Casa del Comares

The house and surrounding area are very peaceful and relaxing. The house is very clean and spacious. There are multiple bedrooms and extra beds throughout the house. The barbeque and pool area are phenomenal for a group of friends to relax and enjoy the serentity of the mountains. We were a group of 7 (4 adults and 3 kids) and there was room for at least 5-8 more people. The town of Comares is worth the visit. We did the zipline with the kids and while it was quick it was the experience and views that are unforgettable. Everything in Comares is only a 5 min drive from the house. Walking could be an option if you are prepared to walk uphill. . a lot. We enjoyed our stay and will definitely repeat!

We’ve just returned from a six-day break in this stunning property and have talked about little else other than our plans to return as soon as possible.

Accessed off a country lane (blink and you’ll miss it) on the road to Comares, and situated in its own extensive grounds of mature shrubs and large rocks, the property looks small and quaint as you descend the concrete driveway, but appearances can be deceptive. Park in the covered bays at the end of the driveway or next to the ancient carob tree and you’ll be faced with the front door under a shaded vestibule.

The villa is full of pleasant surprises, turn immediately right at the end of the entrance hallway and descend the tiled steps (remember to duck) into the fully-equipped kitchen and dining room with plenty of seating around the large table and internal shutters to all of the windows, keeping the temperature pleasantly cool. The dining room has a door leading into one of the shady courtyards, dominated by an olive tree intertwined with a flowering shrub and covered with a pergola to support the young vine, already heaving with grapes, growing on one corner. This courtyard leads on to the pool area, more of which later.

Retrace your steps (ducking will become second nature after a while) from the kitchen and turn immediately left before you get to the entrance hallway and you will ascend past a window overlooking the driveway to a spacious family bathroom with a large window overlooking the olive tree in the courtyard and glimpses of the pool. Out of the bathroom and turn right to find two large double bedrooms, both with views over the pool and one with a view over the second courtyard.

Back down the stairs and turn left to the entrance hallway, turn right and open the door at the end to reveal the large master bedroom, with views over the driveway and gardens and a door leading into the second courtyard, then up the stairs to reveal the enormous en-suite bathroom with its own balcony overlooking the lush gardens to the front of the property.

Retracing your steps to the kitchen, you turn left into the living room with its comfortable sofas, well stocked with books, DVD’s and CD’s and an outlook and door into the first courtyard. Through the living room you will reveal a study and a further shower room and off to the right and down a couple of steps another huge double bedroom with access to the pool area.

Unlike many other villas we’ve stayed in, the design of the villa around a central courtyard keeps the interior cool and pleasant throughout the day and the aircon was only used sparingly in our bedroom despite the 30c heat of the days.

The pool area had a welcome shaded area containing a dining table and chairs and with plenty of space to escape the fiercest heat if necessary. Again, unlike many other villas, the chairs were comfortable and didn’t stick to our exposed skin. Just a small point, but one that made all the difference when eating in the evenings. There were plenty of robust, comfortable sunloungers supplied – some of the best we’ve ever used, with plenty of adjustments and support, very important when you are a rather large chap like myself.

The pool was sparkling clean and stayed clear and fresh throughout our stay with the unobtrusive filtration system switching on and off at regular intervals. Water temperature remained between 28c and 30c throughout the week, staying cool and refreshing without ever getting chilly and the pool appeared to have a new liner with nice grip on the steps ensuring that our limbs remained unbroken. Pool depth might be a surprise for non-swimmers and little folk as it is 5-6ft. Adult supervision of children is a must. As with all Spanish pools, wasps can be a pest as they get thirsty like the rest of us and tend to settle on the surface near the edges, leading to unpleasant encounters for the unwary, but are not usually aggressive if left to themselves.

To the side of the villa is a courtyard accessed through a lockable gate, which has another seating area with shade trees and a laundry room containing a sink, washing machine, table-tennis table (which can be rolled out and set up in the pool area) and various inflatables and pool toys.

The pool area has far-reaching and astonishing views over the hills and valley below, with Velez-Malaga and Torre del Mar, the hulking mountain of La Maroma, the Med and a small portion of Comares visible. Watching and listening to the activities in the valley below became something of a hobby for us, and the incredible variety of wildlife from birds of prey to Ibex, from swallows to lizards, all added to our enjoyment.

Would we recommend the villa? Yes - in a heartbeat. We can’t remember a time in any of our dozens of villa rentals when we have been so reluctant to leave a place, even down to making excuses to stay in rather than visit the local attractions or shop for food. The whole experience of renting through David and Jacqui at Vine Ridge Retreats was seamless and they remained affable, helpful and informative throughout the whole process. The house Manager, Clair, was pleasant, chatty and, most importantly, unobtrusive. So many of our rentals have been marred by over-enthusiastic managers just ‘popping in’ and spoiling our relaxation. Clair was the perfect hostess – there if we needed her and absent if we didn’t.
It just remains to say a big ‘thank you’ to David, Jacqui and Clair for a memorable holiday. We’ll be back!