The front of Casa de Alegria, showing two of the decks and the front garden.
Location: Balcones, San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Central Mexico, Mexico (In lower Los Balcones; 10-minute downhill walk to the Jardin) View Map
Accommodations: House, 3 Bedrooms, 3.5+ Baths (Sleeps 6)
Casa de Alegria (House of Joy) combines the best of colonial design with a modern sensibility: large rooms in sophisticated Mexican colors; tile floors, baths and kitchen; huge windows, skylights and an atrium, drenching the house in light; and fabulous, inspiring views from the front terrace, large roof-top patios, living areas and master suites.
Our fully-furnished, art- and plant-filled home is located in the lower Los Balcones area. It has spectacular 360-degree views, including 60-mile views of the nearby canyon, San Miguel and sunsets over the Guanajuato mountains.
From our home's quiet hillside location, it is an easy 7-10 minute walk downhill to town, the daily Mercado, and the Jardin - the main square and epicenter of life in San Miguel. A 10-minute walk in the other direction brings you to the Botanical Gardens for viewing native plants, birdwatching, strolling beside the lake, or jogging along its trails.
Our freshly-painted, 3,200-square-foot home comfortably accommodates six adults or family groups. The main level--which has recently been completely redecorated--encompasses an elegant dining room that seats eight, with a tall, curved, brick ceiling called a boveda; a separate sitting room with a high-efficiency non-vented fireplace and boveda ceiling; an adjacent freshly decorated living room that opens to a large covered terrace with great views of San Miguel and beyond.
Our kitchen renovation/expansion was completed in June, 2007. The new 11x19 kitchen includes a boveda ceiling; all-new high-end appliances; granite countertops with a travertine and terracotta tile backsplash; a pull-out panty; a bar/work area overlooking the atrium and sitting room; built-in hutch; purified water at the sink and all-new dishes and cookware. The main floor also has a charming, skylit half bath with talavera tiles.
Throughout the main level, light pours from numerous windows, skylights and an interior atrium with a spiral staircase leading to our large, two-part roof-top terrace/garden with a glass-topped dining table for six next to an entertainment center with a gas/charcoal BBQ plus a built-in refrigerator, as well as the sunning terrace with chaise lounges and a large umbrella. With their 360-degree views of town, the mountains and well beyond, the terraces are perfect for a margarita in the evening when thousands of birds fly in formation down the canyon.
Down the grand staircase from the first floor--topped with a sky-lit boveda-- are two large master suites (one with a king-size bed, the other with a queen) and 'la casita'. All of the bedrooms have been completely redecorated with wonderful delux fabrics, rugs, art and folk art. Each bedroom has a non-vented gas fireplace, so you will always stay warm.
Both very comfortable, light-filled suites overlook and have direct access through French doors to the lovely front garden it's private patio filled with jasmine and bouganvilla, combining privacy with pleasant views over the canyon and San Miguel. Each suite has a high-efficiency, non-vented gas fireplace next to a sitting area with a couch; comfortable beds with luxury linens and featherbeds; large, light-filled Talavera tiled baths with soaking tubs as well as large separate dressing areas with double sinks and capacious 'his & her's' closets. Both bedrooms have hand-carved armoires for the the TV's; the queen bedroom also has a hand-carved desk.
The separate, charmingly decorated casita down the hallway through glass doors has twin beds, a tiled bathroom with tub/shower, a high-efficiency fireplace, and a sitting area. The casita has its own spacious, sheltered patio with a large table and chairs, flowers and fruit trees--the perfect spot for kids, a couple seeking private moments, or to pick the limes for your Margaritas!
The upstairs sitting room and all bedrooms are equipped with cable TV, VCRs, and CD players, one of which includes an iPod dock. We provide FREE high speed, wireless Internet access and FREE, unlimited Vonage long distance calls to the US, Canada and amny other countries.
Casa de Alegria has two entries. You can come up the front steps through the lush front garden to the bedroom level. Or, park in the house's secure gated, covered parking area - which is next to a small, quiet neigborhood park - and enter directly onto the main living floor. On the lower level, there is also a laundry room with full-sized washer and dryer, a service 1/2 bath, plus a small open 'drying patio.'
Maid services three days per week (18 hours) and gardener services twice a week are included in your rental. Belen, our very sweet housekeeper, cleans, does your laundry and will cook your breakfast or 'comida' (mid-day meal) upon request. Though her repertoire is mainly limited to Mexican and Italian food, Belen is a very good cook.
If you are interested in renting Casa de Alegria, we will send you a very informative fact sheet on the house, getting to San Miguel, making arrangements for your stay, etc. We also employ an excellent property management company. They are very responsive and will deal quickly with any need you have or issue that may arise during your time at Casa de Alegria.
Note: Due to its high balconies and roof-top terraces, Casa de Alegria is not suitable for children under six.
Vacation Rental Features
- Amenities
- Washer: Large laundry room with large washer and dryer
- Dryer
- Linens Provided: Luxury linens plus down comforters, featherbeds and electric blankets
- Covered Parking: Gated, secure covered parking for one large or two small cars
- Off Street Parking: Additional parking on callejon behind the house
- Gas Fireplace (4) : All four fireplaces are high-efficiency, which will keep you very warm in the colder months and use minimal gas
- Beds
- King Bed: Large king bedroom suite with views, fireplace, sitting area and TV armoire plus large bath with two sinks and dressing area
- Queen Bed: Very large queen bedroom suite with views, fireplace, sitting area, entertainment center and desk plus large bath with two sinks and dressing area
- Twin/Single Bed (2) : Charming casita with two twin beds, sitting area, fireplace, bath and large closet
- Entertainment
- Cable/Satellite TV (4) : We have the premium US cable channels
- DVD
- CD Player (4)
- Stereo System
- Music Library: Also have CD player with an iPod doc
- Kitchen
- Full Kitchen: Brand new, 12x19' fully-equipped with kitchen with granite counter tops, boveda ceiling, bar/work area, built-in hutch, brand-new appliances including a six-burner gourmet gas stove and LG microwave/toaster; pull-out pantry; and purified water at the sink.
- Cooking Utensils Provided: This 'cook's kitchen' is very well-equipped for any kind of cooking with brand new appliances, cookware and specially-made Gorky dishes.
- Refrigerator (2) : Large refrigerator/freezer in kitchen plus a bar-sized refrigerator in the built-in entertainment/BBQ center on the rooftop terrace.
- Microwave: New LG high power microwave/toaster
- Outdoor Features
- Gas/Electric BBQ Grill: Brand new built-in gas or charcoal BBQ grill on rooftop terrace
- Charcoal BBQ Grill
- Deck/Patio (4) : Two large rooftop decks with spectacular 360-degree views of El Centro, the mountains, the lake and sunsets. The dining deck has a large glass-topped table with seating for six and a built-in entertainment center with BBQ grill and refrigerator. The other roof-top deck is perfect for sunning with chaise lounges. Large front garden plus intimate sheltered patio next to the casita.
- Balcony: Large balcony adjacent to the living and dining rooms; perfect for breakfast, lunch or drinks with great views over the garden below, town and the mountains.
- View/Location
- Lake View: Spectacular, panoramic views of downtown San Miguel, the canyon above San Miguel and the lake and mountains beyond. From just about everywhere in the house, there is a wonderful view.
- Mountain View: Panoramic mountain views
- Monument View: Beatiful panoramic views including downtown San Miguel with all of its church spires.
- Communications
- Telephone: Local telephone with answering machine with extensions in the bedrooms
- Free Long Distance: Vonage phone with an extension and answering machine with free calls to the US, Canada and many other countries
- WiFi (Wireless Internet): Free, high-speed 1GB wireless connection; you will need to bring your own laptop
- Other Amenities
- Maid/housekeeper who is a great cook three days a week (18 hours), gardener 2-3 times a week, four gas fireplaces (all are high efficiency), purified tap water in the kitchen, FREE 1 GB wireless high-speed Internet connection, FREE unlimited Vonage long distance, 4 cable TVs and stereo/CD players, iPod dock, fully equipped eat-in kitchen, purified tap water, pantry, large refrigerator, all cooking utensils, two master suites with large baths and dressing areas plus a separate, private casita, luxury linens, feather beds, high-efficiency gas fireplaces in the bedrooms suites and living areas, full-size washer & dryer in separate laundry room, covered secure parking, garden, decks terraces and patios, no smoking inside.
- Suitability
- Minimum Age Limit for Renters: Age six or above
- Smoking Not Allowed: Smoking outside of the house is fine.
- Activities (on site and nearby)
- Golf
- Tennis
- Shopping
- Sightseeing
- Restaurants
- Swimming
- Biking
- Mountain Biking
- Wildlife Viewing
- Hiking
- Fitness Center/Gym
- Health/Beauty Spa
- Antiquing
- Cinemas/Movie Theaters
- Live Theatre
- Museums
- Horseback Riding
- Hot Air Ballooning
- Other Activities
- Language Lessons, Art Lessons, Cooking Lessons, Art Galleries. Lectures, Readings, Shopping-- too much to do!
Rate Details (In US Dollars)
Spring 2010 Discount: May -15%; June -10% off regular rates
Regular rates: One week= $1100; 2 weeks= $1900; 3 weeks= $2500; One month= $3000
Longer-term rentals are negotiable. 5% SMA lodging taxes are additional.
A 50% deposit is required to confirm your reservation; the remainder
Plus a refundable $300 damage/utility deposit are due 45 days before the
first night of the rental. If the reservation is made less than 45 days
before the first night of the rental, full payment plus the deposit will
be needed to confirm your reservation.
Note: Until confirmed, rates are subject to change without notice.
Map & Owner's Profile
Fabulous Lower Balcones Home+Great Views- Spring 2010 Discount
Year Purchased: 2003
Why the Owner Chose Balcones
There are many magical places in Mexico, but San Miguel uniquely combines beauty, a perfect climate and an amazing variety of things to do--and opportunities for community invovlement--in what is a relatively small town. We first stayed at our home, Casa de Alegria, as a part of a house exchange. It had great 'bones,' but it needed love and a vision of what it could become. We have spent the last six years completely redoing the house. It is our pleasure to share the fruit of our labors with our renters, many of whom return to Casa de Alegria again and again because they love the house--and the spectacular views--as much as we do.
Owner's Map of Balcones
We have travelled throughout Mexico for over 30 years. We love the country, it's variety, it's complex and fascinating history and it's people. And, we feel priveledged to be a part of a vibrant, diverse community in San Miguel.
Property Photos
- The front of Casa de Alegria, showing two of the decks and the front garden. - San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Mexico Vacation Rental House
- One part of our terraces' 360-degree views of San Miguel & the mountains - San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Mexico Vacation Rental House
- The living room, with great light, views and access to the front terrrace. - San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Mexico Vacation Rental House
- Gorgeous new kitchen with boveda, granite, new appliances, bar + tons of light!
- Dining room for 8 with boveda, next to living room, kitchen & front terrace.
- The sitting room with fireplace, boveda & cable TV next to living room & atrium
- Front terrace off the dining & living rooms--a great place for lunch with views!
- The queen suite with views, fireplace, sitting area & very large master bath.
- The king suite with views, fireplace, sitting area & very large master bath.
- The cozy casita, with fireplace, twin beds, sitting area, tiled bath and patio.
- A view behind the house from our upper terrace w/ BBQ. frig & service bar
- The lower rooftop terrace, with beautiful views over San Miguel and the canyon.
- The front garden sitting area-perfect for quiet times-w/ doors from both suites
- The downstairs hallway/gallery, leading to the casita and the casita patio
- Private, quiet, sheltered casita patio filled with flowers and fruit trees
- Main entrance: grand stairway-right;kitchen-left; dining/salas straight ahead
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Vacation Rentals by Owner Listing #30108
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