Villa Fleury

Even with Málaga, the Alcazaba, the cathedral, Gibralfaro Castle, Ronda, and the Caminito del Rey nearby, we were just as happy spending an evening at the villa. We explored Andalucía during the day and came back to unwind, with incredible views over Málaga, especially after dark when the city lights came on. The owner greeted us, explained how everything worked, and checked in when needed without getting in the way. There was plenty of room for our group of friends, and the place was clean and very well equipped: several bedrooms, a fully stocked kitchen, BBQ area, lovely pool, basketball court, table tennis, and even bikes. The garden was kept in good shape by a gardener who came twice a week. He was respectful, and we never felt uncomfortable. There was space to relax outside and enjoy the views. The location worked well, with three handy parking spaces and mountain, sea, and city views. It was a quiet area, with neighbors a comfortable distance away. Alhaurín de la Torre itself was charming, with artistic roundabouts, a few shops and restaurants, and delicious morning churros. We had a fantastic stay. The villa can be the destination on its own or a good base for day trips, and I’d happily come back if I get the chance.

After three years of loving our visits and recommending the villa, we feel completely betrayed by how this stay ended. On the night before our last, the vendors told us to leave because of a double booking and move to another villa supposedly five minutes away. It took half an hour to reach it. We accepted the situation and went along with it, since we’d enjoyed the previous years and understood mistakes can happen. We were promised £200 to help cover the extra airport transfers and the plans we had to cancel. Despite several attempts to get in touch, that compensation still hasn’t been paid. We had championed the owners and the villa for years and would have continued doing so. Instead, we feel exploited and taken for fools. It’s a disgusting way to treat loyal customers.

On our third year at this villa, we were asked to leave a day early because the owners had double booked. They said they would pay us £200 for doing so, but they’ve gone back on that and stopped responding to our many attempts to reach them. Disgraceful. I’d tell people to avoid the property. Greed has no limits.

They double booked our stay and asked us to leave for the second-last night, even though we’d built a good friendship and rapport with the owners. We treated it as a mistake and helped them out of a very awkward situation. They promised compensation and stayed friendly at the time, but then blocked us and refused to pay anything. The way they’ve treated loyal supporters and friends is disrespectful and untrustworthy. I can’t recommend them to anyone, and I can’t imagine they’d treat first-time holidaymakers any better. Stay away. It’s horrible when something you thought you had suddenly disappears.