoor table and chairs sit in front of the house, along with two lounge chairs and two outside reading chairs. Casa Lisboa's own outdoor set — four blue tables, twelve blue chairs, two white loungers, two white chairs — is positioned to the left of the house and shouldn't be moved or swapped with the neighbouring cottages' furniture.

Bedrooms

- Bedroom 1: the main ground-floor bedroom, with a queen bed, a dedicated workstation for anyone working during the stay, and an ensuite bathroom built around an old clawfoot bathtub. A mezzanine above holds two single beds — reached by steep stairs with no protection railing, so we don't advise this sleeping space for small children, guests with limited mobility, or anyone under the influence of alcohol or other substances. We expressly decline liability for accidents that may occur there.
- Bedroom 2: a second ground-floor bedroom, queen bed, ensuite bathroom with a shower. Its mezzanine above also holds two single beds, under the same stairs and safety caveat as Bedroom 1.

Casa Lisboa is the most spacious of the three Alentejo cottages, built for a full group rather than a couple — but it shares the same soul as its two smaller neighbours: honest countryside living, a shared pool, and a stay built entirely around your own pace.

Guest Access

Exclusive use of Casa Lisboa and its own dedicated outdoor furniture (four blue tables, twelve blue chairs, two white loungers, two white chairs) to the left of the house. The saltwater lap pool and garden are shared with Casa Maputo and Casa Manila, exclusively for registered guests of all three houses, always respecting quiet hours. No outside visitors at any time.

Interaction with Guests

Our brand rests on one principle above all: **independence, not absence.** The smart lock removes the friction of a fixed handover — it doesn't remove the host. We host remotely from Copenhagen, by design rather than necessity, and have done so since 2017 — our reviews attest to that. Being remote hasn't meant being distant: it's meant building a stay where you arrive on your own terms and the care is constant, even when it's invisible. We're reachable through the Airbnb app or by phone, and happy to talk guests through anything at all.

Other Details to Note

There is no wifi or TV at Casa Lisboa at this stage — this is a genuine rural house, and disconnecting is part of the point, not an oversight. The mezzanine sleeping areas are reached by steep, unrailed stairs and aren't advisable for small children or guests with limited mobility. The pool, garden, and access road are shared with Casa Maputo and Casa Manila, so quiet hours matter here more than in a standalone house.

Additional Rules

The Obvious
Care for the house and its belongings as if they were your own. Dispose of garbage throughout your stay. Avoid food or drinks on the sofa. No smoking indoors or in the garden (including vaping) — cigarette butts must go in a closed jar, never dropped, given the real fire risk in the countryside. No parties or unregistered guests. Please respect quiet hours, 10pm to 8am — sound carries easily between the three cottages.

Checking Out
Restore furniture and décor to their original positions. Dispose of all trash — including anything left in the fridge or pantry — in the village containers, not on-site (there is no rural trash collection). Turn off the lights and the air conditioning. Close all windows, shutters, doors, and gates, and lock up.

Fire Hazard
Bonfires and barbecues are forbidden at all times, due to fire risk — criminal liability applies during high-risk fire seasons.

Local Laws
As required by Portuguese law, we ask all guests for personal ID data, which is reported to the local authorities. The number of registered guests may not be exceeded.

Car Parking
Casa Lisboa has one dedicated car space. Entering the dirt road off the EN121, take the left fork; the parking area is on the side of the houses (not facing the main road), once the wall ends. Please use only your own space and leave the others for the neighbouring cottages — ask if you need additional parking.

Post/Use of Address
This is a short-term rental — please don't use the address for post, correspondence, or official matters. Arrange deliveries through courier during your stay.

Long Stays
For extended stays, please be mindful of electricity use, as consumption above typical levels is charged in addition to the base rate.

Pets
Not allowed. An unauthorized pet carries a €500 cleaning surcharge and may lead to cancellation of the reservation.

Swimming Pool — Important Safety Notice
The saltwater lap pool is used entirely at guests' own risk. There is no lifeguard on duty. Guests are responsible for supervising children and non-swimmers at all times. The property owner accepts no responsibility or liability for accidents, injuries, or loss arising from pool use. The pool is for registered guests of the three cottages only — no outside visitors — and is available from 9am to 9pm to respect quiet hours. Please use only experienced swimming judgement given the rural setting, and don't use house towels at the pool.

Garden & Pool Maintenance
Longstanding local partners maintain the shared pool and garden. We aim to schedule visits when guests are away — for longer stays and warmer months especially, that isn't always possible.

Hot Water
The heat pump sits in the annex at the edge of the property, so hot water can take a little while to reach the house. Please run the tap a few minutes before showering, and stagger showers if there's more than one of you.

Insects & Wildlife
This is a genuine rural house — expect bugs, flies, mosquitoes, geckos, dust, birdsong, and other countryside company. The sounds and smells of nature here are part of the charm, not a flaw, and it's exactly what comes with choosing this house. We run regular pest control but can't offer guarantees or refunds for the occasional bug that finds its way in — keeping doors closed and food stored away helps.

Check-in Method / Smart Lock Instructions

Casa Lisboa uses a smart lock instead of physical keys — a deliberate choice, not a shortcut. It means your arrival time is entirely yours to set.

Part 1 — Installing the App and Creating a Tedee Account (reservation holder only):_

1. Download the Tedee app — [Google Play](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=tedee.mobile) · [App Store](https://apps.apple.com/pl/app/tedee/id1481874162?l=pl)
2. Tap "Sign In" → "Create an Account" → enter your email → set your password

Part 2 — Installing and Using the Keys (in front of the door only):_

1. Sign in to the Tedee app
2. Activate the link sent to your email
3. Green padlock opens the door · Red padlock closes it

Sharing keys:_ the primary guest sets up the account and installs the key link; other guests download the app and sign in with the same email and password — everyone shares the same key, and any reservation changes apply to all.

For smooth entry:_ keep Bluetooth on and your phone's operating system updated.

House Manual

Welcome to Casa Lisboa — we've built the house to be as intuitive as an Apple device, but here are a few pointers.

Breakages/Damages — please report immediately.
Fire Hazard — no bonfires or barbecues; fire risk is real, and criminal liability applies during high-risk seasons.
Furniture — return to its original position before departure; each house's outdoor set is dedicated and shouldn't be swapped with a neighbour's.
Garbage — bins are in the kitchen; there is no rural collection, so all trash goes to the designated containers in São Bartolomeu da Serra village.
Hot Water — the heat pump is in the annex, so hot water takes a little while to arrive; run the tap first and stagger showers.
Laundry — no laundry facilities on-site; full or self-service options are available in Santiago do Cacem. No laundry in shared areas (pool or garden).
Parking — one dedicated space per house, side of the property, off the EN121 dirt road.
Smoking — not permitted anywhere on the property, indoors or outdoors (including vaping); cigarette butts go in a closed jar.
Supplies — starter kit provided (garbage bags, toilet paper, cleaning materials) for the first days; local shops and supermarkets in Santiago do Cacem cover the rest. TV — an HD television is provided with no cable or channels; connect your own streaming account and use your own data plan.
Wifi — not available at this stage.

Take good care of the house, and reach us through the Airbnb app with anything at all.

Thank you for choosing Casa Lisboa — enjoy your stay.

Directions

Google Maps: (copy the link down below into Google)
https://maps.app.goo.gl/3hKS2JqKkceajv3b7

The property sits on the edge of São Bartolomeu da Serra, a small hill village in Alentejo Litoral (District of Setúbal), 8km from Santiago do Cacem, the nearest town. Access is via a dirt track off the EN121 (between Santiago do Cacem and Ermidas do Sado).

Finding Casa Lisboa
Once parked, look for the wooden gate at the edge of the parking area — that's your way in on foot. Walk along the pool and count to the second window door: a small tile reading "CASA LISBOA" confirms you're at the right door.

Nearest Public Transport

- Bus: A few times a day, Rodalentejo runs the Santiago–São Domingos route into Santiago do Cacem (check the [current schedule](https://www.rodalentejo.pt/XlsHtml/S914.pdf)). From Santiago do Cacem, regular Rede Expresso coaches run to Lisbon and Porto ([schedules](https://rede-expressos.pt/pt)).
- Train:Ermidas do Sado station (18km away) connects to the Lisbon–Faro line via [CP](https://www.cp.pt); a local taxi covers the gap to the property.

Getting to/from the Airport

- Lisbon Airport (LIS) is about 140km away; Faro Airport (FAO) is about 160km away. A car is the practical way to cover either distance — we recommend hiring one for the stay, both for the airport transfer and for exploring the coast and countryside.

We recommend a car for the whole stay: each cottage has one dedicated space, with additional street parking nearby if needed.