casa de la era review

what a wonderful place - set in stunning surroundings , within easy reach of Granada, the coast and the white villages in the mountains. A freindly , bustling little town - Orgiva - just up the road, and walks from the front door !!!
The property is immaculately layed out and fitted, with a pool area to die for. The hosts are extraordinarily friendly , helpful and available and did everything to make our stay as successful as possible !
very very highly recommended.

This was our third visit to the Casa de la Era and we plan to return next Spring because we all love it so much.

The building itself is simple but very well finished. The rooms and facilities are all built to a high standard, kept clean and very well maintained. The pictures really don't do it justice, but to be honest, we don't spend much time inside. It is the outside that is so magnificent.

We eat all our meals outside on a small veranda with a large, rustic table which is perfect for breakfast, lunch and supper. Covered in vines which provide dappled light and shade, the temperature seems perfect all the time. The views from the table are stunning, with snow-capped mountains behind us and semi-desert hills to the front. It is quite possible to just sit and gaze from here all day.

The garden is terraced and superbly landscaped. Not a single texture repeats itself despite being filled with flowers, fruit trees, shade trees and shrubs. Moving from one terrace to the next you get a change of atmosphere in each which gives its own pleasure. The lower garden is calm and pleasant, while the pool (as I have two young boys) seems more boisterous. However, if alone up there it is a haven of peace.

The highlight of the week for us is Wednesday afternoon when the garden is flooded by water from the snow run-off that has been channelled down from the mountain tops for the locals to irrigate. Make sure you are there for that.

The owners are there, but not. If you need anything they are pleased to oblige, yet they take great care to ensure your privacy.

The place is fairly isolated and you don't hear much other than the odd dog barking in the distance and the constant rustle of grasshoppers. The dusty town of Orgiva is a couple of miles away and the shops, bars and restaurants there are adequate for most things, though very much geared for the locals and not the tourist. The people in town are friendly and relaxed and you can get by without speaking the language.

From the casitas, you can drive to various villages in the mountains. I would recommend Trevelez, which I believe boasts being the highest village in Europe. It is certainly a good place to escape the heat and the drive is stunning.

I have no hesitation recommending this property if you are looking for a quiet holiday surrounded by beauty. We go every year now in the Spring. The flowers are out, the temperature is right, and the place is quite simply, Eden.

Stunning, beautifully designed, roomy interior. All mod cons including satellite, DVD player etc. Great cookinh facilities.

But the gardens are breathtaking. Complete paradise. ould not be more helpful but never intrusive.Lemon and oranges intermingle with other scents of pure, unadulterated Spain. There are nooks and crannies everywhere to sit, and the Gazebo by the pool is pure 5* luxury.

The pool is large with a shallow end and a nice temperature. If you wake early watch the Sun come up. It's stunning!

Overall - perfection.

The cassita is very well equiped, in a beautiful location and a perfect base for exploring the surrounding area. Alternatively it's just as lovely to spend the day at the cottage and make the most of the scented gardens and swimming pool.

Janet and Dick were very helpful both before and during the holiday, and ensured we could venture with confidence to the south of Spain with 10 month old and 2 1/2 year old children. The gated swimming pool ensured we could relax knowing the little ones wouldn't stray.

Both the coast and Granada are also within easy reach so there is plenty to do. We'd recommend the bird park and the aquarium at Almunecar as well as the Alhambra palace of course, although we only made it round the gardens! Not buggy friendly but worth all the steps none the less.

A lovely relaxing holiday, just what we needed!

Ever been a little miffed that your holiday home doesn't quite live up to the glossy photos and write-up? Well catch this one if you can, even the most `picky` holidaymakers (and we are) will appreciate this superb casita, gardens and pool.

It really has been lovingly restored with a mix of authentic and new offering accomodation that is neither too small nor too big. The three bedrooms and two bathrooms are particularly beautiful with lots of special unfussy detail. You can eat in, by the pool or in the seating area under the pergola - bedecked with oranges and lemons.

The lawned gardens are spacious and well stocked with a diverse range of flowers and shrubs (more orange, lemon and fruit trees) leading to a superb pool area complete with seating, lights and gazebo all set off by a huge palm tree.

We've always preferred private and secluded properties well away from anyone else so were pleased and relieved that the owners in the adjoining farmhouse were both friendly, helpful and discreet. In fact we hardly heard or saw them during the weeks stay. Nor did we feel `twitched` about letting our two sons aged 9 & 7 let off steam and enjoy themselves

The dominant views are of mountains with the surreal snow capped peaks of the Seirra Nevada and whitewashed mountain village of Canar visible from the sunny poolside loungers.

The Las Alparjarras mountain villages were fascinating to explore we enjoyed having a laugh with locals in their bars at dusk even though they didn't speak a word of english nor we spanish.
Trekking in the hills proved a real treat, walking between villages and across gorges, passing through lush woodlands and moutain meltwaters always with the snowline drawing you higher up into the mountains. All accessible and achievable with the correct guidebooks and maps.

With Granada, the Alhambra Palace and the Costa Tropical coast all 40 minutes away there's no need to go anywhere else

All in all, a property and surrounding area that has left us wanting more

La maison est très agréable, calme, bien équipée, et dotée d'un superbe jardin avec piscine. ( idéale pour se reposer). Elle se trouve à proximité de nombreux sites touristiques, ce qui permet d'alterner farniente et tourisme. Les propriétaires qui habitent la maison mitoyenne sont discrets et sympathiques. Mention spéciale pour le surprenant principe d'irrigation du jardin, à ne rater sous aucuns prétextes !! Moyen de locomotion indispensable car la propriétée se trouve à l'écart du centre-ville.

We spend our Christmas holiday at Casa de la Era in Orgiva and had a good time. The welcome package provided made us feel at home at once. We could just sit in the afternoon sun in the garden, enjoy the scenery, and zip at our wine and taste the Spanish olives. It was rather cold in winter, but with the fire on and the electric heater at full heat we were comfortable. When we could have used the swimmingpool, this house would have been perfect for us and the girls. So head to this casa in spring, summer and autumn and you will love it! The gardens are beautiful. Sitting in the gardens you have a nice view of the surrounding mountains. The surroundings of the house are beautiful. In an hour we were at the coast and had a lovely lunch on the beach with fish and white wine, with the girls playing with the pebbles. Also in an hour we were in the lovely old city of Granada, walking through the famous palaces and gardens of the Alhambra. The scenery of the valleys of La Alpujarra are stunning, and we have climbed up to the snow on our first day. The owners of the house live next door, but we had all the privacy we liked. Even more, they were very hospitable and helpfull. The house is extremely well equipped and very charmingly decorated.Orgiva is an interesting town, with a rather large community of Britisch and German inhabitants. Supermarkets, health food shops, cafees and restaurants are available within 5 minutes driving distance of the house. A car is required in this area. We enjoyed our stay very much. This is one of the best holiday houses we have ever rented and definitelly the best in Europe.