Casa Louisa
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About the home
This is the real Spain! In the heart of little-known Axarquia in a stunning location with wonderful views of the mountains and the beautiful Vinuela valley below, Casa Louisa is the perfect place to relax and unwind. Facing south, it has sun from around breakfast time until sunset with the unspoilt natural beauty of the Sierras all around. Although it looks and feels like a traditional Spanish house, it's newly built with all the comforts of the 21st century. There's a larger-than-average private pool with large corner pool house , a delightful covered terrace with large marble table for dining, sun-trap balcony and several other terraces with sofas and chairs to sit in comfort ... plenty of room for everyone to do just what they want. If summer-time lazing by the pool appeals ... or reading in the shade of an olive tree ... perhaps lazing on a sunbed, content to watch the children jump in and out of the pool all day ... or if sittting on the balcony with a gin and tonic, watching the incredible skies as the sun leaves the valley tempts you.... if peace and tranquility broken only by birdsong or the tinkling of goat bells as Pepe shepherds his flock home at the end of the day sounds good ... then this and more is what you will find. Although the activities and necessities you might need for a good holiday are not far from the Casa, dragging yourself away can be difficult!
The villa is on two levels and sleeps up to 10 ... front door, main sitting room, master bedroom (6'bed) and two twin bedrooms, two bathrooms and kitchen all at ground level, sliding glass doors lead from the sitting room and master bedroom out onto the balcony with a glass door from the kitchen leading to the top terrace with wide, shallow steps leading down to the pool from the top terrace.; downstairs, another double bedroom (6' bed), another large living room with two additional full size single beds (children and teenagers love this room so it means the house can accommodate a family group of 10 comfortably) and another shower room. If there is no-one sleeping in the living room, however, the shower room is effectively ensuite. Both this living room and the bedroom on the lower floor have glass sliding doors leading onto a lower covered terrace. From this lower terrace a wide path leads down to the pool area. There is a feeling of spaciousness throughout the house and around the pool, terraces and garden.
| Size: | Sleeps up to 10, 4 bedrooms |
|---|---|
| Nearest beach: | 10km |
| Will consider: | Short breaks |
| Access: | Car essential Nearest amenities: 3km |
| Family friendly? | Suitable for children of all ages Suitable for people with restricted mobility |
| Notes: | No pets allowed No smoking at this property |
Facilities
| Luxuries: | Log fire, Internet access, DVD player |
|---|---|
| Pool: | Private outdoor pool (unheated) |
| General: | Central heating, Air conditioning, TV, CD player, Satellite TV, Wi-fi available |
| Standard: | Kettle, Toaster, Iron, Hair dryer |
| Utilities: | Dishwasher, Cooker, Microwave, Fridge, Freezer, Washing machine |
| Rooms: | 4 Bedrooms, 3 bathrooms of which 1 family bathroom, 1 en suite and 1 shower room |
| Furniture: | Single beds (6), Double beds (2), Cots (1), Dining seating for 10, Lounge seating for 10 |
| Other: | Linen and towels provided Highchair available |
| Outdoors: | Private outdoor pool (unheated), Balcony / Terrace, Private garden, BBQ |
| Access: | Parking space |
Further details indoors:
* All sofas and beds are comfortable ... double beds are each 6' wide
* Two large living rooms, one with two full-size single beds. * Children and teenagers, particularily, like staying in this room
* Each living room has a flat-screen TV (uk terrestrial channels) and DVD, one of the TV's has freeview
* Each of these TV's has a separate satellite feed ... so no arguments about who wants to watch what!
* A third TV in the master bedroom
* Air conditioning units in all rooms and underfloor heating througout the house
* Wood burning stove in the sitting room for the cooler months
* All utility costs and firewood included in the rental.
* Everything you could possibly need in the kitchen including unbreakable plates and glasses to take to the pool
* Bath towel and pool towel for each person
* If you stay for 2 weeks a change of sheets and bath towels plus 2 hours cleaning is included in the price. mid-stay if you would like that.
* Heating, wood burning stove and duvets make for a cosy winter house
* Lots of books, toys and games around
* Soap, washing powder, diswasher tablets, cling wrap, salt and pepper and some other basic necessites supplied ...
* The house is toddler friendly. Stairs have baby gates top and bottom for the safety of small children.
* Travel cot with 2 sets of bedding, cot-bed, high chair, baby bath, baby monitor, sterilizing unit, cot net, safety plugs and outside crawling mat are all in the house if you would like them to be made available.
* Pushchair, extra cots and other baby equipment can be arranged and be ready in the house for your arrival if there is more than one baby .. small charge.
* You will find two bottles of wine, some cool beers and juice when you arrive to welcome you!
Further details outdoors:
* Larger than average pool
* Eight full-size comfortable sun beds and other comfortable portable chairs for sunbaking and relaxing
* Gates between the house and the pool making a safe play area outside the kitchen and sitting room for little ones and also, for keeping young children well away from the pool. Our guests tell us its a perfect house for a young families!
* The pool and pool terrace are set away from the house which gives the whole property a feeling of spaciousness. It means children will need to be supervised at all times when swimming
* Pool house makes a great base by the pool with table and chairs, bar and stools, fridge and sink - and of course lots of shade
*Outside loo and basin for ease when around the pool terrace.
* Outside wood oven for use in spring, summer and autumn - try those Jamie Oliver recipes! In summer the high risk of bush fire and open fire ban means it cannot be lit.
* Two covered areas with comfortable sofas and chairs for relaxing
* Umbrellas for extra shade
Further details
The house is managed by Lisa who is English and lives in Alcaucin with her family. She will guide you to the house when you arrive with her, show you round, answer any questions you may have and give you a key. She is always on hand if you have any difficulties with the house during your stay. Our housekeepers will have the house squeaky clean for your arrival .. and the pool is attended three times a week throughout the summer. Gardeners attend to the plants and the watering system regularly.
A car is essential. The last bit of the journey is 2 kilometres drive on a part concrete / part unmade road which gives access to ours as well as 25 other well spread-out houses, many of which are lived in all year round. We all happily drive ordinary cars and an ordinarily confident driver will have no problem. If you are a nervous driver you probably won't like it. Absolutely no smoking anywhere in the house
Conditions
* Amost always Saturday to Saturday bookings in July and August but otherwise dates to fit with you where possible
* Short breaks possible ... minimum 3 nights
* Arrival is after 4.30pm and departure by 9.30am during the summer season
* Air-conditioning and under-floor heating an optional £130 pw extra payable in advance or for cash when you get there per night. at a similar rate. If you have paid in advance and change your mind when you get there, per night refund possible sent with your deposit return when you get home. However, to activate / deactivate a service when you are there add 20 euros extra per visit from our manager. Note heating takes 24 hours to warm the house
* 30% payable at the time of booking
* Balance due 8 weeks before the date of your departure
* Bond of £150 held over the letting period to be send back to clients within one week of return to the UK providing all is OK with the house.
The Andalucia / Malaga Province region
The inland Axarquia is a glorious region, largely unspoilt by mass tourism, rich in history and architecture and much influenced by 700 years of Moorish rule when the caliphs held sway from the seats of power in Cordoba and Granada. Dramatic mountains, beautiful valleys and tiny white pueblo villages, for which the area is famous, provide a peek into Spanish life as it was and very often, still is. The area is still dependent on agriculture - mainly olives, almonds, avocados, oranges and lemons - and produces a mass of delicious vegetables and fruit as it has done for centuries. Once you leave the coast behind and begin to climb into the Sierras, another world reveals itself, And when you reach the Casa and stand on the balcony with the mountains all around and the valley far below, and with only the sheep, goats and birds to disturb the silence, its hard to believe the full-on experience of the coast is only 20 minutes away.
The bustling towns of Torre del Mar and Velez-Malaga, about 20 minutes drive, with colourful local markets provide excellent shopping ... including very good supermarkets ... fashion ... the lot!. The pretty town of Nerja and Frigiliana with its neighboring mountain village of Frigiliana are 40 minutes drive and, further afield, the gorgeous little city of Granada with world-famous Alhambra and the fabulous cities of Cordoba and Sevilla, both rich in the history off the Moorish occupation, are great for an exciting day visit.. Go for the day to Malaga with its Picasso museum, winding old-town streets, bull-ring, the huge cathedral ... and its elegant shops. Stop for tapas in one of the many bars .... or go down to the beach at El Palo for some fresh seafood. Have a fun day-out with the children at the water park or spend the day on one of the large, safe and clean beaches all along the coast.
If the weather is hot (and for many months it is ... the Costa del Sol has an average of 300 days of sunshine a year) you will find it increasingly hard to drag yourself away from the pool as the days fly by! Spring and Autumn are wonderful times to enjoy the best Andalucia has to offer ... and a great time to get out and about, visiting those fabulous cities or exploring the tiny pueblo villages. Winter, too, could find you in a t-shirt on a clear sunny day, high on a peak with wonderful views in all directions ... and going home to a warm house, roaring fire with something delicious cooking in the wood oven ...
The Lake Vinuela / Alcaucin area
In the peaceful village of Alcaucin, just below the National Park, you will find a jumble of little white houses clinging to the hillside, narrow cobbled streets and rushing fountains of pure mountain streams which water the whole valley. The old men of the village still sit in the square or in a bar drinking sweet wine, banging dominoes and putting the world to rights as they have for a hundred years or more. You will find everything you need here and in Puente don Manuel, 6 kms away with fresh local vegetables and seasonal fruit, excellent meat, cheeses, oils, wines and good bread ... and banks and a post office. As well, there are some excellent, good-value restaurants in the valley close by. Go down to the coast for some delicious sea-food .. choose pork from the spit roast in the mountains ... visit the old inn where food has been served to travellers long before the time of the revolution ... follow Gordon Ramsey to Ayo's for some of his world-famous paella on the beach at Nerja ... you will be welcome wherever you go. You will be welcome, too, at the fiestas that happen in each village througout the warmer weather - but be prepared for a late night - they don't start until 10 or 11 at night!
With the beauty of the National Park so close to the house, walking, mountain biking and cycling in this wilderness is a delight ... if you are feeling active, of course. Perhaps take one of our tried and tested local, English-speaking guides who can take you out for an hour or a day .. or longer ... and will not only provide you will all the equipment you may need but will delight in showing you the best of the secrets Andalucia has to offer. Planning your time before you go is no problem ... phoning or emailing one of them in advance is easy ... full details on our own website. Or you may just choose to stroll on your own ...through the cool pinewoods, perhaps, to the mountain chininguita for a glass of wine. some manchego cheese and serano ham. And if you want to go a bit further, in the house are three fool-proof self-guided walks of between 3 and 10 ks so you won't get lost!
How to get there
Click map icons for more information
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| Nearest Travel Links | |
| Airport: | Malaga: 64 km |
| Railway: | Malaga: 60 km |
Fly to Malaga Airport . From there its a straightforward one hour's drive, first on the costal motorway for 40 minutes and then inland for 20 minutes to our manager's house which is easy to find. She will be waiting for you to arrive and will then guide you to Casa Louisa - another 5 minutes or so. There are various car hire firms ... we find www.malagacar.com and www.doyouspain.com are both good sites with good service.
Activities near Lake Vinuela
Waterpark
Horse Riding
Walking holidays
Rural / countryside retreats
Cycling holidays
Reviews
 19 Feb 2013 |
Our trips to Casa Louisa started in 2011 and we extended our weeks at the villa in 2012 due to the high quality of the holiday home and the welcome made to us. The consistency of the facilities and attention to detail give us a sense of security and opportunity to explore the region and return to this lovely home to relax. The villa is well designed and the variety of internal and external spaces and levels, with many fine tables and settees to provide privacy within your party. There is a chance to enjoy the morning sun, the evening sunsets and a get-together for mealtimes on the many balconies. We particularly enjoy using the fantastic cooking facilities with a large barbecue outside, a well stocked kitchen and wonderful serving crockery and we can present local produce Spanish style with a flourish. The pool offers another great venue for daytime and night time swimming, snacking and relaxation. With a fridge full of cold drinks under the poolside gazebo you can stay for hours sunbathing and swimming or enjoying the distant views into the valley below. Staying in the villa for the day is a pleasure and there is no need to travel far, but if you do decide to make a big trip to Cordoba or the Alhambra then the information is on hand for all eventualities. Our more active family and friends have walked out of the door and straight up into the National Park and onto the mountain side, where wildlife abounds and even the ibex can be spotted in it's natural habitat. The rest of us drive up on the unpaved mountain road to get a flavour of the scenery below. It is difficult to tear yourself away at the end of your stay, so do expect to be booking Casa Louisa again and again. Response: Thanks for your complements! A second visit speaks volumes ... we love the house it makes us very happy to know others do to. We work hard to give our guests the best experience possible and its rewardingl to know when we succeed. Thanks for taking the time to write a review ... always hard to find time in a busy life. |
04 Feb 2013 |
An excellently equipped villa that is clearly much loved as a second home by its caring owner who seems to get pleasure from sharing it completely with others for holidays. My wife and I stayed there with our grown up children and partners for the first time in 2011, enjoying it so much that we returned again for 2012. There were up to eight of us at any one time and it never felt overcrowded either in the villa or around the swimming pool and gardens. Casa Louisa is an ideal place to chill and we found that on most days we wanted to do not a lot other than relax, enjoy the peace and panoramic views. However, for trips out it is within an area of outstanding natural beauty and interesting towns and cities are within easy travelling distance by car. Some in our family group are farely action-orientated and they all gave a very big vote of confidence in the splendid Casa Louisa. The owner was only too pleased to put us in touch with a company to arrange for bikes to be hired and delivered to the door. We found the owner's attention to detail in terms of everyday needs and also information folders was first class. The most memorable thing about our times at Casa Louisa was enjoying many barbecued evening meals on the terrace looking out over the mountains and lakes to watch the sun setting whilst chatting and enjoying local wine. The fact that it is some way down a track ( which is as described) adds to the feeling of being separate from the rest of the world, a very welcome change for us all. Response: Thanks for taking the time to review your experiences at Casa Louisa. You enjoyed yourself so much you and the family repeated your visit the following year .. we are delighted! Its a special place to us and we really do love to share it. |
01 Feb 2013 |
We travelled with teenagers and a young son. The villa was very spacious with above average sized rooms. The beds were very comfortable with high quality linen. The a/c was efficient. This is the cleanest villa I have stayed at, in 16 years of self catering holidays.the bathrooms were plentiful and modern with good water pressure! The kitchen had everything we have at home plus more. The villa had 3 fridges so plenty of space for everyone's favourite drinks. The pool was large and a favourite with us all. The pool loungers were very comfortable , especially with the delightful breeze. The fairer members appreciated the generous shady spots around the villa grounds. We could have happily lazed around the pool and villa for the entire stay. I could never get bored of the incredible views. However we enjoyed some great day trips . The owner had really covered all eventualities. She left various folders around the house with handy tips. No struggling with washing machines or microwaves in this house,which normally causes frustration on trips away! The folders also contained removable leaflets to take on day trips,giving advice on best routes,best parking spots,places to eat and shop and ones to avoid. We found these far better than our guide book and really made us feel like locals! Although we don't tend to watch tv while on holiday,the Olympics were on during our stay and everyone appreciated having 2 separate tv viewing areas with comfy seating. The Internet access was also excellent for the bbc sport website addict in our party! Our 2 younger children loved the large selection of toys left at the property,while our teenager loved having her ' mini apartment ' downstairs. Response: We want all our guests to spend their holiday just having fun and enjoying every minute in this gorgeous place. Minimizing 'how do we ...' and 'where do we ...' frustrations that come with being in an unfamiliar area and house is very important to us. It seems we succeed! Thanks for such a lovely review .. so glad you had a memorable holiday! |
Rental prices
| Rental prices originally quoted in: British £ | Convert to: |
| Prices for group size 10 | ||||||
| Period | From | To | Weekly | Nightly rate | Minimum stay | |
| Weekday | Weekend | |||||
| June-July | 1 Jun 13 | 20 Jul 13 | £ 935 | - | - | 1 Week |
| July-August | 20 Jul 13 | 24 Aug 13 | £ 1418 | - | - | 1 Week |
| August - September | 24 Aug 13 | 1 Oct 13 | £ 1155 | - | - | 1 Week |
| October - April | 1 Oct 13 | 5 Apr 14 | £ 893 | £ 129 | £ 129 | 5 Nights |
| Easter | 5 Apr 14 | 19 Apr 14 | £ 1050 | - | - | 1 Week |
| April - May | 19 Apr 14 | 24 May 14 | £ 945 | £ 137 | - | 5 Nights |
| May | 24 May 14 | 31 May 14 | £ 1208 | £ 174 | - | 5 Nights |
| May - June | 31 May 14 | 28 Jun 14 | £ 1050 | £ 151 | - | 5 Nights |
| June - July | 28 Jun 14 | 26 Jul 14 | £ 1313 | - | - | 1 Week |
| July - August | 26 Jul 14 | 23 Aug 14 | £ 1523 | - | - | 1 Week |
| August - October | 23 Aug 14 | 11 Oct 14 | £ 1208 | £ 174 | - | 5 Nights |
| October - December | 11 Oct 14 | 13 Dec 14 | £ 893 | £ 129 | - | 5 Nights |
The property does not have weekend tariffs.
NB: Prices may be subject to change at the advertiser's discretion.
* The weekly rate above is for up to 10 people. There are 2 twin-bedded rooms beds and 2 double bedded rooms and 2 full-size comfortable single beds in the large second living room which is downstairs. Children, particularily, love this room .. plenty of space here for messing about and it has its own TV and DVD. All inclusive except for air-conditioning or under-floor heating (£130 per week extra which you can pay in advance or per night when you are there. Refunds on an advance payment if you find you don't want the service once in Spain). * Pay by cheque or on-line.
BookAvailability
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