You’ve heard plenty of Comporta – dubbed Portugal ’s answer to the Hamptons – but just beyond the fringe of town, there’s a buzz about Carvalhal that’s only going to grow louder. Why? Because unlike its flash sister, there’s a quiet charm about it thanks to its position between some of Setubal’s most pristine beaches and proximity to the lesser known forest areas. Here’s how to do it in a weekend.
Twenty years ago, Brejos de Carregueira was virtually unrecognisable. Locals described it as having the spirit of St Tropez (which explains why it was a magnet for soigne French families and Casiraghi matriarchs). Small New England style cabanas were the norm, with no heating, running water and sand carpeting the living rooms.
Not anymore. Thanks to the boom in development in Comporta and beyond, Brejos now boasts some of the finest private villas that riff on the barefoot luxury style, but thankfully with the bells and whistles a modern family need. We stayed at Casa Salvagem - a clever property which was perfect for two families sharing thanks to its symmetrical layout which allowed each of us to have our own wing.
Interiors are bohemian in spirit – think lots of straw lamps and mats, with eclectic ceramics sprinkled throughout – but what we loved most was the setting. Surrounded by the Brejos pine forests, we were far enough from the coast to avoid any tourist traffic, and at a good distance from Setubal’s rice fields with their infamous mosquitoes. Our vi.