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EcoSound Ecolodges

Ericeira

6 Lodges, 2 Studios & 2 Cabins in a uniquely designed ecological resort in its own private setting.

Location:
Located in Ericeira, a beautiful fishing town just 35 minutes drive north west of Lisbon. On a quiet street 300 metres from the town centre.

Extras:
Natural ecological swimming pool. BBQ. WIFI. Yoga in the summer.

Take a look at a video clip of RTE TV show No Frontiers' surf holiday in the Lodges

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June 2013

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Prefer to book over the phone?
Call +44 20 8144 9950 (UK)
+353 1 482 2828 (Irl & International)
Or email info@surfholidays.com

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Please see our media section for review and coverage of Ericeira and the Ecolodges in the Media

It was great, we had a wonderful time! The Lodges were wonderful, so relaxing and I miss the hammock we had and the singing frogs! Surf lessons were pitched just right for all abilities and our main instructor was great, super patient but yet able to push us to get the best out of us. The beach itself was lovely and after surfing we stayed at the beach to enjoy a spot of sunbathing and relaxing. Ericeira is enchanting! We ate out every night and every night we had a fantastic meal! With all the surfing we did not have time to visit other locations and found there was enough to entertain us at the Lodges, Beach and Town. Fantastic time! - Jen & Andrew, Sevenoaks

The Lodges were perfect. Quirky or what? Complete freedom for the boys. Jorge was very helpful and we would definitely go back. We spent a day in Lisbon and also made a trip to Sintra but did not have enough time there. We felt a week wasn’t long enough there is plenty more to do. Looking forward to next year - Katherine, Roger, Christopher, Neil, John, Dublin

We had a great time. Lodges worked really well. We bbq'd, had lettuce & herbs & strawberries & swam. Jorge & etc looked after us well. Surfing was good - they took safety seriously and monitored the surfers very well. By the third day we were very relaxed and standing up! Niamh 13 - liked the fact that it was a lovely patch of green close to the town & the fresh produce available in the garden. Orla 5 - really loved it, loved the pool & the communal area & the frogs! Eoin - enjoyed the pool, pool table & table tennis as well as the fact that there was another family there with an Eoin of similar age! Lovely town & beaches. People were very friendly & food was good. Great fresh fish, fruit & veg, small amounts of crafts and butchers around. We enjoyed the food in general and it was reasonably priced – a lot cheaper to eat out there than in Ireland. We got to Mafra - interesting and had a lovely lunch; and Sintra but was too hot and touristy for our liking. All in all a success for us. I could see us returning there – Claire, David, Niamh& Eoin, Bray, Wicklow

The lodges were brilliant, great accommodation. We are already trying to see if we can come back again, but this time in a bigger group. I think the set up would be ideal for a group of people. Jorge was brilliant - he looked after us fantastically on our first night when we arrived - our luggage was delayed and he took us to a big out of town supermarket to get some supplies whilst we waited for it to arrive. He is a great asset and went out of his way to help us. He wouldn't even accept my attempt to buy him a box of beer to say thanks. The surf lessons we also awesome, the staff were great and I think we were both technically surfing by the end of the week. The equipment is excellent and the attitude was great. The beaches around are pretty good, we went on a scooter for an explore north which was good. Unfortunately we didn't get to Lisbon other than to pick up our rental car - for trip number 2! We have had a fantastic trip to Ericeira and are already looking into returning. We would both definitely recommend the lodges and surfing through yourselves to anyone who asks - Matty, Luton, Bedfordshire

Hi nicky, the holidays were great. The ecolodges were gorgeous, even better than the pictures in real life. Jorge was great, really helpful and always on call of you had any trouble, really made you feel welcome. He gave us a good map with restaurants on it which were good and reasonable. Surfing was great. Really relaxed atmosphere which was great because my mother was trying surfing. The lessons were long and you felt you got value for money, really friendly and accommodating and the staff were great. Beaches lovely, not packed and very clean. Will definitely be recommending this holiday to others – Betty, Deirdre, Maeve, Laoise & Aoife, Cork

The holiday was great and the lodges were fantastic. Jorge was very helpful although we didn’t need much as the place is so good. Surf lessons were really well run and both myself and my boys really enjoyed them. Foz do Lizandro beach is a good spot. We visited Sintra and nearby Mafra both of which were a nice change from the beach. Spoilt for choice with the village restaurants and wish I had another week to explore various places although Tik Tapas won the day. All in all a great week and every chance we’ll be returning! - Patrick, Hilda, Leo, Adam - Dublin

The holiday was fantastic (kids both say it was the best holiday ever!). The Eco Lodges were a great place to stay, with a very relaxing atmosphere. The ability to go and pick some fresh salad leaves from the garden, along with the communal barbecue, are a great amenity. The Surf lessons were spot on, and the school is particularly well set up for kids. One of our kids was sick for the first few days of the holiday, but Tobi was happy for us to reschedule the surf lessons and spread them out over the two weeks. The cafe at the surf school is also a great place to have lunch after the surf lesson, and is very good value. We loved the old part of Ericeira, and had some great meals (and very cheap, compared to Dublin). Tik Tapas and Pedra Dura we found great for family meals. Also had a great meal at Tik Tak (though a bit more expensive). The find of the holiday was a little place called "Cafe American" (a misnomer, if there ever was one: it's a Portuguese family-run restaurant where nobody speaks a word of English, but the seafood is fantastic and incredibly good value). The choice of beaches is wonderful: the one down by the harbour is lovely for swimming/paddling. We also drove and explored some other beaches along the coast: there are some spectacular, and relatively quiet, ones just north of the town. We did a few road trips to Lisbon (aquarium and science museum, in the "Expo 98" area of the city are fantastic day trips for kids). Negotiating the Lisbon traffic, however, is not for the faint hearted!. Also took a trip to Sintra, with is amazing (though much more touristy than Eirceira, and nowhere near as good value for meals, coffee, ice-cream breaks etc.) We've already recommended the holiday to others, and may well be returning ourselves next summer - Robert, Susan, Ethna, Heather - Dublin

We had a brilliant time, The lodges were exceptional, a real chill out zone. The kids loved the 'pool' and the common area under the lodges was great in the evenings, play pool, read, use laptop. Jorge and Lillyanna were on hand, but to be honest there was no need to bother them as everything ran smoothly. Ericeira is lovely, nice and relaxed and not a party town, loads of cafes and restaurants to visit. Sintra was nice but we didn't give it enough time, needs a full day. We went to Lisbon on the train from Sintra, easier than driving in Lisbon. Its a hectic city, and again needs the full day to get around (and it was hot). Surf lessons went off really well with Alvaro and the guys really making an effort. He even took some of the more advanced kids on a extra session (no charge) on a different beaches. All the instructors really worked hard to make it enjoyable. By the way the Na Onda cafe/restaurant is really good to get a burger/salad/wrap for lunch after the lessons. We ate there a few times (got the kids vote as best place to eat). It is definitely a place we will visit again, one of the best breaks we have had - Brian, Mary Claire, Briana, Roan - Sligo

What a place- I booked these lodges by default rather than by design if you get my meaning - I have seen the No Frontiers programme and intended to go there some day with my two sons Fionn who is now 11 yrs old and Lucas who is nearly 10 yrs. I had no expectations going on this holiday- I knew it was going to be either the best holiday we had or the worst!! I can say without reservation that it was the best, most exciting place we have ever stayed in- the lodges were amazing- to step out in to this paradise each morning was so relaxing- There is a superb energy in this little oasis !!!! From the frogs, to the plants, to the birds, to the pool, to the exceptional staff- what can I say- I have no complaints at all and I can honestly say that of the people I spoke to in the lodges I never heard one complaint for our whole 10 day stay!!! As an aside I have a pathological fear of Cock roaches- if there is one in sight or in our accommodation, the whole place will know about it !- I go on holidays with my antenna up watching for them at night in my peripheral vision. To my great delight, I saw not a single roach for the whole 10 days either in the lodge area or on our walks at night or in the town- a big bonus for me to say the least. Eco sound is a very secure setting for a single parent travelling without another adult- there is a locked entrance with a high wall - a key pad lock requires a number access! This feature was very comforting-in the past I have never left my children alone on holidays for a moment- in Eco sound I was able to slip to the local shop without the two boys knowing they were safe and secure. I would recommend the lodges for this peace of mind alone- I left my credit cards in my lodge for the entire visit- in my travel bag- there is a safe at reception - it is no problem for Jorge to hold passports , insurance etc- In truth, this was not necessary. My youngest boys said the holiday was "cool" and "awesome" - the best ever!!! As to the surfing- well what an experience - my sons did fabulously - they took to it like ducks to water with my youngest getting up on the board after lesson 2!!! The surf school was so organised , a little laid back time wise but the tuition was exceptional- Joao and Alvaro and Andrea thank you so very much- you have opened a new world to my sons, a world they just loved. We booked for 6 lessons before we left Dublin- fun and value for money - the mornings had a structure for my two boys and they expounded so much energy at the surfing I have very little to do entertaining wise after each lesson. I whiled away time in the cafes at the surf school- what a set up there- the board walk, the choice of food and the relatively cheap prices considering the location- on the beach. No rip off here for sure. And to Ericeria- I just think I have found heaven- it is so noncommercial which is what I just loved- no strip , no booming music, no drunks or marauding gangs of drunk young people- I just loved the local feel , not too many tourists, beaches semi deserted and clean. Restaurants were excellent also along with the cafes and the cake shops!!! I'm a stone heaver this week!!! All in all it was the best holiday we ever had - I have traveled to the Algarve three times before -I shall not be returning there or to the Spanish mainland or the Spanish islands in the future. These places cannot hold a candle to the holiday in the surf beaches of northern Portugal. There is a sign in our lodge that says "life Needs Pauses"- What a place and what a pause! This is one of the most fabulous, worth while, life changing, value for money holiday one can buy. My only regret on this holiday was that I only booked 10 days - 14 would have given us the space to go to Lisbon or to Sintra to see the surrounding sights- never mind it is an excuse to return next year or even at mid tern? A final word on the staff at the lodges- Olinda, Jorge , Lilly Anna and the owner Casado - there was nothing this crew would not have done for us- I look forward to returning to this paradise in the near future – Louise, Fionn & Lucas - Dublin

We loved the surfing holiday and I'd be keen to go back. The accommodation was excellent, great fun with plenty of activities and our hosts were very helpful and friendly. The village was really pretty and we enjoyed a great range of meals. The surf was good and we really loved it. It's not easy keeping a 15 year old interested on holiday but he was through the surfing, swimming pond, garage football, basketball, pool, table tennis and fussball – Dominic & Samuel - Redcar. England

A truly unique and wonderful experience , probably one of the best holidays we have ever had. Jorge and Lynda were fantastic, catered for our every need, umbrellas wind breakers and when they were around joined in as part of the family. Friends for life i hope. The lodges were spotless and had everything we needed. We Bbq most evenings as it was nice to spend time with other families in the other lodges, but did venture out to 2 fish restaurants without the children and both were superb.What also made this such a great holiday was that there were other kids (young adults!) in the lodge next to us who teamed up with ours to visit the lively pubs like La Luna and the disco. Surf school had everything sorted and split us in to smaller groups and Raul and Andrea put so much effort in to the lessons determined to help us all succeed. We visited Sintra and Lisbon but feel that we did not give ourselves enough time at either. Sintra was beautiful my favourite place with the little shops but we did not wear the correct foot wear to go hiking as we would have wanted. I would have to research Lisbon before visiting again as it is a huge place and we only saw a very small piece of it but it was still a great day. We would like to thank you for your honest and accurate account of what we would get from this holiday and hope that we are in a position to return again in the near future. My only bad thing that you could pass on is the car hire company .We choose Alomo who are run in Portugal by Eurocar we had to wait 3 hours at the Airport before receiving our car! - Jackie ,Sean,Danielle & Nicole - Sutton in Surrey

Great holiday. Everyone really enjoyed it. The lodges were great - really enjoyed everything about them. Jorge and Olinda were very hospitable (bbq on the Saturday night was a nice way to get to know everybody) and could not do enough for us, Any request was looked after immediately. Very sociable. We loved the pool and picking fresh veg and strawberries from the vegetable garden. Surf lessons were a big hit (Andrea, Raul and Tobi). Molly was up on the first day and by the last we had all managed to standup even if we didn't look too graceful. It was tiring but after the lesson everyone was on a high. A great way to get teenagers to come on holidays with their parents. Lovely beach. Ericiera was a very friendly town, mostly locals and not packed with tourists, very safe - we felt very comfortable letting our 15 and 17 year old wander around at 11/12 at night. We enjoyed the restaurants and very good value. We visited Lisbon - which we enjoyed but were glad to get back to the lodges. The highlights of our holiday were the surfing, strolling around Ericeira and relaxing by the pool at the lodges. An absolutely great holiday and keep a lodge for us for next year - the middle two weeks next year!!!!! P.S: Your information pack was very helpful - Mary-Anne, Brendan, Kate, Barry and Molly - Cork

We really enjoyed our stay in Ericeira and were well looked after by the friendly staff. The Ecolodges were very different to the usual self catering and exactly what we wanted. There was plenty of space for the 4 of us, they were clean and comfortable. Also as there are only 6 or 7 Ecolodges on the site each lodge felt quite private but there was plenty of well laid out common space too. Good sunbeds etc. I wasn't aware of the table football and pool facilities at the time of booking but they were a good source of entertainment for our teenage boys (16 & 18). Had fun using the BBQ facilities one night and picking the home grown salad from the vegetable garden. The lodges are a 35 mins walk from the surfing beach - I know we could have had a taxi but we preferred to walk. The surf lessons were fun and the team of instructors were patient and enthusiastic and did what they could to help. Seemed well organised and I like the fact that the school is based in a beach cafe so we didn't need to stagger very far at the end of the lesson for much needed refreshments. The lodges are well located for the town and there are plenty of restaurants to chose from and a range of prices, although it is definitely necessary to book the better ones. Pleased to see that the coastline seemed relatively undeveloped. Would definitely recommend it to friends - Steve, Susan, Seb, Felix - Maidstone, Kent

We all really enjoyed the surf holiday. The Eco lodges were great and we found lots of great restaurants in the area and the people were really nice. The surfing was great - the instructors were really good particulalry for the kids group – Morgan, Christian & son Charlie - Lochwinnoch, Scotland

We had a great time the lodges were great - the pool was great - the other guests were great. My 12 year old who is quite well travelled thought it was the best place we have ever been to. We stayed in Lisbon and then got the train to Sintra then the bus - it was so easy and much more exciting than sitting in a taxi - we also got the bus to the beach for surf lessons every day and that was easy - you should encourage your guests to use public transport more as it is so efficient and the people are so helpful. My son loved the skatepark where you can hire boards for 3 euros so please advise your skate boarding travellers not to bother trying to take one with them. The surf lesson were fun the kids were all brilliant from the start and the adults had such fun trying to stand up. We ate well both at the high end fish places and the cheaper pizzerias. The mix of the cool surf shops and the traditional cafes was great - lots of energy without the drunks or fear of crime - we would be interested in coming back - Jane & Sebastian - Stockport, UK

We absolutely loved it – I think it was the best holiday we have ever had. Ericeira is beautiful, unspoilt and very Portuguese. Lovely restaurants and very friendly/helpful people everywhere we went from restaurants to cabbies. The Lodges were unique, the girls adored the hammock and the pool was a big hit. It felt like an oasis – they were really quite perfect. Claudia was the perfect hostess. She booked us a restaurant for my birthday and organised a cab to the airport. She did a fab yoga lesson on the beach and I had a great time practising my Portuguese with her. The surf lessons were great. I think at the time, it all felt a bit rushed. We had 6 consecutive lessons and being the wrong side of 40 felt aches and pains every morning! Tobi runs a great set up there. I had a bump one day which almost put me off and Andrew asked Tobi if I could have some 1 – 1 the next day to restore confidence. It really helped. We rented boards 2 days during the second week too and they were very helpful with price/wax/where to go etc. We only had a day in Lisbon – it was all we felt up to, preferring to relax during week 2. Public transport was great – we took a bus which arrived when it said it would! Portugal seems more organised and ready for tourists than it was 20 years ago. We took the children to the Castle and walked around the squares etc. Sintra we didn’t visit, just ran out of time. Peniche we visited last year when staying further north. We would definitely do it again. Both the girls have mastered the surfing and want to keep it up. They have already acquired boards! I’d go back to Ericeira again any day. Thanks for ALL your help especially encouraging us to go Eco! Katherine & Andrew, Annabel & Natalie - Cardiff

We loved it. The set up at the ecolodges suited us and we met all the other families there which meant our kids were able to socialise with others their age. The surf lessons gave us some structure to the week and we also fitted in trips to Sintra and Lisbon (we caught the train in from Sintra which has a great car park and saved us the hassle of finding our way through a large city we didn’t know well). We did the right thing in renting a car - otherwise our options for getting around would have been limited. All in all a great holiday and we may well go back - Pam, Eva Gilder & Saffi - Bristol

we had a wonderful time and a great surfing in Ericeira. The surf lodges were absolutely great and Claudia did a good perfect in looking after us. Although the level is already high, it was only topped by Tobi and his surf school, who did a really great job in making our surfing as wonderful as possible. Restaurants are nice and the prices are okay, certainly less than Austria. What was also very helpful were the description/information sheet we got from you before the start of our holiday. It was well organized and everything worked fine. One suggestion: In addition to the description how to get from the airport to Ericeira you also should include one that tells you the way back from Ericeira to the airport – Walter & family - Vienna

We all had a great time in the Eco lodges... very simple but perfectly fine for what we wanted. The lodges were clean and tidy, and the whole Eco lodge site was so peaceful. The children made good use of the table tennis and the pool table, and even enjoyed the ‘eco pool’, although it took some getting used to! We spent several evenings by the BBQ, listening to the frogs whilst drinking our beers! Ericeira was a charming town with lots of character, dotted with endless restaurants. We visited numerous beaches and spent one morning in Sintra but didn’t do it justice...we need to go back and explore properly. All in all, the holiday was a great success and I would love to think that we will return one day - John, Emma, Will & Sam - Solihull

We had a lovely mini holiday. The lodges were great and Claudia looked after us very well. We couldn't believe that honesty bars still exist! Wouldn't work in Brighton. The children did really well in the surf lessons. Toby told us that he was very impressed with both of them. And we loved the town and the beaches. We didn't go to any other towns. The surfing and Ericeira felt like enough for the few days that we were there, and we didn't hire a car.I would particularly like to point out how kind and helpful Ricardo and Joao from the taxi company were. Riccardo had to wait an hour for us at the airport, then managed to avoid us being killed by what seemed to be a piece of furniture falling off a car roof on the highway, waited at the lodges for us until Claudia arrived, and then took us into town and got us a table at a restaurant. All very welcome after a long journey and over and above anything we would usually expect from an airport transfer. So all in all a success. If we decide to go on another surfing holiday we will certainly consider going back - Philippa, Dave, Joe, & Izzy - Brighton

We had a great holiday thanks. We loved the Eco lodges and we were looked after. I was especially taken aback by the honesty boxes everywhere. You don't see that these days, and it was a refreshing touch. We enjoyed the surfing, and beaches and found a great restaurant by the market in the town which we used a couple of times. All very good, and pleasant memories :) - Viv, Ipswich - Suffolk

The surf holiday was excellent. The place we stayed at was great. The ecolodges themselves were adequate and comfortable and Jorge and his wife were fantastic at running the place and made us feeling immediately welcome. The Eco pool and rest of the complex was also spot on e.g BBQ area, the facilities available, honesty bar. Ericeira itself was a good town to stay and surfing was ideal. Overall, a really enjoyable trip and would absolutely recommend it to others - Paul and the lads - London

We did like the lodges and the services such as bike hire, honesty bar, free wifi were a nice touch. Surfing was great. Our second lesson wasn't as great as our first but that may be because the waves were a bit too big & powerful for us as beginners trying to paddle out. We loved Foz do Lizandro, which was our idea of a perfect beach. Ricardo who picked us up from the airport was fantastic - Joanna & Paul, London

We all had a great weekend thanks. Loved the accommodation- we all thought the lodges were awesome as well as all the amenities there. Was perfect for a large group and Jorge was really friendly and helpful. Would definitely stay there again. Tik Tak was also very good on the friday- good food and reasonably priced. Dined at various restaurants over the wkend and all served really good food. Overall it was a fantastic weekend, had great fun and would do it again - Carl - Poole, Dorset

We had a great time. The Lodges were excellent and Jorge and the rest of the staff could not have been nicer and more welcoming.We did the surf lessons with Alvaro and again found the whole team there to be superb.......wish I could say the same about my own surfin skills !!!!! The weather was overcast on one of the days and we did do a bit of exploring and headed to both Lisbon and Sintra. The castle and the palace in Sintra were well worth seeing. In Lisbon we hired one of the "Go-Cars" dont know if you know them or not but they are three wheeled scooters that you sit into and have a GPS system that you follow and it takes you on a self-guided tour......really different and we had a great laugh. Ericera itself is a lovely town with some nice restaurants. Who knows we may well be back next year for another go in an attempt to catch one of those Monster Waves - Denis & Sarah, Cork

The holiday in a nutshell was fantastic. It was our first visit to Portugal and I have to say we were bowled over by the genuine friendliness, warmth and hospitality of the locals. We got off to a very good start with the info included in the welcome pack. Directions from airport were spot on. List of restaurants was very helpful - we were amused to realise that everybodies first port of call is Tik Tak. Lovely place and great staff. Pedro, Juan and all the crew were lovely - we met them all again at the lodges for the weekly bbq hosted by the Mayor on Monday - That was great fun - we were so taken by surprise to be invited to eat with them. the other Irish family (the Garveys from dublin) were also there so we had such a great laugh, eat delicious food and drank lots or really nice local wines and Sangres! Surfing went great - Toby and Flavio could not have been nicer. Talk about chilled out guys! We had a great night out with Flavio and the other surfers from the surf school on the Wednesday night. The local beaches were nice and we were in a pretty relaxed/lazy mode so we didnt travel to any other beaches or towns (as we thought we might). Ericeira is such a lovely town - its best attraction is that there is no mass tourism there. No loud trashy people or shops in sight. The lodges were great - the accommodation itself was basic but the outdoors more than make up for it. Loads of place to chillout and catch some sun. Its also a very sociable place (one of the main reasons we booked) - luckily the Garveys were there as they also had 3 children to keep our 3 company. Had great fun with some Portuguese tourists staying there also. The weather was fantastic while we were there. All in all we had a superb time. I wouldn’t hesitate recommending it to anyone who is into surfing. Would have no problem returning here again for another week. Thanks to you and all the team who put the package together - maybe you could pass on our thanks to them all. Hopefully we will be in touch in the future to re-book – Anita, Cormac & family, Galway

We ALL had a WONDERFUL time. We took TWO lodges and everyone adored the pool. The surf beach was GREAT and the surf staff very HELPFUL. We loved the MAYOR's barbeque at the lodges in fact we LOVED the Mayor period. He brought us plums from his tree at home. It was a HUGE success. Thank you for your help in setting it up. I would highly recommend it for all ages. Hope to go again next year & stand on the board for longer! - Ita, Dublin

Beautiful location and so handy to get to from Lisbon airport. Loved all the small restaurants/bars by night and the choice of beaches was great. It's fair to say we will definitely go back. I never thought of Portugal to be like this but the place was great and very affordable. I also have to say the locals were friendly and always helpful. I might have to brush up on my Portugese next time and make a little effort with them, I felt a bit bad not knowing the local lingo but that was by first time there so I'll put it down to inexperience! Eco Lodges were absolutely brilliant! Unique is right...........I can't say enough good things about these but they are a hidden gem. When we go back we will definitely stay there.............again and again! It's unique I think but really works. All of the other guests were great too and there was a really good atmosphere around the place. Tobi and his wife (forgot her name!!!) were great too, we arrived late but they understood and they left us to our own devices which is nice but I always got the feeling that if we needed anything they were only a phonecall away. Some questions were asked about renting the whole place out for a wedding and maybe hiring a private catering company for food and sorting music. The whole place is great and the guide you provided us with before we left was brilliant. It explained things really well and we used it over and over to find our way around and just as a general guide. The language/translation part was used frequently!!!! There were supposed to be 4 of us on the trip but a friend needed to pull out because of work commitments (his loss) so 3 of us used 4 of the lessons. The first day we got there we organised a 6pm surf lesson, but unfortunately there was not great surf so we organised with Tobi and his friend (his name begins with F but it escapes me now!) to return the next day for more lessons. One thing led to another and we found the only nightclub in the town and celebrated my birthday late into the night so we missed the 10am lesson next day but the guys were totally understanding about it which was nice. I reorganised for the following day at 10am as we were leaving that evening and we got out and used 3 of the 4 lessons - Peter, Cork

We had a nice holiday thanks. The lodges were nice as was the pool and the sharing of any spare stuff. Surfing lessons were good fun we did 6 days in the end and enjoyed. One thing we didn't have a car so a little long walk but we got a cab a few days which was cheap and the lady who took us was nice. Ericeira was great and we had a night in Lisbon too but didnt get to Sintra - Brian, Saint Albans

We don’t have a bad word to say about the trip (except the last 2 days were misty and we had some rain – but can’t blame anyone for that!!) This was our second time back and again the lodges were great. The lessons were so much better than before. The instructors were very nice and we noticed a huge improvement in safety. We all had to wear vests to identify us and the instructors were strict with us about not drifting off, which was a welcome change. The bigger boards was great too and they gave us shorter ones on our last day as we had progressed, so that was good to see. The waves were great on the beach and the set up with the bars and restaurants works really well. Tobi arranged for the surf transfers through a lady called Renata. Her cost was fair and she was flexible about picking us up after the lessons, so we could stay on the beach if we wanted. It worked out really well. We tried out some new restaurants as well, which we would recommend. In particular Pizzeria Pao d’Alho, which is on Rua Eduardo Burnay, Lote 2. We ate there twice. The manager is lovely and the food is second to none! Definitely one for your information pack! Two others that we really liked were Toca do Caboz (which seems to be a sister restaurant of Priim). It’s on Rua Fonte do Cabo, no 71. Also, Pedra Dura, which we really enjoyed is no 28, Rua Dr. Eduardo Burnay - Claire, Dublin

We had a fantastic holiday! The lodges were lovely and the complex felt like a little oasis. We had a battle for the hammock most days but the girls usually won. They got into the routine of taking their duvet out at about midnight having a quiet chat and star gaze either end of the hammock till 1am then coming in to sleep. The pool was lovely (once we got over the frogs and the green-ness!) The facilities were fab. The kids loved the pool table, the old radio and the sitting area. I dont think the photos that you have on your site do the place justice. The whole concept of eco-ness is great, we recycled everything and we only used one bin back for the entire fortnight -unheard of at home. The other lodges had families with kids around similar ages, so they all got on like a house on fire, we had English, Welsh, Irish and German families, they entertained themselves in the pool and in the games room. We got out and about too. Sintra is gorgeous, but the girls didn't think so when we made them walk right to the top to the castle walls ha ha. I promised them a great view, just as we got there the cloud wafted right over and there was absolutely no view!! Oh dear not popular on that day. We went to Mafra -great church and nice place for lunch, also went to Lisbon on a rainy day -bit of shopping and lunch in the Hard Rock Cafe -very Portuguese :) The beaches were beautiful, we went to a few - definitely need a hire car if you want to explore, the countryside is stunning. The girls enjoyed the surfing, we enjoyed lazing! Eating out was great and really good value. We went to Tik tak a few times, always really busy but good food. Ericeira is a lovely place and everyone was really friendly. We would definitely go back. We have raved about the holiday to friends and family. Sad it is over. Hope that feedback is helpful - Lesley & family, Northampton

Just to say that we loved the place. We had a fabulous time. The lodge we had was perfect and private, to be honest I think it was the best one. Have been spreading the word to all and sundry. Am in dialogue with my family for all of us to go which would be all the chalets ... watch this space. Renata was great, the instructors were great. We just had a fabulous time - Angela, Birmingham

We loved our stay at the Eco Lodges and Ericeira was wonderful. The water in the natural pool looks a little green which made me sceptic at first, but it was by far the nicest and cleanest pool I have ever swam in, and that is competing with salt water outdoor pools in Vancouver (which are pretty nice). You feel much cleaner coming out than going in, ;)! The set up of the resort is great, with the right amount of amenities, recycling facilities and relaxing areas. Also really liked the re-use element, like the honesty bar and food cabinet. It felt so much better to buy a big bottle of washing liquid knowing that someone else will use it after us. All and all perfect! If you want any "critique" at all, I would say that I would like a little more shelf/hanging space on the first floor in the lodge. Places to hang up coats (which we brung but didn't use), put down phones/wallets/sun screen/keys/etc. Ericeira was great. We came at a good time with not too many tourist, and got pretty much private surfing lessons. Flavio was a great instructor and we both felt we got a lot out of our lessons. Hopefully next year the girls are big enough to dare to try out surfing! The weekend initiatives of the locals, like cleaning the beach with the fam, doing yoga on the beach was heartwarming. I am a sucker for these things. Even my six year old daughter noticed and commented on the fact that Ericeira was much cleaner than Stockholm. We would love to come back this fall for another session of surf and tranquility! - Ximena & Family, Stockholm

The lodges are very nice and very convenient for the old town, if not the beaches. A car is really a must, unless you are being picked up by the surf school. The journey from Lisbon airport is very easy too, but leave plenty of time to get the hire car back because the return system is poor in high season! Surf school at Na Onda is a bargain. We are seriously thinking of going again next summer, but may try a different surf school - Oliver, Bath

Well we had an amazing time in Ericeira. The lodges are really cool and unique as you said. It was gread to chill in the evenings and also to meet other surfers. We really used the pool and vegetables they have and the barbecue area....really perfect! And also the lodges are not that far from the city centre if you want to walk at night. But it is good to have a car. We rent a car to get to the different beaches and it is worth it. We had a good time with Alvaro at the surf school. I first didn't think of taking surf lessons but then it was almost the same price to have 2 hours of lesson every day than rent a board and wet suit. If you are beginner 2 hours of surfing really is enough. So i took surflessons and my boyfriend rented a board from the naonda surf school. This was really cool and Alvaro was a good teacher and he always took us to good beaches and gave tips also if it wasn't a lesson. So we sufed 4 days of 6 (travel days not included). On 2 days it was raining or the waves to high. On one rainy day we went to Lissabon which is so close! We also went to Sintra to see the castle and to Obidos because it is really charming too. On the first day we went to Peniche and saw the half finals and the final of the Rip Curl pro surfcontest. There are a lot of different things to see in the area. The beaches were really amazing and Ericeria town itself really cool. The restaurant we most liked was the Tick Tack! Great food and great people! The portugese people were in general so nice! Well i talk portuguese but it is really easy to get along with english too. Hope we can go back soon! - Barbara, Zurich

We had SUCH a great time there, toby was awesome. our stove was broken and he had it totally replaced with in a few hours. We didnt want to leave when our time was up and will be back for sure next time we are in portugal. We pretty much stayed in ericeira the whole time, It was bens 30th birthday so we I bought him a new surfboard and he surfed 2-3 times a day and was loving it (perfect 7ft swell most days) - Soph :), Sydney

We had a really nice time in the lodge - thanks for putting us onto them. It's a nice area, and pretty cheap to eat! All the best - Ian, Madrid

We had a great holiday. We liked the lodges very much and would almost fight over the hammock on our balcony. My only quibble was that there were no reading lights in the bedrooms. Lovely to be able to add fresh herbs to your lunch! And beautifully landscaped. We absolutely loved Ericeira and had great food every day with probably Tik Tak Tapas our best experience. The surf lessons went OK and were enjoyed. There were some communication problems though in terms of timing. On the second day we turned up at the same time as the first day but were two or three hours too early - they had not told us what time to come. Then they explained that every day the lesson would be one hour later because of the tides. I am not a beach person myself but loved the beaches in that area and was very happy to spend time on the beach and in the cafes. They were so well organized and clean. We also went to Torres Vedra where there is a great museum about the lines to defend against Napoleon. We all enjoyed our holiday very much and would certainly go back to Portugal and that area. If you go surfing it makes it quite difficult to do any sightseeing, which absolutely delighted the rest of my family! - Kate, York

The lodges are great, really liked them. Arrival etc was a little bit annoying as we had to wait 20 minutes for Anja to turn up and let us in - but she'd never checked anyone in before so needed to hunt for keys etc. Not a big issue. Surf was good, the Foz do Lizandro beach was lovely. We ate in Bella Sombra on the beach, or the Na Onda itself. Found a simple grill place that did good fish, or tried shellfish one night. Sintra is brilliant, well worth a visit. Loved Lisbon too. All in all very satisfied though, would recommend people to go - Conor, Dublin

Just back from our first surf experience in Ericeira. What can I say it was one of the best holidays we had as a family, we are an active bunch but you know what we had the right combination of physical activity and then coming back to the lodge which gave us the chance to relax with each other after the surfing .The fresh water pool was a new experience as was the games room a real treat for our boys its the first time they could play pool without having to ask for money. The surfing was exhilarating hard work, addictive and even though I ski and run the effect on the body was amazing great for your core strength. If you want to loose a few pounds and tone up its a guarantee you would get a result. Eating out in Ericera was not only great value but a high standard of food especially if you like fish. Every restaurant you recommended we could not fault.
The staff were very professional and helpful Tobi kept in touch every day to let us know what time the surf was on. We were well looked after at the beach by the instructors Flavio and Joanne were great and Flavio looked after my two boys when the powerful waves got too much for them he showed them tricks in the water and entertained them while still helping those who were surfing which meant I was able to surf .
I havn't stopped raving about it since Ive been home and I would say to anyone don't be put off if your not a great swimmer because its not about being able to swim in the sea its about having fun getting exercise and feeling alive and energised and the best bit at night you can eat and drink all you like because you work it all off the next day. its the first holiday I've been on that i came home in better shape than when I left. We will be booking again - the Mckeone family

The ecolodges were great- the frogs were a bit noisy at night! The surf was great- both the boys could stand on the board for a short while by the end of their lessons. My husband found it a lot harder! We saw quite a lot of the area- Lourinho, Sintra, Mafra etc and would have gone into Lisbon for the day too if we hadn’t had the boys with us. The boys just wanted to be in the pool or at the beach. Ate lots of great fish and had a nice evening in Tik Tak. We’re saving up for our next trip! Janet - Seven Oaks

ERICEIRA is just the kind of coastal "town" we like and appreciate for its charm, its authenticity and its size plus the balance between the local population and the tourists. In Denmark we live just 30 min drive north of Copenhagen and at holiday we also enjoy staying in a short distance of a greater city, in this case Lisbon. People we´ve met are all very nice and friendy/open. The climate/temperature was nice. THE ECOLODGES are unique and we liked very much staying there because of "it all": The houses, the mutual facilities, the swimming lake, the fact that it´s a closed area and it feels safe. We also enjoyed the company of the other families and children - it is the first time we´ve spend a holiday staying and meeting to many British and Irish people, and that was great fun, we like you guys a lot! THE SURFING was fun! We´d looked forward to it and Toby and his crew at the surf school were very friendly and did a good job. The transport with Renate´s company Stop and Go worked very well. She is very nice and good at service, punctual and so on. THE RESTAURANTS were actually a bit better than I´d expected, to our taste TIK TAK being the best, mind you we didn´t try a lot - and some of the other guests had other preferences, all liked Tik Tak very much. And Pedro took very good care of us! SHOPPING was also a bit better than I´d expected as we could enjoy a stroll just window shopping, and we also bought some cloth both for the boys and for myself. As to food we fancied the little grocer 50 m up the street a lot - please let it always stay like this. We enjoyed it A LOT! Lidl and Aldi - go home! I mean, we bought basic start of sugar and that kind of thing but - like in the stores they have here in Denmark - it´s a big job to find low fat and healthy food products, I find. SIGHTSEEING: We went to Lisbon twice (without staying overnight). We did plan to go to Sintra but got caught up by lack of time. Has been great and we might very well get back to you again – Birgithe and family, Copenhagen

We got on great. The lodges were ideal for what we wanted and we also enjoyed Ericeira. Everyone was very friendly and I couldn't fault the trip - Alec, Cork

Myself and Donna had a brilliant time in Ericeira. The Eco-lodges are amazing, really enjoyed the whole laid back atmosphere of the place, relaxing by the pool, having bar-b-que’s and just sitting back with a beer and taking it easy. The lodges themselves are extremely clean and very comfortable. It’s very obvious that a huge amount of thought and care has gone into developing the place to a very high standard. We were down at the beach every day for the Surfing with Flavio and Johanna, they were brilliant and very patient, made sure everybody learned exactly what was needed to get standing up and surfing properly. The beaches were spotless and the surf was great. Having a few beers and tosta mistas in Na Onda’s after the surfing was always a nice finish to a day down the beach. We ate out a good bit, food and drink there is excellent value, Tik Tak and Tik Tapas are very good and we also really enjoyed the steaks and Piri Piri chicken in Prim (amazing local seafood in both places too). We’ll definitely be back, we’ve been recommending it to all our friends and family who are looking for something a little different to the usual “Sun” holiday. I would suggest to people to maybe spend a day or two in Lisbon, there’s a great buzz to the place, lots of history and local festivals to be found, with great craic to be had in the Bairro Alto area if people are in the mood for beers and cocktails (atmosphere reminded me a bit of Galway). Anyway, thanks again, since we’ve been home we’ve headed up to Lahinch and Fanore for some more surfing so it looks like we’ve caught the surfing bug. We’ll be in touch when our holidays are due again, if not sooner! - Cheers Damian & Donna, Celbridge

We had a lovely holiday. The Eco Lodge complex was absolutely beautiful without a doubt, the houses themselves were basic and comfortable and that suited us fine. We were given a really warm welcome by Toby (by the way the directions to the Lodges were fab) and we were very impressed with the idea of helping ourselves to the fruit and veg in the garden and also the idea of the honesty bar. When we explored the complex (I'm sure thats not the right word for it!) I was really impressed. The whole concept was so beautiful and I do understand that that's what you're really paying for-the beauty and tranquillity. 4 of us started the surf lessons but only the girls kept going 2 the end. Both my daughter and I really , really enjoyed the surfing. I was pretty useless at it but nonetheless had a ball. Our 15 year old daughter was the star pupil. As beginners we were in quite rough water but I think that was a good thing as I know in Lahinch, (which is right beside where I come from in Clare) they seem to put beginners in fairly calm waters. It surprised me just what a physically demanding sport it is and I now understand why surfers look the way they do! Ericeira is a beautiful place. The beaches were numerous, extremely beautiful and impressively clean. We went out to see the surf competition two days. That was really amazing. The restaurants- where do I begin!!! Well we started in TikTak. We went to La Pizza. We went to Prim. And then we started over again!!!! The seafood we ate was, without exception, the best food we have ever eaten on holidays. We also enjoyed 2 lovely lunches, compliments of Tik Tak and friends at the Ecolodges. They came there to bbq the results of their fishing expeditions and together with the owner of the lodges, were very gracious hosts. Caitriona-Cavan

Wow... what an amazing holiday. I am lost for words, for once! I was just blown away by everything - the beach, the fishing village itself, and of course the lodges (which were right up my street)... We used the BBQ nearly every evening, and I am a bit of a hippie so I just loved the whole concept and ethos of the lodges... The surfing was brilliant and everyone looked after us so well. Thanks a million for the trip, I plan to go back next year to the lodges to improve the surf! Emma - Waterford

We had a ball. I've been raving about it since and really hope to get back there next Easter. The whole experience was amazing. The people were so nice. From the minute we arrived and Renata collected us, to meeting Tobi and our instructor Flavio. I couldn't praise them enough. Everyone was so friendly and helpful. The accommodation was in a great location and well kitted out. The town was gorgeous. I was expecting a tiny little village with nothing much to see or do. On the contrary the town was a happening place. We tried out most of the restaurants on the list and the food in Ericeira was divine.We all really loved the surf lessons and had great craic with Flavio. By day 3 we thought we'd never be able to last till the end, because there were aches in muscles we didn't know we had. But I'm glad to say we lasted till the end and had forgotten about the pain by then. I've been on a few yoga holidays abroad but I thought that the surfing holiday was great value for money. I can't wait to go again. Mary - Cork

The trip was fantastic. We loved Ericeira, a beautiful old fishing town with great seafood and a lovely relaxed atmosphere. The lodges were great, less than a 5 minute walk from the town centre. Toby, Flavio (surf instructor) and Renee (transport) were great. We loved the people, very chilled out with a sense of humour. It was really nice to chill out at the beach bar after surfing and the Ondi goatscheese salad is really good! Thanks for recommending Ericeira we’ll be back. Cathleen - Dublin

The lodges were lovely and we felt taken care of, as we were offered lifts down to the beach for the surf lessons every day. We had two surf lessons. We had a proper lesson on the first day, but unfortuantely the waves were too strong on the second day so we only had a half hour session on paddling, rather than a full 2 hour session. Saying that, the instructor on the second day (when we did the paddling) spent a lot of time explaining things to us. The beaches, the area and the restaurants were all lovely, so I will be recommending the place to others - Bev and Rachel, St Albans

Holiday went great, absolutely fab; lodges were perfect, surf lessons/instructor were great and the town was lovely - we'd go back in the morning! We couldnt believe how cheap it was to live out there! Thanks a mill for all the recommeded restaurants etc - they were great! Thanks for everything, hopefully will be in contact with ye again soon!!- Marianna, Galway

Had a lovely time in Ericeira. The lodges were great! Very unique and lovely atmosphere. Only suggestion would be that they had a little welcome pack of Coffee, Tea, Sugar and Pepper, Salt, cooking oil and detergent in lodge when you arrived but apart from that loved them. The car was really handy as it was not really walkable to surfing beach with kit. Boys loved the surfing. The surf school was excellent and well organised. Food at the beach was the same price as town which was great and handy. They loved it. We went to Tik Tak (not bad) although I think there are some better ones. We didnt eat out alot. Didnt do much travelling about sadly as girlfriend was more up for lazing at the pool. Some of the other residents went to Lisbon (they were there for longer) said it was brilliant. Would love to go back to Lisbon in Autumn. Travelled to a few other beaches to check out but would only go with local advice on breaks etc. Met most of your other clients who all had teenage girls (our boys were thrilled) so they had a good time together. Vila Gale was great for the last two days as it meant we didnt have to think really about meals and just chilled. Staff were attentive and rooms very comfortable. Breakfasts were great and it was great overlooking the coast etc. Thanks for all your help. Even though we would have liked lodges the whole week it was a nice change at the end. Everything was so close by. Getting to and from airport so easy - Danielle & Patrick and family, Cardiff

We had a great time in Ericeira in the EcoLodges and with the surf school. Tobi and Renata, the driver, were very good to us and have a great set up. It was fantastic to get our lunch at the beach bar after finishing in the water in the morning. Our surf instructor, Flavio was absolutely excellent, so encouraging and you could really tell he wanted us all to learn the real skills and lose the bad habits we had learnt in Ireland!!! I learnt an awful lot thanks to him. The Lodges were great - peaceful and relaxing. And the town is quite pretty. We ate out so well in seafood and fish restaurants, particularly the Mar da Vista and the Mar d'Areia and everyone around the town was so friendly - Grainne, Westmeath

The holiday went really well, we fell in love with Ericeira and will definitely go back. The surf lessons were great and the instructors were really great guys. We did 10 lessons in the two weeks and loved every minute of it. Toby invited us to a beach party on our last night, which was a nice touch. There's something about this place that makes you feel at home. We had three teenagers with us and they loved the lodges. They loved the pool and all the common room to hang out and the hammock to relax. We met great people at the lodges, Catherine, John, Brian & Hannah, who very kindly let us have showers in their lodge before our flight home - great neighbours!! The Lodges are in a beautiful peaceful setting, very tranquil. We had three vegetarians with us (one doesn't eat fish) so we found Pedra Dura, Pinta and Prim catered better for their needs. Great food everywhere anyway and very reasonable too.If I was to give any piece of advice it would be to pack light, this is a laid back place with cobble streets so no high heels or fancy clothes required. We should of packed for sun in the day and just a couple of pairs of jeans for the night. Once the sun goes down it gets cool enough just for jeans and a jumper. Thank you Surf holidays for a really different holiday - we can't wait to go back!! Thanks again & regards, Sonia, Kildare

We had a wonderful holiday in Ericeira.We loved the lodges,pool, beach and town. The kids loved the surf , the adults are too old for the surf !! We enjoyed our time there and will return as it is the nicest place we have been. We did not need a car really so would not recommend it . Thank you for everything. Adrian ,Katherine Ava & Mark.

Cheers for everything, the lads and i enjoyed ourselves. The lodges were really better than they appeared on the website and really made the surfing holiday. The surf was great too, missed a few days as it was too big but 3 of the lads got out everyday. Tik Tak was one of our favourites and another down by the sea that i can’t remember the name of, but overall the food was great. Tobi was a great help and basically helped orgainse everything for us. We used the bus every now and again. Thanks again and we all said we would consider going back next year, so il drop you an line when the time come's. Conor, Sligo

Wow what a surf holiday! Completely unique and unlike any other we've ever been on and would definitely go back in a shot. All of us were complete surfing novices when we left the UK, and we returned all able to stand and catch waves, so a massive success on that front, thanks to the expert tuition from "Coach Flavio", who imparted his local wisdom of the waves on each of us. We were all hugely impressed with the Eco-Lodges, which are very near to the centre of town, and a bit further from the beach. The "lodges" themselves are perfect for 4 - really we were only in them to sleep and shower. The rest of the time we spent by the awesome grill and table by the natural pool, having bought food and drink very cheaply from the local markets. I've got to say the natural pool was probably the best thing about the lodges. Free from salt or chlorine, the pool is home to an ecosystem of plants, lilies and frogs (one of our group actually had an acute fear of frogs and grew to love them by the end!). Seriously though, it actually feels like you are swimming in a picturesque pond, refreshing and natural after a tough day's surfing. There's also a deck which we spent a lot of time on, usually between 4-8 in the afternoon, lying/sleeping, just generally chilling in the sun - nice! The surf groups tended to be more mixed in the morning, so for real beginners this is the best option. However, after the first few we found that we got more from the afternoon sessions, slightly higher standards, smaller groups and less kids. We couldn't actually find any hire cars (one of the group who knows who he is was too lazy to arrange!), but to our luck it worked out that we didn't need one at all. The driver Renata was really helpful, would pick us up each morning to take us to the beach, and always very happy to do a detour on the way back via supermarket or cashpoint. It almost felt as if she was a personal chauffeur to our group, and worked out much better value than 2 cars would have been (also we'd have ended up lost the whole time). On the last night Tobi (who owns the beach bar/restaurant) hosted a massive party - a big bbq first followed by some eclectic Reggae-Beats served up by Gi-Gi - son of the owner of the best fish restaurant in town (seriously fresh fish grilled to perfection - especially the clams) and generally an all-round hero. This finished at around 2, then on to 121 bar to ensure we all had good hangovers to travel back with. To sum it up, this place is brilliant for a small group (we were 8). You do not see many tourists and can properly chill in Ericeira wherever you are as it feels so far from the UK. We would all highly recommend the lodges and surf lessons, and guarantee you will catch "the bug" (surfing not swine flu) if you've not already! Ben, London

We enjoyed our week in Ericeria . The Lodges and especially all the facilities in the complex made for a relaxing stay. The town was relaxing,not too busy,friendly people ,nice coffee shops and restaurants.Best meal at new Tik Tak TAPAS bar/restaurant.Most important of all however was the fact that everyone we met - Tobi,fellow guests,Renata our taxi driver and the local people- were all so friendly and given Cormac was on crutches so helpful. Thanks to all.We went on to Cascais/Lisbon were we had similar experiences. Tony & Family, Kildare

We had an absolute ball in Ericeira - well probably to be more precise it was the lodges and the other people there that really made it for us. Age ranged from 4 - 71 and we all got on famously. We even organised a big Barbie one of the evenings for everyone (bar the kiddies) - there was something like 21 of us...which turned into a mock wedding of the 71 year old and myself, there were speeches and throwing of the bouquet. The surfing was great...it was great getting out to clear the head! So all in all a great holiday....are any of the other locations ye have as good or would that be one of the best (I'm thinking of my next holiday already....but sure with this weather who could blame me!) - Niamh, Ireland

Great place, great frogs good at singing, very relaxed, food lovely, great town, the wine was amazing nb the Green wine. Advice: Send directions in Portugeuse and english for getting from airport to the lodges (our taxi driver spoke no english) The buses are great value. We will be back. Victor & Ruth, Wicklow

I thought the lodges were fantastic, great idea and a cool space-especially for groups-would definitely consider it again for a group surf holiday with friends, they were near everything, safe and had everything you needed. The town was great, people were really friendly, shops were cool, we used all the info you had sent us, had lovely meals all at great prices etc. The surfing was also a great experience. Thanks for a wonderful trip! Paula, Ireland

We had a great time thanks. Really loved the eco lodges and everyone was really nice. We would love to buy a house there one day. Gina, Donegal

Yeah, had a whale of a time thanks! The lodges are beautiful...easily one of the most awesomest places i have ever stayed! Great Surf Holiday. Thanks, Rach, Cornwall

We had a great surf holiday in Ericiera! The Eco Lodges were magic, far above our expectations! We loved the accomodation, especially the pool and common areas like the bar. Surf lessons were quite good too. We were all very much beginners but the guys took us through everything and helped us along - sticking to the beginners beaches so we weren't overwhelmed. Claire, Galway

Thanks for the email, we had a wonderful holiday at the lodges in Ericeira. With the welcome pack and maps the holiday went very smoothly. It was very relaxing from start to finish! We ate out at the Tik Tak restaurant and Tik Tapas two nights each because your recommendation was right! The surf school went great, well organized and yet very relaxed. Looking forward to travelling with surf holidays again! Many thanks,Suzanne, Ireland

The lodges were great! and the surf was awesome, found it hard at first but by the end i was catching some pretty big waves. We found 2 great bars: la luna, and a cocktail bar in the town centre. The fillet steak in tik tak was delicious. Thanks for a great surfing holiday and i am considering going surfing again. Brian, Galway, Ireland

Surf holiday was lovely, everyone very friendly, helpful etc. i would recommend it to someone for sure... thanks for organising this and big thanks to the manager - lent us his daughter's clothes when our were lost by easyjet (!) Cheers, Jim, UK

We had a brill surfing holiday. The lodges were perfect, loved the vibe of the place. Ericeira was beautiful and loved the fact it wasn't very commercialised. The surfing was great craic, I never got the hang of it but my boyfriend managed to stand up a few times! Would defo recommend it friends and plan on going back as soon as we can :-) Thanks a mill, Lena, Kildare, Ireland

We had a fantastic surf holiday thank you. The lodges were beautiful in their own little oasis and great for the kids. The surfing was fantastic – the instructors very good with the kids. They seemed to have loads of good equipment too. We really liked Ericeria, it was probably quite quiet whilst we were there which was lovely. Overall a great holiday. Thanks a million. Danielle, Ireland

Oh my god, I loved it. I think it was seriously one of the best holidays I've ever had!
The lodges are gorgeous and so peaceful. We got to know everyone in them by the end! Its amazing listening to the birds and frogs...felt like we were in the tropics. Anyway every morning we went surfing at 10 am and I totally became addicted..its so much fun. waves were perfect for us. I felt so revived afterwards and we still had the whole day to do stuff. We usually went back to lodges afterwards, had some lunch and chilled out on the sun loungers...we all usually fell asleep for a couple of hours!! One day we ate in Tobi's place at the beach...food is so good actually and then we sunbathed on the beach...totally blissful! Two of the evenings we had a yoga class with Carla. Oh my god, she is so lovely. Then we'd head out to the town for dinner. I'm afraid we only got as far as Prim and Tik tak!! We went to both places at least twice! It was just so good!! Pedro was so nice. Had the sea bass and steak...to die for. I keep dreaming about them still. All the food is just so fresh and tasty. It was my perfect mix of a perfect holiday...surf, yoga, food, wine and sun....and chilled!!! So good. Have recommended it to everyone I chat to about it! See you soon, Claire – Cork, Ireland

All of us had a ball on our surf holiday in Portugal. The Lodges were perfect, with a bit of everything, from the pool table, the take and replace bar system to the BBQ and swimming pool. Ericea had plenty of gorgeous resturants. Surfing was brilliant and the instructors were REALLY patient. Foz do Lizandro beach was gorgeous. Thanks again for everything and all the helpful info before we left. Def recommend the whole thing. Barbara, Ireland

We had a brilliant time in Ericeira. Loved every minute of it. The Eco Lodges are a really great place to stay and the town itself is a great spot. The information you sent us came in very useful too. I'm looking at possible going again with a few mates in September/October and will be in touch when we know what we're doing - Shane, Ireland

The lodges are beautiful...easily one of the most awesomest places i have ever stayed! On the whole, a great trip and i would definitely recommend it to friends/family looking to surf! - Rach, UK

We had a great time in Ericiera! The Eco Lodges were magic, far above our expectations! We loved the accomodation, especially the pool and common areas like the bar- Claire, Dublin

We had a fantastic holiday in Ericeira, magnificant place. The Eco Lodges were ideal and the surfing was so much fun - Orla, Ireland

We had a fab time, the lodges are great - we really loved them. The fellas did some good surfing too. We're already trying to fix a date to go back next year, so no doubt I'll be in touch again! Faye, Dublin

The lodges along with the setting were gorgeous. The town of Ericeira is a lovely place too. Some great bars and restaurants to be found. The surfing was superb. We wouldn't be off the highest standard, but it suited us perfectly - Conor, Dublin

We had a great time in Ericeira, and the Eco Lodges are fabulous, we really didn't believe they would be so cool! It's great to see that they are kind to the environment also - Kara, Denmark

We all had a brilliant time..the town was perfect, the lodges somehow look better in person then in the photos, and the beaches were just fantastic - Brian, Ireland

The holiday was brilliant, lodges were great, surf was good every day and the instructors were excellent. Eiriciera is just lovely, I was there when I was a kid and the old town hasn't changed a bit. We met loads of people in the lodges and had some great bbq nights and sing songs. The only problem is a week just isn't enough. We will definately be going back - Daragh, Ireland

The lodges were out of this world and we will be telling everyone about them. Kids and adults alike enjoyed it. The surf was perfect but too good for us beginners so we settled for the beach. Will definitly be heading back there. Thanks again for all your help - Grainne, Ireland

Note: Lessons can be added in the online booking steps. You can also add lessons at a later date by phoning us: +44 20 8144 9950 (UK) or +353 1 482 2828 (Irl & International) or emailing info@surfholidays.com. Lessons will start the day after you arrive unless you specify differently.

Please note surf lessons must be booked in advance to allow us organise everything properly and efficiently

If you have your own accommodation but still want surf lessons that is no problem. Just call or email us your details and we will organise everything...

Ericeira Surf Lessons

Surf Instructor Tobi Ebner tells us why he thinks Ericeira is one of the best places in the world to surf: I have travelled all across Europe and I havent found a place to match Ericeira, I really love the unique combination of high quality waves for all levels and the laid back atmosphere of the village.

If you are staying at the Chill In Surf House or La Point Surf Camp your surf lessons are included as part of the price. Otherwise you can add the below surf lessons to your package within the online booking steps or over the phone.

If you are staying at the Ecosound Ecolodges you will be picked up each morning for your lessons and taken to the surf beach. The other accommodations are within walking distance of the surf beaches or a short taxi ride - a simple text to the drivers and they will come get you.

We offer Surf lessons for beginners, kids and advanced surfers. We also offer a very large range of surf equipment to rent. You will not get cheaper prices than the below. Surf lessons primarily take place on Foz do Lizandro and Ribeira D'Ilhas surf beaches

Availability: Lessons are available year round. There are usually a few different times each day. You will be told the day before you start what time your lessons are on and you can also change this if you prefer a different time.

If you are staying for a week we advise you to do 5 days of lessons, 2 hours per day, to get the most out of your holiday and allow you to relax for the other half of the day.

Adult lessons per person:

1 day	2 hours a day, including wetsuit and board	€25
2 days	2 hours a day, including wetsuit and board	€40
3 days	2 hours a day, including wetsuit and board	€59
4 days	2 hours a day, including wetsuit and board	€80
5 days	2 hours a day, including wetsuit and board	€98

Kids School (Age 6-12):

3 days	2 hours a day, including wetsuit and board	€39
5 days	2 hours a day, including wetsuit and board	€72

The surf school is officially licensed through the FPS (Portuguese Surfing Federation) with fully qualified instructors and follows all safety standards.

Surf Shop Discount

Every booking also receives a 15% discount of select items in the local surf shop and surf board manufacturer Boardculture - the shop is located in Ericeira and they stock all kinds of surf boards, wetsuits and many different labels of surf clothing.

Ericeira Surf

This is where you surf Europe's best coast line and let the fun begin.There are over 20 beach breaks along the Ericeira coast that cater for all. And for the more intermediate and advanced you'll feel like a kid in a sweet shop! The area was introduced in the Stormriders Surf Guide to Europe with the heading "Enter the Heartland". In 2011 it was awarded the title of 'World Surf Reserve', there are only 2 other places in the world that share the titel: Santa Cruz, US and Manly, Australia.

If you've never surfed before Ericeira's Foz do Lizandro and Sao Juliao beaches are the perfect beginners spots. Closer to town beside the Vila Gale Hotel is Praia do Sul. Another great beginner beach breaks. All best at mid tide but surfable at high and low tide also.

For Intermediates you have the reliable and safe reef break Ribeira d'Ilhas, which host the ASP World qualifying series surf championships every year. And for the more adventurous you have the world class Coxos. Thats just namig a few, there are too many surf breaks to mention here!

Don't forget to explore further up the coast - 25 minutes away is Santa Cruz and an hour away is Peniche, home to the World renowned Supertubos and host of the Rip Curl Pro since 2009. 30 minutes south of Lisbon is the Cascais coast with the famous Praia do Guincho surf beach. And when north winds are blowing you can venture further south towards Carcevelos beach and the other surf spots along the Lisbon coast.

Come Surf Portugal with us!

Its hard to capture the beauty of Ericeira in a few words. You have to come and see for yourself! The town is unlike any of the usual overpopulated tourist towns that can be found by the sea in Europe. Instead you will experience a beautiful traditional old Portuguese village, where fishing has been the main focus for centuries. The old town sits on top of huge maginificent cliffs that over look the Atlantic below. Below each cliff are stunning beaches each blessed with some of the best surf in Europe. A surf culture has grown as a result and infuses with the old traditional way of life to create a unique balance where old and new sit side by side perfectly.

The fishing village and surrounding areas of Ericeira (pronounced Eery-Say-Rah) have plenty to offer those who want to take a break from the white sandy coastline on their Surf Holiday. Hours can be spent getting lost among the narrow cobblestone streets, enjoying a coffee or a beer in the many cafés and bars, chatting to the locals and admiring the cliff top views. There is a fantastic selection of restaurants, with seafood a speciality naturally.

And when you finish your surf there is nothing better to do than just laze on the beach in the glorious Portugues sun, especially on Foz do Lizandro beach with its new promenade lined with cafés & bars.

There are also an abundance of surf and fashion shops. Quiksilver have their flagship Portuguese store complete with surf bar, skatepark and late night DJ! Skateboards can be rented from €3 per hour.

Activities

The Tourist Office in the centre of town will be your best friend and has a list of all the surrounding Golf courses (including the PGA Championship course Penha Longa) - www.portugalgolf.pt

The area has many options - MTB, tennis, big game fishing, mountain biking, hiking and 4x4 in the local forest, horse riding, and other water sports such as kitesurfing and windsurfing.

Restaurants & Bars

Portugal is well known for it's delicious seafood and Ericeira's fishing traditions have spawned some great restaurants. Our favourite is Tic Tak and Tik Tapas run by brothers Pedro and Francisco. Canastra on the sea front serves some of the best seafood in town and has incredible sunset views.

In Ericeira you have many bars including the popular La Luna, Pedro Pescadoro and the cocktail bar Bamboo. A beer will cost you just €1.50. One of the oldest nightclubs in Portugal, “Ouriço”, is picturesquely located overlooking the cliffs and the Atlantic Ocean. Ericeira is not an all night party town; its bars have a more laid back chill out feel rather than the type that pump out loud music.

Surrounding towns

Dont' miss the monastery in Mafra on your way up from Lisbon - you can bypass the town but it's worth driving through to see the spectacular building. Sintra makes a great day trip, with its spectacular Pena Palace, the summer home to the long gone Portuguese Monarchy.

30 minute south of Ericeira are the coastal areas of Cascais & Estoril. Beautiful beaches lined with cafés, restaurants and fantastic 19th century Mansions - this area is considered the Monte Carlo of Portugal. You will also find Europe’s largest Casino, the famous Casino-Estoril.

Lisbon

You’ll arrive in Lisbon airport and drive 30 minutes north to Ericeira. However the city of seven hills is a city not to be missed. For sights and information log on to www.visitlisboa.com

Lisbon is a great shopping city. Prices are be less expensive than many of its Western European counterparts. High street fashion shops can be found in the Baixa area, especially the pedestrianised Rua Augusta (for clothes, shoes and luxury goods from the likes of Louis Vuitton and La Perla) and the Chiado and Bairro Alto (especially Rua Garrett for clothes and linen and neighbouring streets for ceramics, young designer fashions and haute couture). Avenida da Liberdade hosts big name fashion such as Calvin Klein and Emporio Armani.

One stop new shopping malls are becoming increasingly popular; the best being the Centro Vasco da Gama, with its own cinema, restaurants and shops like Zara, Pull and Bear, Bershka, Mango, Dali, Massimo Dutti. For more info log on to www.centrovascodagama.pt

Its also worth getting the bus or a taxi into Lisbon to try out the restaurants and nightlife. A taxi back will cost you €60 approx. The Barrio Alto district is the main area, a maze of streets full of people enjoying the city's bars and clubs.

Football

Two massive local football teams divide the city – tickets for Sporting Lisboa or Benfica can usually be bought on the day at the stadiums. For info on the Portuguese league check out www.footballportugal.com