Location: Centro Historico, San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Central Mexico, Mexico (1-1/2 Hrs. To Leon Airport; 3-1/2 Hrs. North of Mexico City)
Accommodations: House, 3 Bedrooms, 3.5 Baths (Sleeps 6)
San Miguel de Allende, like all colonial Mexican towns, has a plaza in its heart... Here, it is called the Jardin (garden), and like a heart, all the people of the town flow through it at least once a day to revitalize themselves, to sit on the benches in the shade of the trees, to admire the Parroquia Church with its wheeling pigeons, to while away an hour amidst the flowers, to meet and greet friends. They will move over, with a smile, to share the bench with you.
Casa Reloj is just a half-block from the Jardin. It is an authentic colonial, in-town villa, with flag-stoned patios as well as enchanting view-terraces on the upper levels. Casa Reloj has classic antique furniture as well as modern comfortable over-stuffed couches, antique lighting fixtures and paintings in period, thick-walled rooms with high-beamed ceilings; it is lighted with original beveled-glass windows and French doors; the kitchen and baths are high-lighted by Mexican tile.
Owned by the same family for over 70 years, they are now sharing their treasured home for the first time with discriminating guests. The present generation of owners have recently up-dated and improved all the infrastructure (plumbing, electrical, etc.), replaced the beds, the major kitchen appliances (a new gas cook-top, wall oven, washer/drayer, and refrigerator/freezer), and refinished and refurbished the furnishings inside and out!
You enter Casa Reloj and immediately step into the past, with the imposing front entry hall and view of the fountain (ornamental now, but in the 18th century, it provided the only water for the house) and the entry patio. On your right is a half-bath for guests. From the patio, with its leather-covered chairs under the "portales", two sets of doors on the left lead to the formal high-ceiling living room, with two comfortable couches framing the fireplace. There is the TV/VCR and internet connection (and free calls to US and Canada). At the end of the room, another antique-furnished area provides seating, under old maps of Mexico. The room is heated by a new gas heater.
At the far end of the entrance patio, graceful French doors lead to the formal dining room, with a grand table seating 8 to 10 comfortably and the dishes to go with it. At one end is a wood-burning fireplace and the other end is the door to the kitchen. Colorful tile counters and skylights lend an old-world look, while new floor and appliances offer up-to-date functionality. There is a table and chairs for informal eating in the kitchen, while a door to the rear patio leads an outside table and chairs for al fresco luncheons. Enjoy a second fountain in the ivy-covered wall.
Off the rear patio is the spacious master bedroom/sitting room with queen bed, fireplace (and separate gas heater), ample closets and a full en suite bathroom with tub and shower. At the rear of the rear patio is a flight of stairs, leading to the second and third bedrooms. As you mount the stairs, you come first to a newly-tiled bathroom with shower, and then a few steps up, you come to the "third" bedroom, which has two individual beds. The "second" bedroom is at the top of the stairs, and has a double bed (and new gas heater) plus an en-suite full bathroom (tub and shower), and outside door onto a flower-decked terrace with umbrella table and chairs. Mounting a short flight of stairs from this terrace, there is a deck with lounge chairs to enjoy the view of church spires, roof-tops and the blue, blue sky.
Top to bottom, you'll enjoy your stay is Casa Reloj... It's a rare opportunity to savor the best of San Miguel's rich history and hospitality, arts & crafts shopping and restaurant-going in an ideal location.
The maid comes Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings, and a gardener waters the numerous plants. There is an excellent manager, Leonor Torre, who speaks English and will answer repair calls for you.
San Miguel de Allende is located in the Central Mexico Plateau and enjoys beautiful year-round, spring-like weather. The city is filled with museums, galleries, restaurants, art schools, and language schools. Every season has its fiestas, concerts, and local festivities. There is also a library with 25,000 books in English as well as a computer center. Outside of town are several hot spring spas. Day trips to surrounding historic sites are run by several groups.
Come and enjoy a truly different vacation, with lectures, concerts, music or art lessons, language classes, gourmet dining, art and craft galleries and outstanding weather. Winters can be bracing invigorating (30 - 40 degrees at night during December and January, 55- 70 degrees during the day)... Summertime temperatures rarely get over 85, and the frequent brief showers bring nightime temperatures to a cool 60 degrees.
Vacation Rental Features
- Amenities
- Washer: in laundry area under back stairs
- Dryer: in laundry area under back stairs
- Linens Provided
- Off Street Parking: in public parking lot immediately behind house (entry on other street).
- Gas Fireplace: also gas heaters in living room, master and 2nd bedrooms
- Wood Fireplace (2) : in master bedroom and dining room, fireplace wood extra charge
- Beds
- Queen Bed (2) : Queen bed in the ground floor master bedroom, with sitting room (with fireplace), en suite bathroom, with tub/shower. Queen bed in 2nd bedroom at top of stairs, with en suite bath, with tub/shower and entry to roof terrace
- Twin/Single Bed (2) : two individual beds, in the third bedroom, midway up the outside staircase, with non-contiguous bathroom, with shower.
- Entertainment
- Cable/Satellite TV (3) : in the living room, master bedroom, and 2nd bedroom at top of stairs
- VCR
- Stereo System
- Kitchen
- Full Kitchen: stove top, oven, refrigerator (all new within the last two years)
- Cooking Utensils Provided
- Refrigerator: new, in 2007
- Microwave
- Outdoor Features
- Deck/Patio (4) : new lounges, potted plants, table and chairs with new umbrella and cushions in roof terrace, with view of churches and roof-tops; 2 ground floor patios: 2 fountains, table/chairs next to kitchen, new equipale chairs on living room portal in front patio.
- View/Location
- Mountain View: and sunset views
- Monument View: 18th-century churches, roof-tops of downtown San Miguel
- Communications
- Telephone: local phone
- Free Long Distance: Vontage phone (VoIP) with free calls to US and Canada, in living room
- Broadband Internet: with Cable Modem, for your laptop, in living room
- Other Amenities
- 1/2 block from from the central Jardin, where there is free music and parades, especially on weekends, 20+ restaurants within one or 2 blocks of house, antique stores, galleries, musuems, library with 30,000 English and 30,000 Spanish books and lectures, live plays, music, Spanish-language schools, art and crafts schools, all within walking distance
- Suitability
- No Pets Allowed
- Not Suitable for Children: hazardous stairways and roof-tops with low walls
- Minimum Age Limit for Renters: 10 years old or older
- Smoking Not Allowed: except in the patios and terraces
- Activities (on site and nearby)
- Golf
- Tennis
- Shopping
- Sightseeing
- Restaurants
- Swimming
- Biking
- Mountain Biking
- Wildlife Viewing
- Hiking
- Fitness Center/Gym
- Antiquing
- Cinemas/Movie Theaters
- Live Theatre
- Museums
- Horseback Riding
- Hot Air Ballooning
- Other Activities
- Gallery-hopping, World-famous art, crafts & language schools 10 min. walk from home, fitness center a 15 minute walk away, Parque Juarez for strolling, 90+ restaurants (Chinese, Italian, French, Argentinian, Vegetarian, gourmet Mexican, American), Large bilingual library, art movies, Something for everyone
Rate Details (In US Dollars)
$1250/week, $2000/2 weeks, $3750/month
Holidays: (Christmas, New Years, Week before Easter, 4th of July, Thanksgiving)
$1650/holiday week
Maid and gardener service provided, maid does NOT cook.
All utilities included up to $50/wk or $150 a mo (except land phone).
$350 phone and damage deposit also required, refundable less charges
Upon receipt of final phone bill.
No pets, please. Children over 10 preferred.Smoking only outside in patios, please
Note: Until confirmed, rates are subject to change without notice.
Owner's Profile
Year Purchased: 1945
Property Photos
- Casa Reloj: baronial dining room - San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato - Vacation Home in Mexico
- Front entrance patio and fountain, dining room beyond French doors - San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato - Vacation Home in Mexico
- Casa Reloj: Comfortable couches around fireplace in living room - San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato - Vacation Home in Mexico
- Casa Reloj: outdoor table and chairs in rear patio, adjoining kitchen
- Casa Reloj: Kitchen with 18th century ambiance, but 21st century convenience
- Casa Reloj: Antique furnishings in a living room corner
- Casa Reloj:Front entry hall (with guest bath) gives out onto the front patio
- Casa Reloj: Master Bedroom sitting area and wood-burning fireplace
- Master Bedroom, QUEEN BED (adjoining bathroom, with tub and shower)
- Second bedroom. QUEEN BED (with adjoining bathroom, with tub and shower)
- Casa Reloj: Umbrella table and chairs, off second bedroom upstairs
- Casa Reloj: Fabulous View from upper terrace
- Casa Reloj, third bedroom (with bathroom with shower four steps down stairs)
- Street view hides wondrous C.Reloj colonial interior(quiet,no buses or parking)
- Casa Reloj, street scene from front door, looking toward the central Jardin
- Portal outside living room; French doors to dining room
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Vacation Rentals by Owner Listing #2622
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Date last modified - November 24, 2009
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Doug Huffines , San Francisco, CA