Luxury villa in Andalucia, Spain

Environment
Guests staying at our luxury villa are provided with information regarding the background of how the property evolved and are asked by means of a user manual to actively consider the environment in which they are staying.

Whilst the villa has all creature comforts available, guests are asked to conserve use of electricity and to only use air conditioning sparingly. Previous guests have commented on how it has made them think about the energy they use when they are obliged to put a generator on to supplement certain functions in the house. The conservation of water is also urged via the user manual. All bathroom fittings are modern and are therefore water saving by design. Guests are asked to recycle their waste. Environmentally friendly products are used in the house – washing up liquid, soap etc.

We do not have mains electricity or water. The electricity is generated by solar panels and a wind turbine. There is also a diesel fuelled generator which is used to support some functions in the house – eg the oven and air conditioning.

Water comes from a spring on the grounds and is pumped to tanks above the house. This property is situated in a very dry region of Spain and as such all efforts are taken to conserve water at every opportunity.

The gardens have been landscaped using indigenous plants and shrubs and is managed by a local gardener.

Community
The User Manual given to guests also includes guides of activities to partake in, in the area to support local commerce. This includes sections giving information of the two towns most local to them and pastimes like horse-riding etc that brings business to the local community. A visit to the world famous Alhambra Palace is also recommended, as are the caves at Nerja.

All employees live locally and the property was built using local Spanish builders. The owners of the villa provide employment to 6 people and more, when extensive weeding of the garden is required. All products required for the house are sourced in the local towns of Orgiva and Lanjaron. Local plumbers electricians from Orgiva are used when required.

Guests are encouraged to use the local towns and their facilities: shops, restaurants, bars etc. The most local town is quite diverse in terms of the people who live there and a substantial amount of alternative treatments and therapies are available. Leaflets and information are made available to guests to use the local therapists, and centres.

Organic produce is widely available. The house is set amongst a estate containing almond trees and olive groves which are maintained by a local farmer using traditional techniques.