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Description
Our Story: We’re Michelle & Tony and have been restoring an old Quinta in the Algarve since 2019. The house is now complete and we’re preparing the property for long-term tenants from the end of February. Our focus for February is on gardens, outdoor areas, and a few practical finishing touches.
What We’re Working On: This is a short, clearly defined project (1–20 February). Work is mostly practical and hands-on:
Typical tasks include:
Weeding and tidying garden beds
Preparing lawn areas (clearing, raking, basic prep)
Orchard tidy-up
Trimming and shaping shrubs and trees
Using basic garden tools such as a blower, strimmer, and lawn mower
Moving, stacking, and tidying log piles
Light painting (low walls, touch-ups only)
General outdoor clean-up and organisation
If you have relevant experience, there may also be:
Basic handyman tasks
Helping prepare the pool and jacuzzi
Finishing touches in the outdoor kitchen/bar area
Inside the house, tasks may include:
Adjusting or shortening curtains
Light interior touch-up painting
Boxing, tidying, and organising items
No major construction — this is about cleaning, tidying, preparing, and finishing. Applicants should be comfortable using basic garden tools (blower, strimmer, lawn mower) and doing physical outdoor work.
What are we looking for: We’re ideally looking for a couple who:
Enjoy working outdoors
Are practical, reliable, and self-directed
Have some basic DIY / maintenance confidence
Are comfortable around animals (we have a friendly dog and several cats)
Experience with gardens, pools, or general maintenance is a big plus, but enthusiasm and a good work ethic matter most.
Ideal for a couple who are independent, practical, and comfortable working without close supervision. You should enjoy outdoor work, basic DIY, and keeping things clean and organised. This is best suited to people who are happy self-catering, respectful of shared spaces, and looking for a short, focused stay rather than a social or hosted experience. Experience with gardens, pools, or general maintenance is a strong plus.
We are in a rural location, so having your own car is essential. There is no practical public transport nearby, and we’re unable to offer lifts. Applicants must be comfortable being fully independent for transport, shopping, and days off.
What We Offer:
A private en-suite bedroom
Use of shared facilities
A calm, respectful, adult environment
Please note: food is not provided, and you’ll need to organise your own meals. We’ve structured it this way to keep expectations clear and fair, given that the work is paid and the hours are limited.
Hours & Payment:
4 hours per day per person, for the two weeks
Work is typically scheduled in the morning
We will pay the Portuguese minimum wage for the hours worked
The rest of the day is entirely your own, giving you time to explore the Algarve, relax, or work on your own projects.
Why You’ll Love It Here: Quinta is peaceful and spacious, with orchards, birdsong, and open skies — yet it’s close to beaches, markets, and lively Algarve towns. February is a lovely time of year: mild weather, bright days, and plenty of sunshine. This is a great opportunity for a couple who enjoys practical work, independence, and a short, focused stay in southern Portugal.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Help around the house
General Maintenance
Help with Computers/ Internet
Interests
Adventure sports
Beach
Sailing / Boating
Fitness
Dancing
Hiking
Yoga / Wellness
Books
Languages
Gardening
Cooking & food
Architecture
Carpentry
Animals
Writing
History
Music
Pets
Movies & TV
Charity work
Sustainability
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
Cultural exchange at the Quinta is informal and low-key. This is a working household in a rural part of the Algarve, and Workawayers will naturally experience daily life in Portugal through the rhythm of the work, the environment, and the local area.
We’re always happy to share our experience of:
Renovating and maintaining property in Portugal
Living in the Algarve as expats
Navigating local services, trades, and rural life
There’s plenty of opportunity to explore independently. We’re close to local markets, cafés, villages, and beaches, and having your own car makes it easy to experience the Algarve beyond the tourist areas.
Conversation and exchange happen naturally rather than in a hosted or structured way. While we don’t offer shared meals or organised activities, we’re open to friendly conversation, sharing tips, and answering questions when time allows.
Language exchange can happen informally — we’re learning Portuguese and are happy to practice when it comes up, and of course we speak English — but this is optional and not a core part of the stay.
Overall, this is best suited to people who enjoy independence, practical work, and learning through doing, rather than a social or retreat-style experience.Host offers payment in line with the minimum wage
This host offers accommodation and payment.
Help
The Kind of Help We Need
Most of the work we need help with is practical, hands-on preparation as we finish getting the Quinta ready for long-term tenants.
Outdoor Work
Weeding and tidying garden beds
Preparing lawn areas (clearing, raking, basic prep)
Tidy-up of orchard areas
Trimming and shaping shrubs and trees
Using basic garden tools (blower, strimmer, lawn mower)
Moving, stacking, and tidying log piles
General garden and grounds clean-up
This is maintenance and preparation, not landscaping design or planting projects. We plan to do any planting and lawn installation later in the spring.
General Maintenance & Finishing
Light painting (low walls, touch-ups only)
Basic DIY and maintenance tasks
Helping get the pool and jacuzzi clean and operational
Small finishing tasks in the outdoor kitchen/bar area
Inside the House
Adjusting or shortening curtains
Light interior touch-up painting
Boxing, sorting, and organising items
How We Work
You’ll be given a clear task list, but we’re looking for people who are:
Practical and hands-on
Comfortable working independently
Able to use basic tools confidently
This is not a beginner role, but it also does not require specialist trade qualifications — solid practical experience, common sense, and reliability are key.
Animals
Animal lovers will feel comfortable here — we share the Quinta with a friendly dog and several cats, who are part of everyday life.
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Portuguese: Beginner
Accommodation
Workawayers will stay in a private downstairs en-suite bedroom located at the back of the main house. The room has its own full bathroom and offers a quiet, comfortable place to relax after work.
Please note that this room does not have a private kitchen, so you’ll be sharing the main house kitchen for meal preparation. As outlined elsewhere in the profile, food is not provided, and guests are expected to organise their own meals.
You’re welcome to enjoy the shared outdoor spaces, including the gardens and pool area, and to make use of the common areas respectfully. The overall atmosphere here is calm, adult, and low-key — friendly but not hosted.
This is a working household preparing for long-term tenants, rather than a guesthouse or retreat environment. We’re focused on practical tasks during this period and keeping things simple and well-organised.
We share the Quinta with a friendly dog and several rescue cats, who are part of daily life. The animals are not allowed in guest bedrooms, the kitchen, or the dining room.
What else ...
Free Time & Local Area
In your free time, you can explore the Algarve at your own pace. We’re close to Loulé, Almancil, Quarteira, and Vilamoura, with access to markets, cafés, beaches, coastal walks, and traditional villages. February is a lovely time of year for being outdoors.
Transport
Public transport in the immediate area is limited and not practical for daily needs, so having your own car is essential. We’re unable to offer lifts or transport support.
There are local buses connecting nearby towns including Loulé, Almancil, Quarteira, and Vilamoura. Loulé train station is around 5 minutes away by car and offers rail connections across Portugal, including to Lisbon. From Faro, there are also train connections to Seville, and we’re approximately 30 minutes from the Spanish border by car.
This setup suits Workawayers who are fully independent.
House Guidelines
No smoking indoors
Bedrooms, kitchen, and dining room are animal-free zones
Please be considerate with shared spaces
Respect the calm, adult atmosphere of the house
Food is not provided; guests organise their own meals
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
Digital Nomads We welcome digital nomads who want to combine remote work with hands-on outdoor projects. The annexe has reliable Wi-Fi, a quiet space to work, and plenty of natural light. Most of the help we need is practical and outdoors, so you’ll need to balance screen time with physical work. Tasks are usually scheduled in the mornings when it’s cooler, leaving afternoons and evenings free for remote work or exploring. This is a good fit if you’re looking for a base in the Algarve where you can contribute your skills while also keeping up with your professional projects.
Space for parking camper vans
Campervans & Motorhomes We’re happy to host Workawayers travelling in their own campervan or motorhome. There is space on the property for parking, with access to shared outdoor areas. Please note that this is not a campsite. We can provide basic access to electricity and water, but facilities are limited and guests should be fully self-contained and independent. This option is best suited to people who are comfortable organising their own meals, transport, and downtime, and who are looking for a short, practical stay rather than a hosted or social experience.
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
My animals / pets
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