Casa Rural Honda

The village itself is lovely, especially the viewpoints, castle, and walk by the river. As for staying here, I think it makes sense if you rent the whole house with three couples. Otherwise, it feels like sharing a rural guesthouse with strangers, and you mostly stay in your bedroom. There's only a living room as a shared space, with no kitchen, just a microwave and cupboard of basic utensils. The fireplace has no wood. We called to ask for some, but were told they couldn't bring it because we hadn't said we needed it, so we had to find our own. For stays longer than one night, you'll probably miss a hairdryer, more kitchen items, a sponge, and dish soap. You'll need to plan dinner ahead and buy food to reheat, since the village shops shut early and bars aren't open at night. They should make the listing clearer about what's provided.

We couldn't sleep until around midnight because a busload of older guests had a loud event at the hotel, even though quiet hours had started. The room was nice, but there was no proper heating, only a split unit that couldn't keep us warm, so we used a blanket from the wardrobe that was incredibly heavy. The shared hall and lounge were cold too, with just a small radiator. In the bathroom, the toilet seat was broken, the cistern barely worked, and the shower dispenser was empty. Don't waste your time or money here. There are better places. The owners also run the hotel, and if they can't look after a house, I doubt they can run a hotel.

The room was really cozy, spread over two levels, and the bathroom, bedroom, and main hall were all very clean. Staff were friendly and helpful during my one-night stay. I'd happily return. There's a Vespa on the road further up that's worth a photo, and the viewpoint has lovely town views.

The owner, Juan Carlos, and his wife were very welcoming and attentive. This was actually our second stay at the lovely country house, though we hadn't realized it when we booked. The first visit was about 12-15 years ago, when we came to the beautiful town of Ayna. The house is only a few meters from the main square, has mountain views, and feels very welcoming, with three bedrooms. If you're visiting this area, known as the "Switzerland of La Mancha," I'd definitely recommend staying here.