Reviewed 27 Apr 2009 by Vanessa Ho You
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Walking in the lovely countryside. Viewing the dovecote.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Take your own breakfast. The only cereal available was stale, having asked for more(!) the choice was two types of chocolate cereal. Only toast and jam as an alternative. Breakfast literally served in the bar- with plenty of smokers alongside -ugh. Take a bedside lamp, only one lamp between four (11 and 15 year olds like to read) - rooms were dark and depressing with very gloomy paintings. Very cramped space for four. Two upright chairs outside, a table with an unfixed marble top.....no where to relax, put up your feet and read a book.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
The adjacent wind farm probably employs some people. There seemed to be piles of rubbish around the hotel- I am not sure how this helps the environment.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
We were disappointed and left early. The wind farm and smoking policy should have been made clear- we would never have booked this type of accommodation. We found alternative local accommodation at a more competitive price. This was overpriced and inadequately described on your website - basic- would more accurately describe the whole experience.
Read the operator's response here:
The price of the room includes breakfast, which is a "continental breakfast" with: a fresh orange juice, a warm drink, toasts of good bread (wood baked) as much as someone can eat or/and cereals. It's possible that one cereal was finished during your stay. On extra you can have cheese with rosemary and iberico ham. Respecting to smoker our bar doesn't yet have a non smoker area. Smokers are a majority in Spain and I can understand that you suffer from the smoke, because I personally don't smoke. Obviously it's a point that can be improved. Our family rooms have 14.8 square meters with a large bed, a complete bath room (+ 4.6 square meters), and two extra beds in a salon attached (+ 5.7 square meters). There are no side lamps beside those extra beds, and it's a point that can be improved. Normally this type of room is used with younger children's and is also cheaper than having two separate rooms. As soon as Mr. Ho You told me that the outside table was broken, this table was changed. A point that Mr. Ho You discuss directly with me during his stay, is a lack of garden furniture, and it is also a point that can be improved.
The accommodation employs three of the owners (self employment) and two local girls, with all the social security costs paid since the opening of the hotel. It is an important point because some hotels in the area are run by families or don't pay social security costs. There is one point where are concentrated rest of building works to help to repair the track in winter. In the rest of the plot there is no rubbish or plastic bag or empty bottles. I understand that Mr & Mrs Ho You could be disappointed by our garden, because half of the surface is not really cultivated and is more wild than a pretty garden. It is also free of pesticides, insecticides or artificial fertilizers. In spring it's full of wild flowers with bees and insects. This type of garden is using also very few water. Any way, as the garden furniture, we will try to improve the situation.
First we have to thank Mr & Mrs Ho You for the time spend reviewing their stay and informing us about points that can be improved. We are sorry for this disappointing experience, receiving this type of review for the first time, in six year. Mr. and Mrs. Ho You stayed in this area during eastern Spanish holidays, which is also the most crowded period of the year (all the country is moving during three days), and it's not the best period to appreciate a quite place in the country side. Our smoking policy may change slowly, for this subject majority is ruling... Respecting to prices, the situation of the hotel that has to be self sufficient in all aspects (water, wasted water, elimination of dustbins, maintenance of the track, mail...), the size of the building and the respect of social security regulation, can also produce a difference with other hotels.
Reviewed 11 Oct 2007 by Karen Bates
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The hotel is in a lovely forested area, which is very handy for lots of places in Andalucia. The hotel is very relaxed and friendly. The most exciting part was seeing clouds of buzzards, vultures and eagles rising up over the plains on the thermals on their migration route over the Straits of Gibraltar. Unfortunately our holiday was marred by a serious car accident (not our fault and the injuries could have been worse- nothing broken). The staff at the hotel couldn’t have been more helpful to us - they helped to sort out the car hire, accident form, taxi hire etc nothing was too much trouble.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
It is a marvellous base for wonderful beaches, and also interesting towns and cities and mountain villages. The area has something for everyone.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Yes - local jobs, local produce in the restaurant at the hotel. We ate at a bar recommended to us by the hotel just down the road we ate lovely home cooked food which helped a local family rural business. The hotel by attracting guests into the area is helping a very rural economy, and has restored a very old building. Energy saving efficiencies at the hotel.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
I would have rated it as absolutely wonderful if it hadn’t been for the accident, but this unfortunately did spoil it. To a large extent. The hotel gave us maps, recommended places to visit, places to eat at which helped to make the most of the holiday.
