I can't say enough how incredibly happy we were with out stay at Villa Castilla. We were a group of two families, 4 adults and 5 children ages 9 - 3. Daniella, the host, was very communicative. She called us a month before our departure to answer any questions and replied to all texts & e-mails There was a ton of room for everyone; we probably could have had another family with us. The villa surrounds the pool area, making it the center living space of the home. The two biggest bedrooms each have their own bathroom and open to the pool area. The living area also opens to the pool and courtyard. Our goal was to get the kids outside in the sun; the layout did this perfectly. Also, we took time to hike (all hills) the neighborhood and look at the architecture of the surrounding homes - I recommend doing this if you like a workout. One thing we noticed is how Villa Castilla had one of the largest yards that was flat and fenced, making it safe for children. The other homes are built into the hillside on a slope and most have infinity pools; beautiful but not ideal for little kids.
Cezar, the cook, is amazing. We wanted to take him home. Let me tell you, he cooked INCREDIBLE meals, including snacks mid-day for the adults and kids. He really wanted to please us, so he constantly was asking what we wanted for dinner and snacks. We finally told him to pick his favorite and, boy, were we glad we did. He even catered to our allergies by cooking gluten free. His food and margaritas are amazing. He did all of our grocery shopping, laundry and he cleaned the villa for us. We felt so spoiled. He was kind, respectful and anxious to take care of all of our needs. We were honored to thank him with a good tip upon our departure.
The photos of the outdoors on VRBO do not do the view justice. The whole property faces the Pacific Ocean and we had the most stunning sunsets; I'm not sure a photo can do it justice. Also, do make sure to spend some time at the beach across the highway from the neighborhood; it is stunning. Our kids found the most beautiful shells and had a great time making sandcastles.
One thing to note, supplies are minimal, we went out and bought floaties for the pool. We brought our own life jackets for the kids. Toiletries were a bar of soap and Head & Shoulders. We were totally fine with minimal, but it's something to note if you prefer extras. Daniella, Cezar and the villa were amazing. We can't wait to go back.