Cheryle Jones review 17 May 2013
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The steep narrow lane leading to this beautiful tranquil place - better than any fairgroud ride!
The snow tipped mountains despite 25 deg temperature.
The locals were so welcoming and friendly - the owners so accommodating.
Idyllic :)
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Just enjoy the unique beauty of the area.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes the locals are very keen to recycle almost everything and they strive to keep the area as unique as possible.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
11 / 10 !!
Tracey Eckersley review 19 Aug 2012
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Breakfast on the terrace blending almost to dinner by the time we finished playing dominoes overlooking the lovely river valley.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
If you want a no frills, easy going holiday where you can escape totally the humdrum of everyday life you should go. No internet, no TV, no hassle!
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Staying in an authentic old cottage definitely reduces the environmental impact of tourism, whilst benefiting the locals by bringing the business to the cafes and bars in the larger towns. All of the electricity was solar powered, we collected drinking water from the nearby spring and composted our food waste what little there was. Bottles, plastic etc was taken to recycling bins in Orgiva and Torviczon - so no 'rubbish' was left behind.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
We had a fine time! Cathy and John are wonderful hosts. The cottage is fully equipped for an easy self catering holiday.
Philip Luscombe review 1 Aug 2012
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
This is a traditional Andalusian village cottage, lightly adapted. It has genuine sense of age, and of being part of a village community. The bathing pool in the river (fed by springs so still full of water in the summer) is delightful.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Remember that this is a traditional house - the stairs are steep and there is only solar electricity, and the village is reached by a steep unmade road.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes. The village is struggling to maintain any population, and tourists are welcome as part of the solution.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Very good.
Susan Clack review 1 Apr 2012
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Breakfast or lunch on one of the terraces in the sun... listening to the water below.
Wonderful walks (hikes) in the mountains... From Haza del Lino through the cork oaks to the top of Cerra Salchicha... up the river from Trevelez... locally from Puerta de Jubiley up the river in both directions... walk from Bubion to Capileira and back... Circular from Mecina Fondales... miners walk from just outside Orgiva (but make sure you go up the right way according to the route advised which we did not but even so it is a hard slog) and many more.
Also a trip to Granada is a must. The Alhambra was impressive but very very busy. The best trip was up to Sacromento past the Albaicin and the Cave Museum in Sacromento was very good.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
When walking have a GPS and the best map possible. Some of the paths are quite overgrown and difficult to follow. We had Jeremy Rabjohn's book "Holiday Walks in the Alpujarras" but did not look at the website updates before we went. That might have helped us on one or two occasions as we did get a bit lost. There was also a copy of this book at the house and John and Cathy provided us with local maps, however, they are not as easy to follow as our Ordnance Survey maps but better than nothing. You can get more information from the tourist centre in Pampaneira but we did not get there early enough to be of help.
The drive down to Puerto Jubiley is a bit hair-raising but after a few up and downs is bearable, and it is also worth walking down to get the views. I am not a super confident driver but got the hand of the Z-bends. We do not really know what bends are in the UK!!! The drive in the dark put us off eating out at night but the cooking facilities were fine. Also the prices in the shops seemed to us to be very cheap compared to the UK - two coffees to be had for 2 Euros in the bars, a sack of oranges for 1 Euro. Lots of useful shops in Orgiva (and no tourist type shops).
It would be a good place for children from about 7 upwards but I think it would be quite difficult with very young or younger children. If you are thinking of walking up the river from Puerto Juviley one or two sticks would be essential. And even at the end of March the water was not too cold. We bought proper walking sticks from Bubion at much cheaper prices than in the UK.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
I guess all of these. Most of the houses in the little village only seem to be occupied at the weekends or in the summer but even so there is still a lot of growing going on there and quite a bit of a community.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
A paradise of a place and we had a wonderful time and some real adventures.
Susan Quick review 12 Jul 2009
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
We drove across Spain and visited many beautiful areas. However, we parked in Seville and went across the road to get a drink. When we returned after half an hour our car had disappeared. All the other cars parked alongside it were still; there. We finally discovered that it had been removed because it was "illegally parked"; we were able to locate the compound several miles away and had to pay 140 euros to get out car back. On the return journey we were stopped for speeding despite being in a flow of traffic all travelling at the same speed. That cost 50 euros.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
The apartment was absolutely beautiful. However travellers should be aware that it is at the bottom of a very steep hill, access by unlit unmade road. We arrived mid-afternoon when all shops are closed, so we drove back into, Orgiva, the nearest town - about 10k - to buy food etc. We also stopped for supper and drove back about 9pm. However when we got to the top of the hill to our house it was pitch dark and the prospect of driving down the side of a hill with a precipitous drop in the dark was too much. We ended up driving back to Orgiva and booking into a hotel room. An expensive first night!
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Yes, the drinking water was provided from a local source and everything about the housing blended in with the environment. All waste is recycled and the landlord and landlady and neighbours are all very welcoming. We were invited into homes and given a tour of the local farm. However visitors should be aware that access to the flat from the car park is very steep. Not an easy place if like me you are disabled.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
It was very restful. Nothing much to do except sleep and eat and lie in the sun naked! Perfect if like us you have just been very active and need to relax and recover. But don't go if you are looking for a rave! It's a long drive to the nearest towns, though there are many beautiful villages to visit. Also a long drive. Nothing within walking distance.
Read the operator's response here:
Thank you for your extremely informative and positive review. We enjoyed meeting you and the feedback re accessibility has been extremely helpful to us in developing our new apartment, which we hope will be available to a wider range of guests. We are glad that you had a relaxing holiday and look forward to welcoming you and your friends back in the future, when we hopefully will have got the permission and built the easy access route I told you about, which will access the apartment from above by a ramp. The isolation of the village and lack of shops, bars and other tourist facilities is something that we see as a positive aspect of holidays here, and we promote that cottage in that way. Your review will help others decide if that experience is what they want! I am sorry that your experience of the Spanish Police force has been less than positive - they do have a very fierce reputation and I don't think the police are popular in many countries, when they are issuing parking or speeding fines! The recognition of the international disability permit is something which I know that many organisations are campaigning for. I shall warn others in advance that their disability permit may not be recognised, and won’t give them special treatment.
Natalie Dodds review 23 Apr 2009
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The location and the world class view from the upstairs balcony. Also the authentic feel to the cottage. My daughter-in-law who has lived in Spain for the past two years said she felt as though she had at last seen Spain. The proximity to the Ski resort was also a bonus.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Bring plenty of supplies with you and good walking shoes.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Yes. An escape from the 21st century.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
4 star rating. Wonderful three nights. Lovely log fire.
Margaret Cobble review 11 Jan 2009
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
A drive up into the high Sierra Nevada to the ski station and above- deep snow but main roads had been cleared almost to the Veleta. The same day we spent the late afternoon in warm sunshine on the coast at Salobrena.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
The accommodation is comfortable and quite easy to keep warm for a winter holiday. The kitchen is well equipped so you can self cater easily but the local hotel just a few minutes away will provide hot food cheaply almost any time of day. You do need a car in order to be completely independent but there are regular bus services from Torviscon. The views and surrounding countryside are wonderful and some great walks are possible both on the higher footpaths and in the river valleys. All the local people we met were very friendly and welcoming. Try to speak at least a few words of Spanish - they'll appreciate that you are making the effort.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
The house we rented in Torviscon is a restored village house close to the Spar supermarket. We shopped locally in the village and went to the weekly market in nearby Orgiva. As it gets cold (particularly after dark) in January we were glad of the woodburner. When my son was ill the local pharmacist rang the health centre in Orgiva and arranged for him to be seen and treated immediately even though it was late evening on the eve of a bank holiday. So most of the money we spent stayed in the local area and we behaved very much like the local villagers (at least locals who were on holiday and not having to leave each morning for work).
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
We had a wonderful week- we were only sorry that we had to return home before the village fiesta which takes place next week end and for which we would love to have stayed. Maybe next year?
Heather Watson review 8 Sep 2008
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Great walk in La Taha area.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Really still too hot for lengthier walks at beginning of Sept.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Definitely benefited local people.
