Casa Serena villa exterior with private pool at golden hour
Lagos · Algarve · Portugal

Your private Algarve escape. Book direct & skip the platform fees.

Casa Serena is a four-bedroom villa with a heated private pool, five minutes from the golden beaches of Lagos. Book directly with us — no middlemen, no commissions, just better prices and a warmer welcome.

4Bedrooms
8Guests
3Bathrooms
PrivateHeated pool

Why book direct? Because the middleman costs you.

Save 15–25%The big platforms charge fees & commissions. Direct bookings cut them out.
Talk to usYou deal with the owners — real people who know every corner of the villa.
Best priceOur direct rate is always our lowest rate. Guaranteed.
The Villa

A slow-living hideaway between the cliffs and the orange groves

Casa Serena sits on a quiet lane just outside Lagos, wrapped in bougainvillea and the smell of the sea. Whitewashed walls, terracotta floors and hand-painted azulejo tiles meet crisp linens, fast Wi-Fi and a kitchen you'll actually want to cook in.

Mornings start with coffee on the sun terrace. Afternoons drift between the heated pool and the beach — Praia Dona Ana's turquoise coves are five minutes down the hill. Evenings end with grilled fish, a chilled vinho verde and the best sunset on the coast.

We're local owners, not a management company. We'll share our favourite beaches, book you a table at the fish shack the tourists never find, and be there in minutes if you need us.

Bright living room of Casa Serena with terracotta floors
5 minto Praia Dona Ana
Amenities

Everything you need, nothing you don't

Private heated pool 8×4 m saltwater pool, heated April–October, with sun loungers.
Fast Wi-Fi 300 Mbps fibre throughout the villa — stream, video-call, work.
Air conditioning Quiet A/C in every bedroom and the living room.
5 min to the beach Praia Dona Ana & Camilo — the Algarve's postcard coves.
Free private parking Gated parking for two cars inside the grounds.
Full kitchen & BBQ Dishwasher, oven, espresso machine and a charcoal BBQ outside.
Self check-in Smart lock with your own code — arrive whenever suits you.
Local hosts on call We live 10 minutes away — recommendations & help, any time.
Rates

Simple, honest pricing

These are our direct-booking rates — already 15–25% below what you'd pay for the same dates on the big platforms.

Low Season
November – March
€180 / night
  • 3-night minimum stay
  • Pool heating included
  • Long-stay discounts available
  • Final cleaning included
Request dates
High Season
July – August
€340 / night
  • 7-night minimum, Sat–Sat
  • Peak summer in the Algarve
  • Mid-stay cleaning included
  • Books out early — enquire soon
Request dates

30% deposit secures your dates · balance due 6 weeks before arrival · no booking fees, ever.

The Maths

See what booking direct saves you

The big platforms add guest service fees and charge owners commission — costs that end up inside the nightly price. Slide your stay below and watch the difference.

Based on a typical ~18% platform mark-up (guest service fees plus the host commission that gets priced into the nightly rate).

Same stay on a big platform€2,147
Booking direct with us€1,820
You keep €327 That's a sunset cruise and a seafood dinner in Lagos — on us, effectively.
Location

Minutes from everything, disturbed by nothing

  • Praia Dona Ana beach5 min drive
  • Lagos old town & marina10 min drive
  • Ponta da Piedade cliffs8 min drive
  • Nearest supermarket4 min drive
  • Boavista Golf Resort12 min drive
  • Faro Airport (FAO)50 min drive

Exact address shared on booking confirmation.

Around the villa

Your week, sorted

A full local guidebook waits for you in the villa — our favourite beaches, restaurants and day trips. Here's a taste of what's on the doorstep.

Golden cliffs of Ponta da Piedade at sunset
8 min away Ponta da Piedade

The Algarve's most famous golden cliffs. Kayak through the grottos at sunrise, or walk the boardwalk at sunset with a gelado in hand.

Cobbled street in Lagos old town
10 min away Lagos old town

Cobbled lanes, a buzzing marina and the best grilled sardines on the coast. Saturday's municipal market is worth the early alarm.

Boat trip along the Algarve coast
Day trip Benagil & the west coast

Boat into the Benagil sea cave one day; surf the wild Atlantic beaches of the Costa Vicentina the next. Both under an hour's drive.

Guest Reviews

Loved by guests, year after year

★★★★★

"The photos don't do it justice. The pool area is stunning, the beds are hotel-quality, and booking directly with Marta was easier than any platform — she answered within minutes and even arranged a cot for our baby."

S
Sarah & TomUnited Kingdom · July 2025
★★★★★

"We've stayed in villas all over the Algarve and Casa Serena is the one we keep coming back to. Spotless, quiet, and the owners' restaurant tips alone were worth the trip. Booking direct saved us nearly €400."

H
Henrik LarsenDenmark · September 2025
★★★★★

"Perfect family week. Kids lived in the pool, we lived on the terrace. Self check-in was seamless and the kitchen had everything. It felt like borrowing a stylish friend's home, not renting."

C
Claire DuboisFrance · May 2025
Marta, one of the owners of Casa Serena
Your hosts

Olá — we're Marta & João

Casa Serena was João's grandmother's summer house. We restored it ourselves over two years — keeping the old tiles and the fig tree, adding the pool and everything a modern holiday needs.

We live ten minutes down the road, which means real hosts, not a call centre: a restaurant booked, a doctor found, a forgotten charger dropped off. When you book direct, you're dealing with us from the first message to the day we wave you off.

— Marta & João
Good to know

Questions guests ask us

Is booking direct safe?

Yes. You get a written booking confirmation with all terms before paying anything, we're a licensed Alojamento Local (our number is in the footer and on your confirmation), and you can pay the deposit by bank transfer or card. You also get our personal phone numbers — try getting that from a platform.

What are check-in and check-out times?

Check-in from 16:00, check-out by 10:30. The smart lock means you can arrive late without waiting for anyone. Need an early arrival or late departure? Ask — if the calendar allows it, it's yours.

What's the cancellation policy?

Free cancellation up to 60 days before arrival (full deposit refund). Between 60 and 30 days we refund 50% of the deposit; inside 30 days the deposit is non-refundable — though if we manage to re-book your dates, we refund you in full.

Do we need a car?

We recommend one — the villa sits in a quiet spot and the best beaches are a five-minute drive. There's free gated parking for two cars. Carless guests manage fine with taxis and Bolt, which are cheap and plentiful in Lagos.

Are pets allowed?

We're not set up for pets, sorry — allergies are the enemy of good reviews. Ask us about trusted local sitters if you're travelling with a dog.

What's included in the price?

Everything on the quote: linens and towels (including beach towels), final cleaning, air conditioning, Wi-Fi, pool heating in season, a welcome basket, and a cot and highchair on request. No cleaning fees, service fees or "extras" added at the end.

Book Direct

Check your dates

Send us your dates and we'll reply within a few hours with availability and an exact quote — no fees added, no account needed.

  • No booking feesThe price we quote is the price you pay.
  • Best-price guaranteeOur direct rate always beats the platforms.
  • Fast, personal repliesYou talk to the owners, usually within hours.
  • Secure paymentBank transfer or card — with a written booking confirmation.
  • Licensed holiday rentalRegistered Alojamento Local — fully legal & insured.

Prefer to chat? Message us directly on WhatsApp:

WhatsApp us

Send an inquiry

We reply personally — usually the same day.

We only use your details to reply to this inquiry. Nothing else, ever.

Obrigado! Inquiry sent.

We've received your dates and will get back to you personally within a few hours. Can't wait? Message us on WhatsApp and we'll reply even faster.

from €180per night · book direct
Book Direct