Fabulous 2 bed/ 2 bathroom apartment in Los Alcazares/Narejos. Case Azul is a lovely place and the owners have done a magnificent job to use this spacious apartment wisely, whilst providing all that you could need for a holiday in a very tastefully decorated and themed house (which can be seen from the online pictures). The apartment is roomy, bright, comfortable, uncluttered and clean whilst having everything that is required and looks out onto a nice communal pool which was fastidiously looked after daily, even in December!
My experience at booking the apt at fairly short notice was very easy. A couple of emails to and from Caroline followed up with a quick phone call to confirm everything was in place sorted the booking. The place is very clean and freshly decorated with lots of nice touches to make it stand out.
The fact it has 2 newly decorated bathrooms (1 en-suite) means that it also gives great flexibility and independence for 4 guests.The information books provided helped me to get off to a flyer as far as the location of local amenities were concerned and some local tips on restaurants etc. Speaking of which, it is perfectly placed for Supermarkets, outdoor markets, restaurants, bars etc, as well as an easy 7/8 min stroll to the wonderful beach/promenade. From there a nice walk towards the buzz of the more traditionally Spanish Central Alcazares town area is worth frequent visits for great tapas and atmosphere.
I was the out of season during the lead up to Christmas which was great for long strolls up and down the beach/promenade in 20+ degrees and 9/10hrs sunshine. However, as it's not just a tourist area, there was always plenty going on and enough places open. I would anticipate it gets a lot busier in July/August but the apartment has plenty of parking outside if you are hiring a car. It's also ideally located for trips up and down the coast via the AP7 which is reached within 5mins.
The weather was fantastic for my whole stay and the locals/expats I spoke with told me that, although it was @5 degrees warmer than normal, it still has the same amount of sunshine and daylight most years around this time which is a real benefit compared to the UK. I also did a bit of touring around the general area including the likes of La Manga and La Zenia, including the massive shopping mall there which is worth a visit.
I will most definitely look to book Casa Azul again and look forward to returning to the Mar Menor. John M.