The owner of the local Taverna in Azinheiro, Portugal. She is one of the most amazingly happy, helpful women I've met. She made my holiday.

We booked this holiday as a great escape. I'd been working myself into the ground – trying to set up Odbody and run WOW. I don't think any of us realised how remote and small the village was when we booked it.

Maria was the person that made the difference between a lonely, boring week and a truly memorable holiday.

She runs the cafe in Azinheiro, a wonderfully remote village - the kind you could just miss if you drove through it. The thing is the Taverna is the hub for both locals and tourists alike. She never stopped smiling and was always so helpful. She would open up the shop next door if we needed anything at any time. She gave us her firewood on the colder nights, but most of all she welcomed us with open arms and a really big smile.

Maria made me want to relax and take life slowly.
She also made me want to return, frequently. She really made a difference to a holiday that I really needed.