Wonderful retreat in Southern Spain

Guest: Alex B. (-)
Date of Stay: 10/08/11 Review Submitted: 01/29/12

... With the surrounding countryside ideal for outdoor adventure, El Cobijo works as a wonderful personal luxury spa for a group of 3 or 4 couples traveling together to explore Andalucía! With the surrounding countryside ideal for outdoor adventure, El Cobijo works as a wonderful personal luxury spa! The owner, Raynold, was there to greet us and made us feel instantly at home. We highly recommend El Cobijo! In fact, this was our second visit in two years and we know we would love to go again.

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Wonderful retreat in Southern Spain

Guest: Alex B. (-)
Date of Stay: 10/08/11 Review Submitted: 01/29/12

To start with our long list of the 'things we love about El Cobijo', we would start with sunset dinners on the west facing porch with views across the olive groves and mountains. The house itself is beautifully equipped and decorated -a great combination of fine furnishings with a very comfortable, rustic country charm- and there is ample opportunity for large gatherings and private retreat. Each of the suites is spacious with it's own closet and bath, nicely separated from the communal area ...

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Perfection

Guest: Susan from Connecticut, USA (-)
Date of Stay: 11/18/11 Review Submitted: 12/18/11

Review Submitted: December 4, 2011 Date of Stay: November 2011 We were 2 families of 4 in this beautiful home November 2011. El Cobijo is a beautifully constructed and decorated home (the pictures are nice but don't do it justice), with every possible need tended to: books, maps, amazing stocked kitchen, stone floors with radiant heat, large dining room, beautiful living room with cozy fireplace, free WIFI, 4 bedrooms with incredibly comfortable beds and each with it's own lovely bathroom, 2 Miele washer/driers, a basement with bunk beds and kids toys that were enjoyed by the four kids in our group, a million places for kids to play hide and seek in, Mari who cleaned every day and kept the place spotless, etc, etc. On top of that, Raynold is a wonderful host, on site while we were there but completely invisible (separate entry/quarters) readily available for advice, but unobtrusive. The kids were shocked/puzzled to find out a few days before we lift that Raynold was living there! We communicated mostly via text messages given expensive phone rates and that worked well for us. Raynold and Teresa also own a restaurant in Arriate (El Muelle de Arriate) which was not crowded the night we went (off season) but delicious food with excellent service. The area is gorgeous, close to Ronda, surrounded by olive trees, easy lovely drives to Granada, Sevilla (both <2hrs). Raynold also directed us to some really special places close by (Roman ruins and a cave with prehistoric drawings) which we really enjoyed. Made for a beautiful, restorative yet stimulating trip.

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El Cobijo, Ronda Spain

Guest: Virginia U.S. (Arlington, Virginia)
Date of Stay: 10/08/11 Review Submitted: 11/29/11

We three American couples cannot speak highly enough of El Cobijo, a villa near both Ronda and Arriate Spain. We visited in early October. What views from the front porch!!! The villa was in first-rate condition, and the grounds and pool were well maintained. The owner was extremely helpful knowledgeable about local attractions and eateries and helped us shape our stay...which was completely delightful. The owner also runs a nearby restaurant which is superb. I heartily recommend this villa to anyone who wants to experience the delights of Andalusia. In addition to the beautiful town of Ronda, we loved the smaller town Arriate, whose citizens were infallibly courteous and helpful. There are Roman ruins 15 minutes to the north, and our party also took advantage of a lovely horse-riding trip at a local stable along the high, serene ridges leading up to Ronda. We also drove 90 minutes to Jerez, and enjoyed the Royal Escuela equestrian exhibition, which takes place on Thursdays. At nights, the Arriate-Ronda band practices for the Seville festival, and you can hear their horns puffing near twilight. Want to go back to El Cobijo!!!

Owner response:Thank you Andrew for your very kind words! We love this area and like to share it with our family, friends and visitors. For those who can travel outside the summer vacation months (March-June and September-November) the area is truly delightful as base from where to undertake plenty of excursions and sightseeing trips.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing, adventure seekers, age 55+.

Simply Perfect

Guest: Stefan V. (Luxembourg)
Date of Stay: 07/23/11 Review Submitted: 08/16/11

The whole experience we had at El Cobijo was simply perfect. Everyone was extremely helpful and saw to everything to make our stay as enjoyable as possible. We even received baskets of their garden produce which we tried to do justice to in that large wonderful kitchen. The recommendations for dining and places to visit gave us confidence in venturing out in a new city so we enjoyed Spanish cuisine at its best. We also cannot say enough about the location, the magnificent views of olive trees, having nature as company all around and the wonderful accomodations. The house was grand but cozy with all the amenities of a finely equipped and lived-in home. All the comforts were provided in the proper areas of the home. The rooms were spacious and private, each with their own ensuite baths. There were various living areas all around to read (with ceiling-high bookshelves), relax, and listen to music with an incredible sound system. The pool and grill were also favored areas of play for our family. We felt very lucky to have found such a spectacular vacation spot. We hope to return at the next opportunity and we thank the owners for sharing their great property with us!

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing, pet owners, girls getaway, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.

Wonderful villa near Ronda

Guest: Kim (Houston, Texas)
Date of Stay: 06/18/11 Review Submitted: 07/15/11

Our family stayed at this property for a week in June 2011. It was fantastic in every way. The home is immaculate and beautifully built and furnished. Stylish and at the same time it's very homey and comfortable. We had everything we needed. Lots of US adapters and the wireless internet worked well. Best of all, and this is petty for some, awesome water pressure in the showers, even on the top floor. The master suite was very nice, as are all the bedrooms, making this an ideal house for a group of all couples. The grounds with lovely gardens and olive trees was just beautiful. We loved sitting on the porch in the evenings and soaking in all the wonderfulness. Raynold and Teresa did a great job when they built this house! The home is just a mile from the small village of Arriate and about 4 miles from Ronda. We spent some time in Ronda and also took day trips to other points of interest; Granada, Gibraltar and Tangier, Morocco. We hope to return again some day!

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing, adventure seekers, girls getaway, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.

El Cobijo, Arriate, Spain

Guest: Bill (Summit, NJ, USA)
Date of Stay: 10/09/10 Review Submitted: 10/23/10

If your travels bring you to southern Spain, don't miss the opportunity to stay at El Cobijo only a few minutes from Ronda. Host Raynold von Samson provides excellent customer service and a villa that is well maintained (daily maid service) with 4 bedrooms, all with king sized beds and modern bathrooms. A terrific kitchen with 2 dish washers provides space for entertaining. While the weather was a bit cool, the pool was maintained daily. 2 washing machines and dryers keep your clothes fresh and clean. Location, location! Many ot the White Towns are within easy driving distance. Fine dining, when not cooking at home, is within easy reach. We enjoyed a week of fine weather in early October which is not unusual in Spain.

Owner response:In mid October you can expect daytime highs to be in the 70s, while in the evening when the sun is gone and especially in the early morning hours, temps can be in the 40s only. This is also due to Ronda's elevation of about 2000 ft.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.

Simply Fantastic

Guest: WV Margaret (Hedgesville WV)
Date of Stay: 09/24/10 Review Submitted: 10/14/10

Our experience with the owner and the property was superb throughout. Our group of 8 adults gives this rental our highest recommendation. We especially enjoyed the terrace and the beautiful sunsets. The pool was inviting and refreshing. The house was very livable, comfortable and beautifully decorated - everything promised and more. Raynold responded promptly to our inquiries and was most helpful with his suggestions. We had a great meal prepared for us by his recommended chef. We also hired Raynold’s recommended driver with his Mercedes minibus to take us to Granada, another wonderful experience. Raynold is considering a temporary flag/marker at the end of his driveway that will help arriving renters identify his property. One of our group spoke fluent Spanish, a real plus. If you don’t speak Spanish, you should consider having a cell phone to call Raynold, who speaks perfect English, should you need his help. We have stayed in a good many rentals throughout the world. I must say this one is probably the best.

Owner response:Thank you Margaret for a great idea to place a visible and colorful flag at the driveway entrance on the day of a guest's arrival.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing, girls getaway, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.

Simply Fantastic

Guest: WV Margaret (Hedgesville WV)
Date of Stay: 09/24/10 Review Submitted: 10/14/10

Our experience with the owner and the property was superb throughout. Our group of 8 adults gives this rental our highest recommendation. We especially enjoyed the terrace and the beautiful sunsets. The pool was inviting and refreshing. The house was very livable, comfortable and beautifully decorated - everything promised and more. Raynold responded promptly to our inquiries and was most helpful with his suggestions. We had a great meal prepared for us by his recommended chef. We also hired Raynold’s recommended driver with his Mercedes minibus to take us to Granada, another wonderful experience. Raynold is considering a temporary flag/marker at the end of his driveway that will help arriving renters identify his property. One of our group spoke fluent Spanish, a real plus. If you don’t speak Spanish, you should consider having a cell phone to call Raynold, who speaks perfect English, should you need his help. We have stayed in a good many rentals throughout the world. I must say this one is probably the best.

Owner response:Thank you Margaret for a great idea to place a visible and colorful flag at the driveway entrance on the day of your arrival.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing, girls getaway, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.

A Fabulous Week

Guest: Deb (Chicago, Illinois, USA)
Date of Stay: 10/02/10 Review Submitted: 10/11/10

Our week long stay at El-Cobijo could easily have turned into two or three weeks. We were a group of 10 adults, and we used the house as a base from which to explore southern Spain. The property itself was clean, comfortable and attractive. We spent the evenings on the porch overlooking the lovely countryside. At the end of a day of touring, we took advantage of the pool and the chaise lounges. The kitchen was a gathering place in the mornings - dishes, glassware and silverware were all of high quality, and there was sufficient room for people to move around. We appreciated the fact that there were 2 dishwashers! One evening we used the services of Deborah, the visiting chef - she prepared an excellent dinner that featured several dishes of the region. The dining room table seated all 10 of us easily. Raynold and his caretakers, Marie and Salvador, are attentive and helpful. This is a lovely spot - we heartily recommend it and hope to return ourselves!

Owner response:Deborah will prepare you a meal on premises. She offers many delicious menu choices to select in advance and will do the necessary purchases (except beverages). She works together with our caretaker's wife who comes to help in the kitchen and with table service. Please inquire for Deborah's rates. The kitchen maid is paid separately for the evening.

Recommended for:Sightseeing, girls getaway, families with teenagers.