El Sueno

The pool was a bright spot during our July stay at the El Sueño, Alcornoque villa, though it’s shared with the other villas, so it isn’t private. We were a family of five, two adults and three children. The villa has plenty of space, but the old, worn furniture left the interior feeling average, around a 7 out of 10. The lack of air conditioning was the hardest part in the Andalusian heat. I hadn’t noticed that in the description when booking. We slept with the windows open and woke early to roosters, barking dogs, and sometimes gunshots in the distance. The grounds also looked neglected. Photos show lush greenery, but near our villa the grass was dry or gone, some trees were dead and still standing, and wooden fences and structures were broken or decaying. It seemed like it had once been lovely, but isn’t being maintained well now. Getting there wasn’t easy either. The last 3 km are rural roads, including about 1 km of very dusty gravel, and our car was constantly covered in dust. There’s potential here, and the pool is a highlight, but the grounds, the missing air conditioning, and the gap between the photos and what we found made the stay disappointing. Better upkeep and clearer information could make it much more enjoyable.