We recently had a fantastic 2-week stay at Las Columnas...as many other reviewers have mentioned the pictures here understate this amazing property - it looks even better in person. We really enjoyed lounging by the pool, having a glass of wine on the patio late in the evening, and just taking in the scenery and enjoying the serenity as a family. The house is spacious, a/c works great, beds are comfortable, and just a lot of living spaces to spread out. They recently upgraded some appliances in the kitchen, and do a great job keeping the property clean and well maintained inside and out.
The town of Mijas is absolutely lovely, and you are within range of some great tapas and dinner places with a 10-min walk. Now the hill from the villa is rather steep, so keep it in mind based on the ability and age of your group - we would often walk into town which is easy, and then if not up for the walk back up the hill just grab a taxi for only 5-euro (there are always multiple taxis parked in the town center). The beaches are about a 15-minute drive and there are quite a few to choose from, but it is hard to pull yourself away from the pool! If you want to see Southern Spain, it is a great jumping off point as Granada, Seville, etc are all possible as day trips from this location.
The owner (Nell) and the villa manager (Sara) were fantastic throughout the trip. Sara would text regularly to see if we needed anything at all, and any questions we had were answered promptly. They provide a great guide to the area, including excellent dining recommendations and activities.
One minor caution I would point out is that the internet service in Southern Spain can be hit or miss at times (slow speeds), but the cellular connection is great, so bringing an LTE hotspot is an option worth considering if you need guaranteed connectivity.
We would absolutely stay at Las Columnas again, and will definitely book if our travels bring us back to this area! (I hope it is soon...) Thanks for everything Nell!