Holiday reviews of Casita La Loma

26th August 2009 by hgfng (STAYED IN AUGUST 2009)

“Well, having just returned from the best holiday of our lives, we thought we’d better be kind and share our secret – especially safe in the knowledge that we have already booked our slot for next year!

Cortijo La Loma has the most wonderful view which is literally jaw-dropping the first time that you see it, and we struggled to drag our eyes from it for the entire holiday because it changes so much during the day and night. We are missing that view even more than the hot weather.
We took our three primary school aged boys. They proclaimed the holiday “Cool – the best ever” and the pool to be “Brilliant”. This was evident from the effort we had to drag them away from it to come exploring the local area. Once dressed they also loved our daily visit to one of the lovely little local towns, and enjoyed sampling Tapas with Limonada, we loved the food too, for its authenticity and great prices. I became addicted to ice-cold Tinto de Verano and George was quite partial to the cold beer(s).

The casita itself was perfect for the 5 of us, the well-equipped kitchen catered for all our needs and we all enjoyed dipping into the selection of books and dvd’s available. The bedrooms and bathrooms are luxurious with loads of storage space and the whole place stayed wonderfully cool so long as you do as the natives do, and close the shutters on the sunny-side.

But the thing that sets this place apart is the generosity and assistance of Gaynor and Martin. Nothing is too much trouble for them, you feel as though you have the privacy of your own villa but by strolling along the terrace you can avail of the fabulous service that you would get from the best hotel. Some examples were the warm welcome we received even though we were early and Gaynor and Martin were still preparing La Loma, a swimming certificate for our youngest son when he learnt to swim without armbands(!) in the pool, maps and the benefit of experience for day trips we made and last but not least helping to make our last evening special by turning on the pool floodlights – the boys were so excited to swim by moonlight.

All in all this was a perfect holiday and chance to get away from it all, the perfect antidote to the hurly burly of every day routines.”

24th August 2009 by newtonA (STAYED IN SEPTEMBER 2008)

“We stayed at La Loma Sept/Oct 2008 and had a splendid relaxing holiday soaking up the fanatastic views and suroundings in a fabulous setting,
The accomodation was excellent and was maintained to a very high standard.
To open your shutters each morning and be faced with the sun rising over wonderful views, was fantastic. So much so that we did not venture too far, usually to the pool for a different perspective on the view!!
All of this was enhanced by our hosts Martin and Gaynor who have restored this farmhouse with great thought and taste.
They made us feel extremely welcome and relaxed, they stocked our larder before we arrived and continued to discreetly look after us throughout our stay. The information they gave us ensured we ate and drank at some great local restaurants and bars they also ensured we knew where to buy lovely food for our barbeque. We had plans to visit Granada, Cordoba, Malaga etc all within reach of La Loma but I am afraid we went native!! and stayed very local. (wonderful)
The main aim of our holiday was to relax and do what we wanted to do, in our own time, in lovely surroundings and I can honestly say we achieved that, right now we are looking at dates to book a return trip this year!”

10th August 2009 by OddyonTour (STAYED IN MAY 2009)

“The third year our party has visited Martin and Gaynor at La Loma and it just gets better.
Faultless accommodation, Service and beautiful surroundings.
We were there primarily for the fishing in the lake which La Loma overlooks.
Just a short drive down and you will find some of the best fishing you could find anywhere.
There is also a good and varied assortment of bars restaurants and shops in the local towns and villages”

5th August 2009 by RodDammi (STAYED IN JULY 2009)

“We came, we saw and we will definitely visit again!

This was our 2nd visit at Martin and Gaynor's holiday casitas. This time we stayed in the larger of the two stand alone casitas with breath-taking views over Lake Iznajar. As usual, Martin and Gaynor made us feel right at home from the beginning. They must be the best hosts in the world… discreet and practically invisible when we were having a good time, they seemed to magically appear every time we had a question; whether we needed a map of the area or simply wanted to chat about the Spanish way of life.

The casita is spacious and beautifully furnished and remained amazingly cool during the day and warm at night. The casita is situated on a hill top surrounded by endless olive groves and almond trees. The area is beautiful and peaceful… we only saw 1 or 2 cars a day on the winding hill roads and were delighted to see the multitude of birds and rabbits foraging among the olive trees. The surrounding countryside offers a variety of pastimes; from easy roadside walks to full-on scrambling up some steep hills.

Our days were spent enjoying the sunshine in the private infinity pool or driving to the many bustling towns within easy reach by car. We visited Rute village and were amazed at the quality and range of the seafood available in the local shops. The casita included a BBQ and we just could not help but use it every evening while enjoying the last rays of the setting sun.

Day trips from the property included visits to Seville (great architecture and nice restaurants) and Alhambra Castle in Granada. If you are after a private, secluded holiday in a beautiful, hilly setting among the olive groves with access to picturesque towns and delightful restaurants, I can definitely recommend Laloma. To guarantee and perfect holiday, just make sure you bring plenty of sun tan lotion and a swim suit!”

3rd August 2009 by jim&mandy (STAYED IN JULY 2009)

“We stayed here last summer with an 8mth old, & returned this year with 8mth & 20mth old, and as last year Gaynor & Martin were very welcoming, always there if you needed anything, both properties were well maintained and immacultely clean, Everything we needed for little ones, cots, highchairs, stairgate (felt babies were safe at all times)although you share the pool with the other property both years we had plenty of time in the pool alone, very private beautiful surroundings, not really into the beach holiday, and screaming children so chilled in the day and visited many places during late afternoon early evenings, popped into Iznajar Bar Verde again this year as excellent food and service... this place really has it all and we are certain to return next year .well done to you both for what you have acheived here is a little piece of heaven on earth.”

3rd August 2009 by Whinnie (STAYED IN APRIL 2009)

“Firstly I would like to start this review by saying Martin and Gaynor, the owners, are the nicest people you could wish to meet, always friendly and happy and couldn’t do enough for you. This was how our holiday started with a very warm welcome and was served tea and cake on arrival and throughout our stay we felt like we were staying with friends. They are never intrusive but are always there with a friendly smile.

Now onto La Loma, well words can’t describe how beautiful both the Casitas are, we stayed in the smaller of the two Casitas as this was more than adequate for two people, but we did have a look around the two bedroom Casita with the possibility of staying again with friends or family and both were furnished to a very high standard and the bed was that comfortable that we struggled getting up of a morning.

The area is stunning and the views take your breath away, if you want a relaxing, unwinding holiday with lovely accommodation, a view to die for and lots of villages to visit within a short drive away then this is the place for you. Very private and secluded with no noise other than the birds and the bees.

The pool was very well placed to enjoy the views and we did brave going in towards the end of our holiday as the temperatures had really warmed up by then.

La Loma is an absolute credit to Martin and Gaynor and with their friendly and attentive manner it makes for the perfect retreat, we will definitely be returning and wishing we were still there now.

Thanks for a great holiday.”

1st August 2009 by KenKaren (STAYED IN APRIL 2009)

“What a fantastic place to discover - all the reviews just confirm how we feel.
Gaynor and Martin met us as we stopped the car, even though we arrived late at night with a beautiful warm welcome - glass of wine and cake - marvelous !!!
When we woke up and discovered the amazing views from La Loma we were completely taken aback - a beautiful panorama across the lake to the mountains' lay before us. The location is just fantastic - a peaceful, calm and very relaxing environment. We ate out in a few of the local restaurants and both the people and food were great.
All in all we cannot wait to go back sometime soon and enjoy more of the same ....”

31st July 2009 by Jeanne, PA,USA (STAYED IN JUNE 2009)

“We were looking for an "off the beaten path" place in Andalucia to spend the final week of our three week sight seeing vacation in Spain with our daughter who had spent her spring semester there. We knew we would be overwhelmed and exhausted after two weeks of driving around Spain touring walled cities, museums, parks, castles, cathedrals, monasteries and Roman ruins. (Yes, Spain was AWESOME!) We also wanted to continue exploring in Andalucia, specifically Granada, Cordoba and Seville, but thought it would be nice to stay in one place rather than moving in and out of hotels.

We knew we had made the right choice when we arrived at La Loma Saturday evening, weary from our day at the Alhambra. Martin and Gaynor made us feel like long lost family coming home, offering us beverages and snacks, as well as basic provisions, such as wine, milk, juice, eggs, bread, and bacon, already stocked in the kitchen. (This was indeed fortunate, since grocery stores were not open on Sunday.) The kitchen was well equipped with all the basic necessities, and the accommodations were lovely, very clean, comfortable, and tastefully decorated. The setting was unbelievably beautiful, surrounded by olive tree dotted mountains, with stunning views of the aqua Lago Iznajar below. When we weren't away sight seeing on day trips, we spent most of our time outdoors, taking walks, lounging around the pool or on the terrace, gazing out in awe, listening for the cuckoo birds, and admiring the gorgeous flower gardens all around the cortijo.

Martin and Gaynor were always available and more than happy to answer and/or research our questions, whether they be related to driving directions, train schedules, sightseeing, local birds and birdcalls, or how to operate the unfamiliar coffeepot! La Loma was a good central location for sight seeing in the south of Spain, even though the long and winding road does take some getting used to. However, once you arrive at this hilltop paradise, don't be surprised if you have no desire to go anywhere else!”

29th July 2009 by Ray Marbella (STAYED IN MAY 2009)

“This was our second visit to La Loma and even better than the first. Our only regret was that we only booked two days, it was not long enough. The cottage is extremely comfortable, very spacious living accommodation, well equipped kitchen and big terrace with fantastic views over the lake and mountains. We did not move from there, just thoroughly enjoyed relaxing round the pool, reading, eating, drinking and watching the sunset. Perfect! It was lovely to see Gaynor and Martin again, who, as before, were excellent hosts, very unobtrusive but nevertheless very attentive. The welcome pack is very comprehensive, the cottage is immaculately clean and well maintained.
We definitely want to go back!”