With this decision, I left my comfort zone a lot ... I took a risk without knowing very well what I was going for ... but I followed and trusted the tip of 2 friends, who already did it and ventured out, but always in a way of being an experience to meet new people, new cultures and have an extra income.

The first year was very nice ... I met people that I still keep in touch with ... and the following years too ... I am eternally grateful to these two people who let me know about this possibility ...

When I started, I never imagined that it evolved as it evolved, nor did I imagine creating friendships, as it has already happened.

It has become a very positive experience in many ways and without hurry or pressure it has grown from year to year.

Until January 2017, I only worked with Airbnb ... and I was happy and always had a sufficient rating to be a Superhost, currently based on more than 250 reviews (Required 4.8 out of 5).

But, in February 2017 I decided to increase the challenge, step out of my comfort zone again and took a big step ... I ventured with Booking ... a very different market, very different guest posture ... and the movement has changed a lot.

At the time Booking was in this area of ​​apartments relatively recently and there were some setbacks with guests who came through Booking because they thought they were going to a hotel and when they saw it was an apartment they were disappointed ... and even today, it sometimes happens. .. but even with these situations I managed to keep captivating guests and I always had an average rating above 8 out of 10 and in 2019 I reached 9 based on over 250 comments.

I feel that it is the recognition of my work and dedication ... and something that was a hobby, turned into something professional and this is how without realizing it, a decision with a certain objective can give a different result, later, quite differently and even more enriching with what we imagined ... that is, the "small" steps we take, can completely transform our lives. And this 2014 decision really transformed my life ...

Like everything in life, it is important to have evolution and growth so in February 2019 I started renting 2 rooms, another change that once again increased the challenge a lot. With this change, there was a need to change the name of the Local Accommodation and it became Rooms_Heart-Apartment and thus there is also the need to name the rooms and one became the Butterfly Room (which I already rented) and the Flower Room ( Started in 2019).

The year 2019 went very well, I received spectacular people, I was sold out many days of the year and it was a brutal experience ... a lot of work, without much possibility of enjoying the summer, but very rewarding, being rewarded by the evaluation of the guests.

The year 2020 has arrived, that year that will certainly remain in everyone's history, for the most diverse reasons .... Everything was going very well until the beginning of March, but something invisible appeared that changed everything ... but there it is ... we have to take advantage of all the situations ... and as such, I took advantage of this period to broaden my knowledge in the area, to read a lot and do training to prepare myself as well as possible for my return and to be able to receive guests again safe for me and my guests as well.

I have also been taking advantage of this time to broaden my horizons and publicize this business of mine in other ways besides the Airbnb and Booking platforms and that is how the website, facebook page and Instagram appear.

We are a family owned and operated business.

To go ahead with these things, a lot of time is necessary, which is sometimes scarce ... and as such, I have now taken the opportunity to do so. Therefore, Rooms Heart Apartment is now online, via facebook, Instagram and Site and with this, it may be possible to reach more Portuguese and be able to receive more Portuguese in my Local Accommodation, which in reality is not very common, much to my regret, as more than 99% of my guests are foreigners, to whom I am very grateful for their confidence.

We are a family owned and operated business.

I sincerely thank all the guests who have already stayed at my Guest House

Dora Alcaria