COWORKING & COLIVING PORTUGAL

No, access to the coworking space is available at all times. However, we do have core-working-hours (9am – 6pm) inside the office where we ask you to be considerate of your coworkers needs.

Definitely, we encourage a communal spirit as this is basically the pivot-point of a coworking/coliving place, both work-wise and in your downtime. However there is no obligation to partake in common dinners, surf sessions, etc. You decide for yourself when and how long you want to work, etc. We have lots of local knowledge and activity partners to help you get the most out of your free time.

Shared office space, accommodation, ergonomic office chairs, internet (fixed and mobile), printer, coffee/tea, and loads of Stoke!

That is unfortunately not possible as we can only offer a “work and stay” package.

There’s a minimum stay of five nights. Depending on your desired length of stay, we can offer you nightly, weekly and monthly rates

Basically everyone who has the chance to work remotely and is keen to be in an inspirational and collaborative environment. Regardless of whether you’re an: employee, contractor, graduate student working on your thesis, freelance worker or an entrepreneur – if you are looking for a change of scenery and are longing for the great outdoors, then we are the right place for you.

If you are a group/company/startup working on a specific project, we're also happy to offer you team retreats. The premises are available to be used exclusively by you.

No, flexibility is the key. You alone are responsible for how you schedule your day. Work as long as you like, actively manage and plan your free time to your own needs and requirements.
Joint surf-sessions, workouts, local exploration, mastermind sessions, skillshares, group meals and socials are all actively encouraged but in no way obligatory.

 

 

 

What matters most is that you are truly keen to dedicatedly work on your projects and contribute to a motivational and productive atmosphere.

Stokeworks is located in Vale da Telha, a valley in the Southwest Alentejo and Vicentine Coast Natural Park, about 15 minutes drive from the historic town of Aljezur and 10 minutes drive from the Atlantic Ocean. The closest beaches, Monte Clerigo, Arrifana and Amoreira, are popular for their good surfing conditions.
The natural park - one of the biggest in Portugal - can be accessed from our backyard! It offers numerous hiking trails as well as spectacular viewpoints from the cliffs along the coast. Due to environmental preservation efforts, construction is very restricted and the region remains rural - please note that there is no public transport in Vale da Telha, so a car is very useful for exploring the area!
Aljezur has the nearest bus stop for long-distance coaches heading south from Lisbon and busses coming from Lagos.
The closest airport is in Faro but you can also travel to Lisbon.
We will, of course, provide you with all kinds of info regarding transportation to Stokeworks. There is a number of options!

This is the location of the villa on Google Maps:
https://goo.gl/maps/q8NGjWWtkHq

If your car has GPS, use the following coordinates, as the official address is probably not listed:
Latitude:           37°18'30.5"N  (37.308459)
Longitude:          8°51'24.5"W (-8.856817)

 

The renowned beaches of Arrifana and Monte Clerigo are only a 4min drive away (15min by bike)

 

Most importantly, you should bring your laptop along with you unless you don’t need it for your work.
Throughout the year, the area is exposed to lots of sun, resulting in an overall dry climate. But, even in the middle of summer, winds coming from the Atlantic can result in cool evenings and nights. We, therefore, advise you to bring sunscreen and clothes for both hot and cool weather!
In the winter months (Nov-March) the weather becomes distinctly more variable. Bring a warm winter-jacket.
A beanie or something similar to protect your ears from strong winds will do no harm.
We provide all bedrooms with fresh linen including bedding and towels. Please bring your own beach towels.
If you like listening to music/podcasts whilst working then please bring your headphones

We have several bedrooms in the villa (pick a single, a double or a twin). You can choose from a whole range of accommodation starting from a twin-room at a particularly low price up to a spacious en-suite room with a double-bed and direct access to the terrace and pool.
All mattresses are new and super comfy. The rooms are cleaned on a weekly basis, linen and towels are changed at regular intervals.

Depending on the price range of your room, you will share the bathrooms and toilets with your coworkers.
But don’t worry, common areas such as toilets are cleaned regulary.

There is no prescribed time, unless all rooms are full.

If you are a keen surfer and want to have access to all the surf spots the South-Western Algarve has to offer then having a set of wheels is definitely a good idea. Most of our guests rent a car. The ones who don't, try to carpool with the housemates who have rented a set of wheels - which usually works out well.

We recommend to pick up/return the car at the airport in Faro or Lisbon as this is the easiest and cheapest option. Outside the peak season they are dirt cheap and having a ride gives you much more opportunities and convenience.  You'll get a small car already for around 5€/day when you pick it up at the airport. For a whole month, you sometimes pay less than 125€.

It's best to book a car through a Rental Car Comparison website (take insurance from them and don't let yourself get talked into buying an additional insurance from the local car rental company at the airport!)
For cheapo deals check out Rental Car Compare Websites like:

https://www.autoeurope.com/
https://www.billiger-mietwagen.de/ (German language by default but can be switched to English)
https://www.skyscanner.net/carhire/
https://www.kayak.com/
https://www.cardelmar.com/de
https://www.autoescape.com

Not only we appeal to our guests to share costs for rental cars and petrol, if desired we also help you to connect with your fellow coworkers already before your arrival.
That way you can offer/ask for shared transport on arrival/departure or even sharing a rental car for your entire stay.
Make it as convenient as possible for yourself and cut down on costs by teaming up with your housemates!

Should you object to the idea of renting a car/sharing a rental with others then there is of course also public transport.
Aljezur - which is only 8km from Stokeworks - has the nearest bus stop for long-distance coaches heading south from Lisbon and busses coming from Lagos.
For schedules, prices and rates check out:
https://www.rede-expressos.pt/en/
http://eva-bus.com/index.php?lang=uk 

There is also a rail connection between Faro and Lagos.
https://www.cp.pt/passageiros/en/train-times
In Lagos, you will have to transfer to the bus going to Aljezur.

For the last bit from Aljezur to Stokeworks, you can take a taxi.
Call +351 91 75 74 630 for our local Taxi driver Luis.

Our address is:
Urbanização Vale da Telha 11
8670-156 Aljezur
Portugal

This is the location of the villa on Google Maps:
https://goo.gl/maps/q8NGjWWtkHq

Tel. (+ WhatsApp): +49 178 6040631

As an alternative to public transportation, you can pre-book an airport-shuttle from and to the main bus station in Lagos. That is a fairly inexpensive option (15-20€ per person) to get from Lagos to Faro-Airport and vice versa.
Bookings need to be made at least 24 hours in advance.
We recommend these two bus-operators:
https://www.faroshuttlebus.com/
https://www.greenbus.pt

 

Another way to travel comfortably and cheap is by using BlaBlaCar.
https://www.blablacar.pt/
BlaBlaCar is an online marketplace for carpooling. Its website and mobile app connect drivers and passengers willing to travel together and share the cost of the journey.

We know of at least two Facebook groups where people share lifts in the Algarve (also to and from the airport in Faro!)
https://www.facebook.com/groups/136311339726341/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/sharemyride/

By the way: also hitchhiking works very well in this area!

We’ve got plenty of room to park your car right in front of the villa.

A small supermarket, a few restaurants, and bars are easily accessible by foot. Vale da Telha offers a number of eateries ranging from take-aways to exclusive cuisine.
Our neighbouring seaside localities Arrifana and Monte Clérigo round out the culinary range.
In Aljezur, which is only a 15min drive from us, you'll also find plenty of nice restaurants/cafes and a well-assorted Intermarche Supermarket. A big plus is the local markets where one can get fresh fish, seafood, and meat. Every Saturday there is a local farmers market in Aljezur. A large selection of delicious seasonal fruits and vegetables are offered there at a very cheap price.
Lagos, which is a 40min drive from us, offers a virtually inexhaustible choice of take-aways , pubs, restaurants, and cafes.
In Lagos, you also find all kinds of well-stocked supermarkets.

Food is not included in the Stokeworks package. You will be given allocated space in the fridge and cabinets to store your personal food items. We offer you a fully equipped kitchen where you can prepare your meals. Coffee and tea are free of charge for our guests. Given we are a community and wish to interact we encourage communal dinners/BBQs and try to host them at least once a week.

Nope, but we are happy to recommend qualified surf-schools in our neighbourhood with whom we collaborate.
You can also rent surfboards, wetsuits and other surf-gear from trusted rentals nearby.

No. Even though we are avid surfers ourselves, surfers and non surfers are equally welcome.
What matters most is that you are keen to work on your project(s) and contribute to a good productive vibe.

Basically, every time of the year is good for a stay at Stokeworks as every season here has its highlights.
The Algarve has a well-deserved reputation for being an all year round destination.

Surfwise:
The winter:
The winter is great for surfing as swell is guaranteed, and even though the west-coast often gets maxed out in winter a number of south coast gems come to life! Another benefit is that the waves are less crowded in winter.

Weatherwise:
Throughout the year, the area is exposed to lots of sun, resulting in an overall dry climate. But, even in the middle of summer, winds coming from the Atlantic can result in cool evenings and nights. We, therefore, advise you to bring sunscreen and clothes for both hot and cool weather!

In winter:
In the winter months (Nov-March) the weather becomes distinctly more variable. Bring a warm winter jacket.
A beanie or something similar to protect your ears from strong winds will do no harm.
Although the nights, mornings and evenings can get chilly, wearing short sleeves at midday, even in January, is not uncommon.
The coworking space/lounge has a very powerful wood burning stove, which provides a super comfortable indoor climate.
All bedrooms have modern and efficient convector heaters.

 

 

The Algarve coastline offers an endless range of surfing experiences to accommodate all levels of expertise.
Not only are we blessed with one of Europe’s mildest climates, the region also has one of the widest swell windows in the continent as it has two coasts. It is these two very different coasts that make for such a special surfing location. With one coast facing predominantly west and the other south if there is any swell around, there will always be waves somewhere, as the Atlantic ocean picks up swell from an array of angles, from different weather systems. The surf here is very consistent.

Our accommodation offers the ability to travel between both of Portugal’s south and a west- facing coastlines, in a relatively short time – a major benefit from having both south and a west- facing coastlines is the likelihood of finding the right swell size in combination with offshore wind conditions.
Within a 5 – 30 min drive, from Stokeworks, you can choose from over 20 beaches! With so much choice available you could even score multiple sessions in one day.

In order to save you from driving around for hours, wasting time and fuel we are of course happy to give you hints on where to go.

If you are not a surfer yet, but want to learn, then we are happy to recommend qualified surf schools nearby.

The south-western Algarve is a mecca for people who like to be physically active and share a passion for the great outdoors. With it’s unique geography, the two coasts, it’s wide swell window and the all-year-round, mild climate it is literally designed for surfing.
Even if you haven’t caught the ‘Surf bug’ yet, don’t worry, there is always something to do here. With the Costa Vicentina National Park on your doorstep there is so much to discover.

 

 

 

Go hiking or rent a bike and explore the surroundings.
Horse riding is also quite popular here. On flat days stand up paddling tours and kayaking are great fun.
If you are into golf this area is heaven for you. There are three exclusive golf courses within a 40mins drive.
Dolphin & whale watching tours are also a big attraction, just to mention a few.
Or check one of the many flea-markets in the region, explore Lagos, visit the Monchique mountain range, etc…