The Salty Pelican Yoga & Surf Retreat Portugal - Cascais image

The Salty Pelican Yoga & Surf Retreat Portugal - Cascais

Hostel • Yoga retreat center • Wellness hotel • Surf school

🫤 I booked a three night stay with a friend of mine last autumn and we were completely disappointed by the retreat and the location. We felt like we were misled by all the good recommendations and the - very well done - marketing. We booked a female dorm and on the website it was said that there is on... People often mention yoga, staff, people, room, great, surf, Salty, stay, Pelican, time,


Address

R. Madrid 6, 2765-419 Estoril, Portugal

Website

www.saltypelicanretreats.com

Contact

+351 932 560 960

Price rating

$55/night

Rating on Google Maps

4.40 (106 reviews)

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Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: yoga (35) staff (19) people (18) room (17) great (17) surf (16) Salty (15) stay (14) Pelican (13) time (13)
Reviews are sorted by relevance, prioritizing the most helpful and insightful feedback at the top for easier reference.
  • 2/5 L. F. 2 years ago on Google
    I booked a three night stay with a friend of mine last autumn and we were completely disappointed by the retreat and the location. We felt like we were misled by all the good recommendations and the - very well done - marketing. We booked a female dorm and on the website it was said that there is only few daylight. As we thought we would be outside all day long we guessed that this shouldn't be a problem. When we arrived we noticed that the dorm we booked was actually a cellar room with no windows at all (only two small slits). It was very humid down there and the room did not look like the other rooms as well, it looked like they refurnished their party room to make a bit more money with additional beds. The girl who was showing us around told us that we had the room all to ourselves except for another girl arriving in a few hours. However we were quite confused because when we entered the room there were socks and sunlotion lying around and the beds looked unmade and had hair on it. We asked more than once if they really are sure that no one else was staying there and they said that it was all cleaned up besides the stuff that was apparently left behind. It was not possible to change our booking as every room was fully booked so we slept there. At night it was really noisy because the living room was down there as well and people who were smoking and talking next to the entrance upstairs were doing so right in front of our "windows". Next to our room were two bathrooms which were used by the whole house. The bathrooms were filthy, the shower full of sand and hair, it was really not nice to shower in there. We stayed for one night and then told one of the guys from the staff that it was all completely different to what we expected. We also told him the story about our messy room and he doublechecked with the cleaners. It turned out that the room was never cleaned after the people who stayed in there left so we slept in unmade beds which is a bit disgusting to do in a hostel. Because of this fault we were able to make a fair deal with the guy from the staff and left the retreat after one night. We were still allowed to take part in all the activities as we only got a refund for the room. We only took part in the morning yoga and took the massage, however that was our personal decision. The massage was really good and relaxing. It was in one of the nicer bathrooms where they set up the equipment for it. The morning yoga was really nice and I think the location for it was not too bad as well. The train was loud but i didn't think of it as too disturbing and the spot is right at the water which compensates for the train a bit. They have a studio for rainier days which was okay as well but not too nice. The only downside about the yoga were the cheap and dirty mats. Apparantely they were freshly cleaned but there was a lot of sand on it and they never really dried. It was not nice to lie on them, especially because they were also quite thin and the ground beneath was uneven and of stone. I can imagine that some people who do not have too high expectations and standards really like salty pelican, especially because it's easy to meet other people. However I would only recommend it to younger people who like staying up late and partying and not to people who really want to take a yoga retreat. The staff was however mostly friendly and we were really lucky with the guy with whom we talked about our complaints. He was trying hard to find out what went wrong and to find a convenient solution for us. That's why I'm still giving the two stars, but I do feel like the accommodation really does only deserve one.
    9 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Priscilla L. 1 year ago on Google
    I just finished my week in Salty Pelican in Ericeira and it went so well!! The staff is amazing, they solve any kind of problem, the rooms are comfortable and I slept really well. Surfing is an amazing experience that I would recommend to everyone. The yoga classes are so relaxing! I am grateful to the hostel, to the staff and to the people I've met there! Thank you so much you are amazing
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Simon A. 2 years ago on Google
    I was looking for a small get-away for a week where I can relax and enjoy the Portugal sun and enjoy in some yoga and surf activities. This was my first "hostel" experience and didn't know what to expect, but what I got was one of the best travel experiences I have ever had. The team at the Salty Pelican are just some of the nicest and warmest people I have met, and the guests that stay there are just as amazing. I got everything I wanted from the trip and more, and I even changed my return flights so I could stay even longer as I wasn't ready to leave! I can't say enough positive things about the experience, but I will say that its a magical place with a magical vibe, and I can't wait to visit again. :) Highly, highly recommended!
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 2/5 Angie K. 10 months ago on Google
    Disappointed! Booked specifically for the “ocean view” room - there was no ocean view (see picture) but company was still advertising it as an oceanview room even after we checked in. Basically over hyped - marketed as a retreat when it’s really just a boutique hostel. Which is ok but call it what it is. This was not worth 220euro a night (without the inclusions like breakfast and surf lessons as we did the room only option. It was 330 with inclusions.) Bed not made up, same towel for 3 days etc. I’m giving it 2 stars because the old building was beautiful, the pool was nice and the staff were friendly (although no one seemed to have a lot of experience in hospitality.) It wasn’t like the experience was bad, just super super overpriced for what it was. Other businesses nearby seem to offer similar options for about half the price so look past the Salty Pelican to find a better value option.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 2/5 Sarina L. 10 months ago on Google
    There is a huge construction site right next to the villa in Cascais, the staff does not allow you to put your dishes in the dishwasher and gets quiet rude about it, there is a second villa down the road where I had to stay in which was quiet old and the only bathroom had issues with the drain (so all the sand, dirt and hair were floating around in the bathtub). Furthermore, my room had a bunkbed where you could not even sit up in and it was their most expensive room (twin shared, no balcony and en-suite bath like some of the other cheaper rooms). It's not really a retreat, you can just do yoga twice a day and that's it. On the website it said that there would be an all-day menu you could order food from, but when I arrived I was told that there was no food. When I shared my feedback with the managers via e-mail, they basically said that they couldn't do anything about all this. Wouldn't recommend, because it's expensive!
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 2/5 Russell W. 1 year ago on Google
    Pros: -Christina is a wonderful yoga teacher (5/5) -solid vibe, friendly people -staff is nice -relaxing, clean Cons: -Lockers didn't work and they didn't fix it. This is a bare minimum, its pretty inexcusable. I trusted everyone but still. Edit: I did not use the lockers incorrectly. No one had access to a working locker. Staff acknowledged the issue. -cascais location priced the same as ericeria despite ericeria having a swimming pool and a better location (??) -staff seem a bit stressed at times (not their fault I'm sure) -base hostel rate is imo a bit overpriced. Other cheaper hostels offer surf lesson packages too. -other things overpriced (yoga for 20€ ??). I had unlimited yoga but not all did. -the marketing is aggressive and some are mislead into thinking the base hostel price includes anything. I did not have this issue but others did.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Justine Le G. 2 years ago on Google
    I've spend one week in Cascais and I absolutely loved it. It was the perfect mix for me between an hostel and a yoga and surf retreat. The place was quiet thank to the winter season and I appreciate it. The surf lessons were better than expected, thanks to the professor. So, thank you !
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Agnesa R. 3 years ago on Google
    My boyfriend and I booked a three day surf and yoga stay with Salty Pelican and had the most amazing time! The staff there definitely made this trip for us. Super helpful and friendly! Answered all the hundreds of questions that I had, gave us some great recommendations for places to eat, day trips, etc. and were just super accommodating, pleasant to talk to and to hang out with. Highlight of the stay for us was definitely the yoga classes, which were incredible especially in the morning - on the pier, with the sounds of the ocean around you. The teacher is awesome and has the most soothing voice. We also got the best massages. Highly recommend the Salty Pelican to everyone and anyone; and really hope to return for a longer stay soon! Thanks so much guys :)
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 C L. 8 months ago on Google
    Me and my friend throughly enjoyed our stay at The Salty Pelican. The staff are wonderful hosts who are attentive, warm and welcoming. The place is clean and tidy, and the food they serve is so tasty. I'd highly recommend taking the yoga and surf class, as well as the meditation hike. Can't wait to come back again! 🧡
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Marketa N. 7 months ago on Google
    I had an amazing time here! I can absolutely recommend it! I spent a great week here at Salty Pelican Cascais. I have booked a yoga & surf retreat package. The kindness, the openness, the availability! All of the staff are awesome! Many thanks for organising this! I really appreciate it!💖 All of them were always kind to share information, the operation of the house and the organising activities were always on the time. The rooms were great, everything was clean and the bed was comfortable! I really enjoyed the morning Hatha flow yoga classes with Inês by the seaside with the sunrise view (also Yin relaxing yoga in the afternoon if I managed to come back from the afternoon programme) and also surf lessons which were held in Praia do Guincho surf school here. Also the tapas/barbecue nights were great experiences which I gladly remember! I can gladly recommend it if you want to travel solo but to meet great people who are also on the same wave and they also need to slow down and take the time for just being yourself. I very enjoyed the time we spent together during breakfast, lessons, travels and trips to Sintra, hiking and just hanging around the Cascais. Especially spending time during sunrises, these I enjoyed the most. Always special, always grateful.

  • 5/5 Caitlin K. 7 months ago on Google
    Spent a great week at the Salty Pelican. The morning yoga is fantastic. Many options to do lots of activities or spend time relaxing on your own. Great BBQ dinner and tapas night at the accommodation. Met lots of great people from around the world with similar mindsets. Bit of a walk to the beach (approx 15-20 minutes) and the centre of town are the only downsides but the Ubers are very cheap.

  • 5/5 Eline De B. 5 months ago on Google
    Had a lovely stay in Cascais. The staff is very friendly and helpful. Yoga classes were very good. Really felt at home here and learned to know many people while traveling solo.

  • 5/5 Marie J. 7 months ago on Google
    I had a great week at Salty Pelican Cascais. The staff were amazing, bed was very comfy and in a perfect location for the beach & central Cascais. The yoga practice on the beach was superb, so lovely to hear the crashing waves during the session. I did read someone complain about the noise of the trains going past, which is ridiculous & doesn’t have a negative impact at all. The house has everything you need for a comfy break away & the brekkie is basic but very tasty & very much welcome after the yoga. If you’re looking to meet some great people, have done fab yoga & surf/SUP then this is the place for you!

  • 3/5 Rachel 7 months ago on Google
    Staff, pool and breakfast were lovely! It was unfortunately not quite the ‘retreat’ I was hoping for, with a fair distance to the beach or town, no dedicated yoga space (afternoon yoga is done on the concrete/brown grass in the back garden), and there was a lot of construction surrounding the main hostel so it’s very noisy. If your only expectations are to visit the beautiful town of Cascais , meet interesting new people, and do sunrise yoga on the promenade, then I can recommend.

  • 4/5 Ivy Z. 5 months ago on Google
    The best things about the stay was the yoga classes. The teacher was amazing and we enjoy so much. The staff was also very nice and always in a good mood. The location is great, there is good restaurants in a walk distance and you can walk to Cascais, take a train to Lisabon, all good. 3 points that I think should be improve: 1. The was no green juice or anything before the yoga classes as advertising on the website. 2.The breakfast could have some more variation, you have exactly the same thing everyday, no juices, only 1 type of cheese, only one humos, and cooked eggs. We were a little disappointed about it. 3.There was no pizza at all, since they said was to cold for it. Anyways this information should also be add to the website, if things are not available on certain periods of the year.

  • 5/5 NicolĂĄs M. 6 months ago on Google
    Wonderful experience at salty pelican cascais! Very nice house, rooms and excellent bathrooms. Everything always clean, the swim pool it’s perfect for stay chill at home. Staff was extremely helpfully in every sense and with best disposition always. Healthy and super tasty Breakfast and dinner at the hostel. Definitely a super cool time for practice yoga, take surf lessons and be chill at the hostel.

  • 5/5 Martina P. 9 months ago on Google
    Thank you, thank you, thank you, I had the most amazing time staying at the Salty Pelican. The staff were friendly and helpful, Ines and Trudy offered beautiful yoga classes daily. It was so nice to chill next to the pool in our free time. I have heard great things about Ericeira Salty as well so will definitely make that my next stop :)

  • 5/5 Daniel F. 9 months ago on Google
    My stay at Salty was above expectations!!Staying in a shared dorm and joining all the activities that were offered made it very easy to meet people even if I was coming solo. The pool was great to hang around in between activities and there was plenty of beaches with walking distance. They served a nice breakfast every day that was included with different choices of fresh fruit, chia, cereals & toasts. At arrival I felt immediately welcomed by the staff and throughout my stay they always made sure we were all having a good time 🤙🏼 Had a great week there & will definitely come back to either Cascais or one of their other locations!

  • 5/5 Stella D. 9 months ago on Google
    From the first minutes stepping inside the house, I was overwhelmed by the welcoming and including spirit of both the staff and other guests. I was very nervous about solo traveling, I felt at home instantly. The house included pretty much everything you could ask for and more: super comfy beds, tasty large breakfast buffet with options for everyone. There where many activities to choose from everyday, but also the choice to just relax in between - go for a dip in the pool, read in the sunbeds or chat with people from around the world. The surf class I had was so much fun with a real helpful instructor. The yoga and massage(!) I really enjoyed as well. Everyone I got to interact with from the staff was lovely, and helpful when I had to re-plan some activities or had questions. Thank you for making this holiday one of I kind. I will be back for sure. x

  • 4/5 Roxanne M. 10 months ago on Google
    I booked a yoga and surf package in the 10-bed dorm at the Peniche resort. PROS 1) The yoga was AMAZING. Desirèe balanced perfectly the mental and physical aspects of yoga, and I left each practice feeling restored and energised. I also did a breathing workshop with Desirèe which was incredibly useful. So thank you <3 2) The surfing was also great, all the guys at Baleal Surf Ranch were kind, patient and supportive. I will never be a pro-surfer but I had a great time. 3) The volunteers and reception staff were helpful and friendly. 4) The breakfast was varied and tasty. CONS 1) The 10-bed dorm was ok as it wasn't full. However, I think in peak season sharing one shower will be difficult for that many people. The lock on the door was also broken. 2) No guest kitchen. This would be great to have as the menu wasn't that extensive (although there are other restaurants around). 3) There are very few soft drink options. Several of the meals include unlimited sangria/wine, however, no soft drink option. It would be good to even have some cold cans for sale. 4) The kitchen/eating area is next to the yoga deck. This meant when breakfast and the evening meal were being prepared there was a lot of banging which took away from the peace. All in all, an amazing stay. I would recommend going for the yoga and surf, but book a smaller dorm if you're going at peak season.

  • 5/5 Shraddha P. 1 year ago on Google
    Rooms are clean location are beautiful service also best swimming pool mind-blowing

  • 5/5 Franziska G. 2 years ago on Google
    The Salty Pelican is real haven. Surrounded by the beautiful jungle, neighbouring friendly monkeys and peacocks, this place makes you feel welcome from the very first moment. Not to forget the Manager Gianluca (who also is the most amazing yoga teacher) and Beccy who always have an open ear and make the retreat even more unique! It's easy to meet new people, venture out to the beautiful beaches or just chill by the pool with a good book. I will definitely come again next year xxx

  • 3/5 Pedro T. 1 year ago on Google
    Overall I had a great experience in Salty Pelican Cascais, but I have to give a 3-star rating because I felt that the house was too small for the number of guests, there should be more showers, and the breakfast area was too small, causing big queues in rush hours, mostly before going to surf, staff should be more prompt to find solutions and alternatives to compensate, for example, bad weather conditions. Also, the constant planning changes due to the weather conditions showed that nobody was ready for it. The breakfast should offer more variety, and the bread wasn't even fresh. Once the hostel is located near the beach, and there are a lot of activities involved, there should be places where we could hang towels, and equipment outside of the room, which will cause the rooms will stink, and the cleaning was not the best I have seen I hope my feedback can bring some improvements next time I decide to visit Salty Pelican. Thank you


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