Andalusian villa, pool 4x8m, 2 double beds, beach 400M, close to restaurants

Thanks Emma, for your kind words about our Casa Silka. And thanks for the good communication between us that enabled me to optimize your stay. Hope to host you and your family again in Marbesa. Best, Silke and Paul

Upon arrival of the guests, unfortunately the gas-bottles proved to be empty. I guided the lady by phone to change the empty ones for available full ones, after which the problem was solved. The next morning again there was no hot water, due to improperly connecting the gas bottles. In a telephone call the guest stated that she has a burn-out and that she didn´t rent our house to solve problems. Assessing her state of mind, I didn´t persist longer in checking the system herself and contacted the heating mecanic (only for properly connecting the bottles!). That meant. however, that guests had to wait for 24 hours instead of solving the problem themselves within five minutes. Yes, the neighbours do have 1 dog. If alone in the garden, it only barks (guards the house) when pedestrians pass by. In november, those are few. Yes, in this community, known for it´s cleanliness and quietness, garbage is collected regularly. Yes, life continues and people might use a drill. Although these issues are beyond my control, I offered to stay for 4 more days for free, but guests already made-up their mind to leave and demanded a refund. Honestly, I think the ´problems´ were minor, could have been solved quickly, but due to her burn-out were magnified beyond proportions. To all people interested in renting Casa Silka: be sure to find an extremely quiet and clean neighbourhood, but where life continues. And if you do have a burn-out, please, don´t book!

We´re happy that you and your family have enjoyed your stay in Casa Silka. We´d be happy to welcome you again in the future.

Dear Mr and Mrs Adams, What a pity, and actually, what a shock as well. Such a negative and grim response after having stayed in our holiday house is new to us. It always is our aim that every guest feels well while staying in Casa Silka, simply because we care to be good hosts and we are well aware of the value of mouth-to-mouth propaganda. How could this go so wrong? Well, perhaps Mr Adams gives the answer to this question in his very first line: he and his wife had high hopes and expectations. Obviously too high for what they found upon arrival? One would assume that the expectations would be based on what´s offered on the VRBO-platform. In Casa Silka´s particular case that´s pictures of every single (bed)room, living-room, dining room, kitchen, bathroom and garden. And in case of the garden there are pictures of what it looked like before the construction of the pool, and after, with bare sand visible instead of a green lawn. Logically, the year of construction (2022) is mentioned as well. The lawn now is recovering, but that doesn´t happen overnight. The accompanying tekst on the VRBO-platform makes clear that Casa Silka is a 1971 construction with renovated kitchen and bathroom and recently installed central heating system. That´s what is offered, that´s what was rented. On top of that all our guests receive a document with additional information about all kinds of things that might come in useful while living in our house. Mr Adams confirmed receiving this document: ´thank you for your email and information therein. we shall take time later to look in more detail.´ Whether he actually did so or not, I don´t know. The fact that he didn´t manage to operate the electronic lock correctly and failed to enter the house initially might have defined the first impression, and following ones. I am glad I could help-out Mr and Mrs Adams within minutes, and inquired the day after arrival if all was well. Unfortunately, this inquiry remained unanswered, ….. until Mr Adams published his collected criticism. I have to take him on his words, since I haven´t received any pictures to proof what he describes. On the other hand, I do know for a fact that we´ve got a very reliable and thorough cleaning lady, that cleans and airs the house and puts fresh bedding on the mattresses before guests arrive. I do know for a fact as well that any piece of glass I find in the garden will be put in the dustbin since my children and grandchildren (and many guests and their children) might cut themselves. That unfortunately does not exclude that a mirror might break. I´ll pay attention to removing any sharp pieces (while there in May to construct a pathway from gate to terrace). All in all, I am of the opinion that there is ample information, graphic and pictures, to base realistic expectations on. The rental price is another such indication. Casa Silka is not a top-notch design villa with the finesse Mr and Mrs Adams seem to feel more comfortable in. There are some in the immediate vicinity, but these are priced 4 to 5 times as high. I am sorry that Mr and Mrs Adams are not satisfied and would have prefered they communicated about this during their stay. Unfortunately, they chose otherwise. Best regards, Paul Kolken 20 April 2023 Addition 21 April 2023: In a phone call from VRBO I was informed that Mr Adams had contacted VRBO with the request (for reasons unknown to me) to remove my above text. VRBO responded to Mr Adams that he should have contacted the owner (me) during his visit instead of deciding not to communicate and just collect criticism and publish it afterwards. I contacted Mr Adams, stressed again that I am sorry that he and his wife did not enjoy their holiday and apologized for the part I played in that. Furthermore I´ve suggested Mr Adams to both delete our contributions, an offer he did not accept.

Wir freuen uns sehr dass unsere Anstrengungen um Casa Silka zu hegen und pflegen sich offensichtlich lohnen. Schön dass auch Sie Ihren Aufenthalt genossen haben. Vielleicht sehen wir Sie im Zukunft wieder? Sie wären herzlich willkommen.

Gracias! Intentamos siempre hacer todo que es necesario para dar nuestro inquillinos una experiencia perfecto.

Herzlichen Dank für Ihren positive Kommentare. Ja, wir strengen uns sehr an es unsere Gäste angenehm zu machen. Leider haben wir kein Einfluss auf das Wetter vor Ort, und leider haben Sie einen sehr regenreichen Winter getroffen. Das Haus ist trocken, muss aber wegen höhe Luftfeuchtigkeit sehr regelmässig gelüftet werden. Dies hätte Muffigkeit oder sogar Feuchtigkeit vorgebeugt, so wie viele Wintergäste schon erfahren haben. Hat mit der niedrigen Grundwasserpegel vor Ort nichts zu tun.

Das Freitag uns sehr. Vielleicht dürfen Wir im Zukunft noch mal Gastgeber sein? Ihr seid herzlich willkommen.

Hasta la proxima! Muchas gracias por pasar tus vacaciones en Casa Silka.

Hasta la proxima. Gracias por pasar tus vacaciones en Casa Silka.

Wir freuen uns dass Sie Ihren Aufenthalt so sehr genossen haben dass auch Sie gerne wieder kommen. Auch dann werden wir uns anstrengen Ihren Verbleib unvergesslich zu machen.

Muchas gracias por eligir Casa Silka para pasar tus vacaciones. Hasta la proxima?

Wir freuen uns dass ihr einen schönen Zeit in unsere Casa gehabt habt und unsere Arbeit der letzten Jahre (Küche, Bad, Pool, WLAN) sowie unsere Erreichbarkeit so lobt. Wir werden weiter daran arbeiten damit auch zukünftige Gäste so zufrieden sein werden.

Wir freuen uns das unsere Gäste ein schöner Urlaub in Casa Silka gehabt haben und unsere Anstrengungen es immer wieder zu verbessern und verschönern zu schätzen wissen.

Es freut uns dass Sie Ihren Aufenthalt in Casa Silka genossen haben. Bis das nächste Mal? Liebe Grüsse, Silke und Paul

Schön euch einmal wieder als Gäste gehabt zu haben. Bis das nächste Mal. Immer wieder. Liebe Grüsse, Silke und Paul