The spa comes to you, in the hills of Sintra

Sintra has a climate of its own. The hills hold on to the mist, afternoons cool down early and even in summer some evenings call for a blanket. It is walking country too: the climb up to Pena Palace, the paths between Quinta da Regaleira and Monserrate, a loop around the Moorish Castle. After a day like that, a massage at home can help ease tired legs and backs, without facing the winding hill roads again. RHEA comes to you.

Homes in Sintra are as varied as the landscape. There are stone houses in the old town and Estefânia, old quintas with long drives and gates, family houses in São Pedro and Portela, and houses facing the ocean at Azenhas do Mar and Praia das Maçãs. In older houses with thick walls and cold floors, choose the warmest room. Your therapist brings hot towels, linens and a professional table, and only needs about two metres by two of clear floor.

In the old town the streets are narrow and steep, and traffic builds up on busy days, especially at weekends. Out towards the coast, in Colares, Almoçageme or Praia das Maçãs, distances are longer and some addresses are hard to find. In your booking, tell us where the gate is, which track to take and where to park. A simple landmark saves time and means your session starts on schedule.

Early mornings are quiet, before the hills fill with visitors. Late afternoon is lovely after a walk or a day at the beach in Azenhas. On rainy, misty days, which are common in winter, a massage at home is the best plan there is. We visit homes, holiday houses and short-term rentals every day from 7am to 10pm, with travel always included in the price.