Warm family life, nature and cultural exchange between Lisbon and Sintra, in Belas, Portugal

Details

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  Description

  Hi, I’m Carla. I’m a pharmacist working in clinical trials, remotely managing a team of around 200 people across 40 different countries. Although my work is demanding, I am very people-oriented and deeply connected to nature, meaningful experiences, and authentic cultural exchange.
  
  I love traveling and have visited more than 60 countries. What I enjoy most is truly getting to know a place: its people, traditions, language, and the hidden spots that most tourists never get to see.
  
  I live with my children in a small but very welcoming home surrounded by about 5,000 m² of nature, between Lisbon and Sintra, in a peaceful and beautiful golf resort area in Belas. From the balcony, you can even see Pena Palace, and the property has several gardens, a swimming pool, and a small forest area.
  
  We also share our home with our animals: 2 dogs, 2 rabbits, and 7 chickens — one of them is convinced she is a dog. Life here is calm, family-oriented, and relaxed, and we want anyone who stays with us to truly feel at home.
  
  The available room has a double bed, a shared bathroom (on the corridor, only my daughter will share it), and a workspace with a view of the swimming pool. Guests are welcome to share meals with us or use the kitchen if they prefer their own routine. The location is excellent: we are close to Lisbon, Sintra, and Cascais, with easy access by motorway, private parking, supermarkets, and shopping centers nearby.
  
  We would love to welcome curious, open-minded people who are looking for a genuine family experience, surrounded by nature, while still being close to the city.

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Help with Eco Projects

  Teaching

  Light gardening

  Creative DIY projects

  Animal Care

  Farmstay help

  Creating/ Cooking family meals

  Help around the house

  Help with Computers/ Internet

  House & pet sitting
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  Interests

  

  Technology

  

  Events & social

  

  Sustainability

  

  Pets

  

  Fashion or beauty

  

  Culture

  

  Self development

  

  Movies & TV

  

  Farming

  

  Charity work

  

  Music

  

  Plant care

  

  Books

  

  Languages

  

  Gardening

  

  Cooking & food

  

  Animals

  

  Yoga / Wellness

  

  Team sports

  

  Nature

  

  Fitness

  

  Winter sports

  

  Mountain

  

  Dancing

  

  Beach

  

  Outdoor activities

  

  Hiking

  

  Cycling

  

  Adventure sports
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  Cultural exchange is one of the things I value most in life. I truly enjoy meeting people from different backgrounds, sharing experiences, and learning from the different ways we see the world. Because of my work, I am used to communicating daily with people from many cultures, as I remotely manage a team spread across 40 countries. On top of that, I have also hosted young people from different countries before, so welcoming international guests into my home already feels very natural to me.
  
  Languages are also a very important part of our family life. I speak five languages, and my children speak three, so we genuinely enjoy multicultural environments and the richness that comes from them. For us, hosting is not just about receiving help — it is about creating a real human connection, sharing daily life, conversations, meals, ideas, and perspectives.
  
  I know not only the world, but also Portugal very well. I love sharing our traditions, gastronomy, and culture, as well as recommending the very best places to visit, eat, and explore — including many hidden gems that most visitors would never find on their own. My friends often joke that I am their personal guide, because I always know where to go, where to eat, where to stay, and how to experience a place in a more authentic way.
  
  As a host, I would be happy to share language practice, local cultural knowledge, travel advice, and insight into Portuguese life and customs. I can also share my experience of working in an international environment, adapting to cultural differences, and building connections with people from all over the world.
  
  In return, I would love to learn from the people who stay with us — about their culture, their language, their routines, their food, and the little things that make life unique in their part of the world. I believe this kind of exchange is enriching for everyone, especially for children, and it is one of the main reasons why I enjoy hosting.

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  Help

  At the moment, I mainly need some practical daily support because I am recovering from a broken arm and a leg. Right now, the most helpful support would be support me on the house and help with cooking family meals. As an extra, any support with the kids (they are only at home at the end of the day) or fixing things around the house would be appreciated.
  
  I have my own car available, which can be used when I don't use it, if you feel confident and comfortable driving.
  
  This is a temporary need, but it is very important for our daily routine at the moment. I would really appreciate someone reliable, kind, and responsible, who can help make family life a little easier during this recovery period.
  
  Beyond that, I value having someone positive, flexible, and happy to be part of a warm and welcoming family environment.

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  Languages

  Languages spoken
  English: Fluent
  Spanish: Fluent
  Portuguese: Fluent
  French: Intermediate
  German: Beginner

  This host offers a language exchange
  This host has indicated that they are interested in sharing their own language or learning a new language.
  You can contact them directly for more information.
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  Accommodation

  The accommodation I offer is a private, comfortable room with a double bed, a large window, and a balcony overlooking the swimming pool and the surrounding nature. It is a peaceful space with plenty of natural light, ideal for relaxing and feeling at home.
  
  The room also has a table that can be used for remote work or study, making it a good option for someone who may need a quiet place during the day. Right outside the bedroom is the bathroom that might also eb used by my daughter (who is out for school the whole day)
  
  Overall, it is a simple but very pleasant space, designed to offer comfort, privacy, and a beautiful natural setting.

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  What else ...

  Guests will have a lot of free time and there is so much to do around here. We are strategically located between Sintra and Lisbon and so much to visit on both cities. We live in a golf resort area so there is a lot of nature around. In my home I have my own forest. Public transports are not good in this area as it is mostly an area of big houses or the golf resort. There is a private bus from the resort to Lisbon and a public bus that takes you to Belas, the nearest town. I drive to Lisbon everyday so rides are possible.

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  A little more information

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    Internet access

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    Limited internet access

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    We have pets

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    We are smokers

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    Can host families

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  Can host digital nomads

  This host has indicated that they love having digital nomads stay.

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  Space for parking camper vans

  I have a separate space where you can park your campervan; there is there an external bathroom with hot water and electric power.

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  Can possibly accept pets

  As long as they get on well with the rest of our animals ;)

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  Two

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  My animals / pets

  Rabbits Flash and Nesbita

  Molly

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