totally apt and the back yard was truly a bit of paradise!

Guest: Jimmy (California)
Date of Stay: 02/18/11 Review Submitted: 06/25/11

My wife and I stayed for a week at this lovely property in San Pancho in late winter. It was a wonderful respite with colorful, comfortable decor and close proximity to shops and many good, affordable restaurants... all within a ten minute walk--- including the gorgeous stretch of beach where we spent most sunsets with our feet in the sand and sipping margaritas! We also spent lots of time in the very nicely maintained back area watching birds, reading, and swimming. It's a beautiful, secluded area filled with pretty plants.. perfect to hang out in and do exactly what we came to do...RELAX! We shall definitely be back!

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing, tourists without a car, pet owners, age 55+, families with teenagers, girls getaway, families with young children.

Ideal local experience

Guest: Nathalie (Albany, NY )
Date of Stay: 03/31/11 Review Submitted: 04/17/11

I just stayed at Casa de Sophia for the first week of April and it was awesome. There are so many facets to the spacious house, you can have a different setting for every occasion. For example, there's the open space on the second floor with fun lighting where you can lounge before going to bed in the cozy bedrooms. The location is great too. I loved feeling like I was a resident of San Pancho, a place to which I'd like to go back and continue to explore, as well as the surrounding towns. Lastly, the stay was made impeccable by the warm hospitality of Mirta, the property manager who made sure we had evrything we needed for a comfortable stay at Casa de Sophia and San Pancho in general.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, romantic getaway, sightseeing, tourists without a car, families with teenagers, girls getaway, families with young children.

Thrilled!

Guest: A.G. (New York)
Date of Stay: 03/31/11 Review Submitted: 04/13/11

My title says it all: Casa de Sophia is a beautiful, sun-filled, comfortable, luxurious haven. The well-appointed and secluded backyard and pool were a big treat. Most of the other reviewers touched on the basics, so I'll mention some of the finishing touches, which I particularly enjoyed, like the (local?) artwork, pretty dishware, and the lovely lighting, inside and out. I even enjoyed the generous bathroom showers, with their pebbled floors. The house was very well-maintained, and the property manager and owner were conscientious and helpful. I'd recommend Casa de Sophia to all, without a doubt!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, romantic getaway, tourists without a car, age 55+, families with teenagers, girls getaway.

Amazing, Beautiful, better than the pictures!

Guest: VVV (Colorado)
Date of Stay: 10/16/10 Review Submitted: 02/21/11

When my boyfriend and I arrived at this house I probably walked around the place for over an hour excited about how lucky we were! I have stayed in San Pancho many times, and for the price, this was by far the best. We spent our evenings in the back garden sitting at the table and listening to the wind rustle through the palms, insects chirrping, and would delight at the occasional nut fall. There is no house behind the back garden, so you could see the sky clearly, and feel very private in the little backyard oasis with pool. The managers were very responsive, and would come over to the house immediately with even the slightest problem we had. The pool was cleaned regularly, and the woman who cleaned the house was as sweet as could be. Best service I have had at any property. The master bedroom has a little balcony overlooking backyard that opens with french doors that we liked to keep open at night to have a nice breeze. I have no idea what the above review is talking about. We had no problem getting our deposit back, there were no complaints, and the owner was extremely kind and flexible to work with. The kitchen had everything we needed and more. It is about a ten minute walk to beach, and a nice walk because you get to pass by all the stores, restaurants and people. The only complaint I would have is the "camaron" vendors from the street in the morning, but hey! its mexico. I have stayed up more in the jungle before, had to rent a car, it was a pain, and it feels very isolated. Here, you had the peace of the garden (truly) oasis in the backyard, and a little local flavor!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, romantic getaway, sightseeing, tourists without a car, age 55+, families with teenagers, girls getaway.

Casa de Sophia is an enchanting place to stay!

Guest: Laurel (San Francisco, California)
Date of Stay: 02/11/09 Review Submitted: 08/23/10

We've stayed at Casa de Sophia several times in the last few years and find it absolutely lovely, beautifully kept up and extremely comfortable. In fact, it's one of the most tranquil places we've ever stayed. The beach and town are wonderful but we mainly enjoy just staying "home" cause it's so pretty and also wonderful relaxing in the beautiful pool and garden...and eating outside! Each time we stay we find more colorful flowers and plants have been added and it really does feel like being in the midst of a tropical vacation paradise. The owners are incredibly responsive and helpful in providing sightseeing suggestions. They make and keep their home a gorgeous and welcoming place to stay and we're already looking forward to returning next February!

Recommended for:People with disabilities, adventure seekers, romantic getaway, sightseeing, tourists without a car, pet owners, age 55+, families with teenagers, girls getaway, families with young children.

Casa Sophia is ALL that it Claims to Be & More!

Guest: Leslie (Maryland)
Date of Stay: 08/07/10 Review Submitted: 08/22/10

This romantic Mexican House packs a lot into the outdoor living quarters of the upstairs living area, outdoor garden, pool and garden. The inside space is just perfect when it's time to make a meal (when not eating out at the many restaurants) or relaxing in this accessible town. Our stay was fun and adventuresome, as we explored the many towns & beaches nearby. A wonderful way to relax in this well-appointed home. The owners really take great pride in the details of this charming home. They catered to our every need and wanted to be sure that nothing was overlooked for our pleasant stay. We would highly recommend it to anyone.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, romantic getaway, sightseeing, tourists without a car, age 55+, families with teenagers, girls getaway, families with young children.

San Pancho is great, but don't stay at Casa Sophia

Guest: Love Mexico (Colorado)
Date of Stay: 08/10/09 Review Submitted: 07/25/10

San Pancho is a great Mexian town. It has an outstanding sense of community, good restaurants, beautiful beach, and great people. However, there are a lot better places to stay than Casa Sophia. Casa Sophia is located on the outskirts of town on a very dusty and noisy street. We encountered three scorpions, two tarantulas, and hundreds of cockroaches and mosquitoes during our stay. I believe the sample pictures must have been taken when the house was new, because they make the house look a lot nicer than it really is. The pool gets dirty quickly because the jets have been sealed, prohibiting the water from circulating properly. There was also a stray cat that snuck into the house and sprayed our toiletries. In addition, at the end of our stay we were left with the unpleasant surprise that the owners took from our deposit household items that we never even saw. This house is a very poor value.

Owner response:This review is false and misleading. If you email me directly, I am happy to provide the other side of the story. But to address their specific allegations, here is my response. Casa de Sophia is located on the first street in town, and is a pleasant 10 minute walk through town to the beach. Being away from downtown keeps us away from the noise and street congestion of that area. Mexico is dusty; many of the streets are not paved. It is a fact of life in Mexico and many parts of the world. Our street is the same as any other street in San Pancho. Bugs are always a challenge in the tropics. Casa de Sophia is sprayed for bugs when guests are not in residence. A long-term tenant will prevent such spraying from taking place. The photos shown on my VRBO website are current and may only not show additional local art that I add to the house when I come down for my vacation every winter. The pool works fine, however pool filters do not work if dogs are allowed to swim in the pool. Leaving doors open at night when a tenant is not home may encourage a neighborhood cat into the house. What can I say about that? Long-term tenants are provided with and sign for a photographic inventory of furnishings. If items are missing or damaged, the value is deducted from any security deposit. This is standard procedure with all high quality rentals. In closing, I hope you will also read the other reviews that vacationing guests have posted and see that Casa de Sophia 'is' a lovely place to stay, that is well maintained (it is my vacation home too!), and beautifully decorated with local art and furnishings. If you have any questions at all, please contact me. Thanks.

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