Newsletter Spring 2013

Next 28 Th of May it will be 15 years since we opened. Time went by fast. We never regretted our decision to move to Portugal and start here, at the slopes of the Serra da Estrela, a Boutique Hotel. We feel very grateful to you and all our guests, people we work with and specially our team. Quinta da Geia has become a well- known concept by now in continuous progress.

Of course we feel the consequences of the crisis. But, it is in these difficult times that we feel cherished by our many friends.

Start off 2013 At the first of January we had many guest savoring our special New Year’s Day lunch. Margarida prepared a festive meal with a pot roast of bore as main course. Carnival was joyful and many guests enjoyed themselves in the snow of the Serra da Estrela.

CHEESE FESTIVAL - FESTA DO QUEIJO - 09 & 10 MARCH The people of Oliveira do Hospital celebrate once more the famous Serra da Estrela Cheese. A two days festival is organized. Besides the sampling of the finest country made product such as the cheese, smoked ham, sausages, honey, pastries, and wines and so on, there are many animations including traditional music and sportive events. Come visit this fair, and stay at Quinta da Geia with a direct 10 % discount on our room rates. In addition, just like many other restaurants in the region a special menu honoring the gastronomical traditions of this region is available.

SPRING PARTY - FRIDAY 22 March – 19:30 hours
Honoring traditions, we celebrate a start of each new season. This time SPRING. We took a peek in our neighbor’s kitchen and let us inspire by their fried calamari and delicious paella, but first we welcome you with a nice drink. Please book your table in advance. The price is € 12.50 per person. Beverages and other consumptions not included.

Walks! Walks! Walks!
Aldeia dos Xistos and the Municipality of Oliveira have set out four intertwined hiking trails in Aldeia das Dez and one cultural route in the ancient surroundings of Oliveira do Hospital. They surely add much value for leisure activities for everyone.

EASTER PROMOTION: Take a break away from busy city life and come relax at Quinta da Geia. We have special package rates available for this season: Starting from € 87.00 per person for 2 nights in a standard double room including breakfast and EASTER lunch and for € 120.00 per person you stay 3 nights. Contact us for more information by telephone or send an e mail.

NEW ROUNDTRIP
Discover the best of Portugal while staying in the most charming and comfortable accommodations. You start in Porto where you will be lodged at a comfortable flat located in the historical center from where you can explore this marvelous harbor city. Continue your journey to the very heart of Portugal and stay at Boutique Hotel Quinta da Gaia, a place to relax and enjoy the natural pleasures of life. By now you are tuned into 100 % into holiday mode. Travel to Sentra where you will be welcomed at Quinta da Corvo with its special garden and charming lodges. Sentra is a relish for the eyes and Lisbon will surly cast its charming spell over you. End this perfect holiday in a perfect way in Casa Al Cubo in the Algarve where Sun! Sea! & Fun! Are guaranteed. Contact us for more information ; +238670010 or e- mail : info@quintadageia.com

BTL IN LISBON 27 February to 03 March
The Fil in Lisbon will receive another edition of the tourism trade fair: BTL 2013. The Turismo do Centro is the special guest this year and we are proud to join them in our own permanent spot in there stand. Please do visit us at stand D 3 in Pavilion 1 and cease the opportunity to acquire a BTL voucher promotion offering a night and candle lit dinner for 2 persons for only 89 euros with breakfast included.

SKINLIFE
And while you are in Lisbon we recomend a visit to our friends Dennis and Patrick who own a beauty boutique in one of the most enigmatic streets in Lisbon.

“S K I N L I F E by Dennis & Patrick aims to offer a unique and exclusive collection of perfumes, make-up, skin –and hair care and lifestyle products. A very special collection of carefully selected “beauty brands from all over the world” exclusively for the Portuguese market.

The philosophy behind these so called “niche brands”, is that they often originate from people who are passionate in creating a special product of a high quality and obviously unique in the market. By using the purest and highest standard ingredients they ensure that the products are of an exceptional quality.

Apart from representing these niche brands S K I N L I F E is a leading specialist in reliable and personal beauty advice in the beauty boutique and anywhere else you may need our services. As a team we have years of experience, working for the best perfume houses in the world. Above all we are …… Passionate about Beauty.”

We hope to see you soon !

With warm greetings from the Quinta da Geia Team

Our Hotel Rural and restaurant João Brandão receives constant attention from the media as you can see in the list below

1. VT WONEN -august 1999, a well known Dutch magazine spend seven pages on the hotel. Especially the photos of Jeroen van der Spek have impressed their readers
2. CASA DECORAÇÃO spend a lot of attention on the hotel in its issue of October 1999 with plenty of text and photo's
3. In the weekend special of the Portuguese regional newspaper DIÁRIO DAS BEIRAS of 18 February 2000 they wrote an three paged article about the beginning's of Quinta da Geia, under the heading Geia, a heavenly name
4. In the second weekend of January 2002, the also in Portugal very popular Big Brother filmed at Quinta da Geia, the films have been broadcast on television the following three days. Also the writing press paid lots of attention during this recordings
5. At the special edition of a national Portuguese newspaper the EXPRESSO at the beginning of 2001, Quinta da Geia is regarded as one of the dreams hotels of central Portugal
6. In a local newspaper, the FOLHA DO CENTRO, both owners are interviewed about their findings about Portugal
7. In the May -June edition of CASAS DE PORTUGAL, is an article of eight pages in which, with the help of text and photos, is given a complete picture of Quinta da Geia
8. On the nineteenth of May 2001 in several newspapers of northern Holland appears an article about Quinta da Geia under the heading; An adventure in Portugal
9. In the April 2002 edition of EVASÕES, is a fantastic ten-paged article about Quinta da Geia with marvellous photographs of Manuel Gomes da Costa under the title; A shelter in the mountains
10. In the business magazine IDEIAS & NEGÓCIOS both owners are interviewed about their reasons to move to Portugal and start a hotel
11. At the national Dutch newspaper ALGEMEEN DAGBLAD appears on the eighteenth of May 2002 a readers offer under the heading; As Dutchman among the Portuguese
12. At the eleventh of June 2002 the television program RADAR DE NEGÓCIOS films Quinta da Geia, which will be broadcast in July 2002
13. Also the National Portuguese Television, the RTP has filmed the hotel which has been broadcast on 3 different times in the first week of August included in an informative program.
14. On 24 th Jannuary 2003 the national weekly paper " Tal & Qual" placed an article in there extra Tourism 2003 about Quinta da Geia under the heading "mountain vacations are gaining adepts"
15. In the January 2004 number of the Portuguese mensal magazine " Blue Living " hotel rural Quinta da Geia appears with photo's, and is mentioned as being an excellent base from which you can enjoy snow walks.
16. On the 17 Th of January 2004 the journalist Cristina Bastos dedicates a very appraising in her column "em foco" in the newspaper "O Regional" covering the region of Aveiro, about Quinta da Geia and its restaurant João Brandão.
17. The Portugese monthly Magazine Máxima has published in her April 2004 issue a page dedicated to the Quinta da Geia and her surroundings, the Serra do Açor.
18. In the February number of the monthly Portuguese magazine Rotas & Destinos, you can find a six paged article about us under the heading "the silence of the mountain". With a very descriptive text and the fantastic photos, the article has created a lyrical impression of our hotel. "There are people who come from Viseu or Porto to Aldeia das Dez just to taste the food in the restaurant of the hotel rural Quinta da Geia, a welcoming XVII century manor house of the Beira region"
19. A happy costumer who happens to be also a journalist can be a good combination as we can see in an article written by reporter RosKoff from November 2004 in the Portuguese " Jornal dos Reformados" under the heading " travelling of grown ups"
20. In the issue dated 12/04/05 of the regional paper of Arganil "A Comarca de Arganil" a big article is dedicated to the hotel rural, its owners, the legendary João Brandão and the regional fame of the restaurant. Also this article focuses on the enlargement of the hotel, the importance of investments and local economy.
21. One of the most gorgeous reportage about Quinta da Geia has appeared in the July 2006 edition of the monthly Portuguese magazine Blue Living. The reportage of 15 pages under the header: days spent with two they gave a portrait of our hotel, illustrated with amazing pictures made by Susana Matos Hotel Rural Quinta da Geia; A YIN - YANG hotel. You take the national route 17 and where the rivers Alva and Alvoco embrace you climb to Aldeia das Dez, the place where this farm is located. Seven hectares of lingering green and only 1 reason to stay - the quality Also the restaurant João Brandão received special attention under the Header each as it is
22. n the summer edition of the magazine Travel & Living our rural hotel and restaurant is mentioned in the list of the best hotels & restaurants. Under the title: Two men, two dogs and one hotel is given a brief description why our hotel is part of this list: the magic of Quinta da Geia.
23. Also the monthly portugese travel magazine dedicated attention to Quinta da Geia under in their Agustus 2006 edition under the header : Bons ares da Serra e Petiscos.