Finca Buenavista

I’ve never written a bad review before, but the way my friends and I were treated here warrants one. Carmen was the rudest and most aggressive owner or manager we’ve ever encountered. There was tension right from the start. Carmen scoffed when she saw us, then, while we were struggling with groceries and suitcases at the gate and up the hill, told us to “hurry up” from where she’d parked at the top. We were eight people and had booked and paid for four flats. Four of us arrived first, but Carmen let us check into only one flat, saying she needed everyone’s passport details before check-in. She wouldn’t give us access to one flat each. She also claimed she’d told the person who booked that all passport details were required in advance and that they’d said “no.” What we’d actually received was a message saying we could use a link to enter our details for express check-in. My friend was at the airport then, so that wasn’t possible. There was no message saying advance submission was mandatory. I’ve never had that requirement anywhere else I’ve stayed in Málaga or elsewhere in Spain. The rest of our group was due later that evening. We’d told Carmen they’d arrive between 8 and 9 p.m., but she threatened not to check them into their prepaid flats if they arrived after 11 p.m., saying “she has a life.” The last person came by taxi, which couldn’t find the entrance, and walked the final stretch. Carmen drove past her on the way to check the rest of us in, rolled down the window, said, “You’re [name], right? That way,” pointing up the hill, then drove off. My friend had to walk the remaining 10 minutes in the dark, and the roads aren’t lit at night. When Carmen finally checked in the rest of the group and gave us access to the other flats, she threatened to call the police if she found anyone there who hadn’t checked in. We’d provided all the details she’d requested. Other places in the area only required one passport per room, so her threat felt like pure intimidation. She also told us not to make any noise because there was a baby in another flat. It’s reasonable to say loud music and parties aren’t allowed, but guests shouldn’t be made to feel responsible for other guests. We only had normal conversations, and nobody complained to us. The next day, we got an automated message saying, “Hope you enjoy your stay 💜.” After that check-in, it just felt creepy. She didn’t tell us where to put the rubbish, so we had to work that out ourselves. The coffee machine in one flat was missing a part and didn’t work. The accommodation itself was okay, but more worn than it looked in the pictures. Thankfully, we’d only booked two nights and spent little time there apart from sleeping. We had no more problems because we’re not the type to cause trouble, but we were relieved to leave. While writing this, I noticed Carmen’s replies to earlier negative reviews blame the guests. For example, she wrote that she prefers being nice to “well-educated and civilised” people. Her behaviour says plenty about her own civility and education. It seems guests get treated very differently depending on her preconceptions of them.