The good news: this lovely villa is furnished to a high standard and generously equipped with every convenience an active family might need. It is moments from a splendid beach, though its pool (heated, for an additional price, in winter), the comfortable loungers and the beautifully kept garden (fresh lemons and pomelos, anyone?) tempt you not to stray too far. It’s somewhat isolated—the shops of central Marbella are a 10-Euro Uber away—but the nearby stores are more than adequate for daily supplies, and a variety of good restaurants, some of them beachside, can be found within walking distance. Almost constant sunshine during our three-week stay over Christmas and the New Year allowed us to enjoy the property’s open-plan design and outdoor comfort, and we were happy to pay a rental price that was obviously set at a premium for the holidays. However, the layout of the sleeping quarters was barely workable, particularly in terms of privacy, for our group of seven adults (including several seniors). It is far more suitable for families with children. While the upper floor is dominated by a large en-suite bedroom with balcony, the lower level features three small, cramped rooms (and two bathrooms) linked by a connecting corridor around two sides of the central courtyard. Occupants must pass through each other’s bedrooms or go outside across the courtyard to access the main part of the house. The courtyard itself is set up for outdoor barbecue dining, which would be delightful in summer, but during our time there the sun never reached the area and it was never warm enough to use (understandably enough). We also discovered that the preceding rainy season had left growths of mold in two of the lower bedrooms, apparently a common problem with houses in the region, and one that was quickly addressed by the extremely cooperative manager, Artem, and his maintenance staff. Overall, we would recommend this property as an attractive escape for families in the warmer months of the year.
