Casa Rural El Xop

We stayed here in July 2024, and I’d been meaning to write this review. The place has a lot of potential, and the owners were helpful, but the problems we mentioned didn’t seem to lead to any action. I wouldn’t want to stay more than one night in its current condition, and even that depends on which mattress you get. A longer stay feels like poor value. I hope they invest in some upkeep, because it wouldn’t take an excessive amount to bring many things up to a decent standard. The pool is small, but it’s beside the barbecue and was where we spent most of our time. There was charcoal, some firewood, a paella ring and gas, so we could make fideuà. The pool and barbecue area needs more light, though. If you want dinner on the terrace, bring candles or expect to eat in the dark. The furniture on the little terrace above the pool is broken and unusable. Inside, the house is in serious disrepair, including things that should be inexpensive to fix. The front door key won’t lock properly. You have to slam the door when leaving and hope nobody gets in. The owner said a new lock wasn’t necessary because there are few people around and no burglaries, though a replacement cylinder costs 30 euros or less. The advertised games are in bad shape too. Around 80% of the foosball players are broken and patched with electrical tape, making the table almost useless. Board games are missing about half their pieces and cards. And the ping pong table mentioned in older reviews isn’t there. There’s a net and paddles from Decathlon, both in terrible condition, but the only surface available is a ceramic table, half the size of a ping pong table, with tiles peeling at one corner. The mattresses could fill a chapter of their own. They seem about 20 years old, they’re soft and hurt your back, and only two in the whole house are in acceptable shape for more than one night. My daughter’s mattress in the room with the terrace had broken springs sticking out underneath, something any guest can see. Foam mattresses are available from IKEA and online for under 70 euros, which would be enough for a rural house. Other basics need attention. The jacuzzi in the room with the terrace doesn’t work, perhaps because of poor maintenance and limescale. The fridge barely cools, so you have to pack it full and depend heavily on the freezer to keep drinks cold. The local information they send is out of date: it lists village shops that locals confirmed had been closed for months. There’s no butcher, so you have to go to Albaida. The house also needs better climate control. The pool is small, the glass and water spilling out of it don’t help, and there’s a lot of heat and damp inside. There’s even mold downstairs from the humidity under the pool. The house is large, but very old. The refrigerator is far too small for the amount of food needed for 17 to 20 people, and it struggles to cool. Some rooms smell strongly of damp, and guests should be told about that. The water comes out very hot and with strong pressure. It’s in a quiet, pleasant village next to the church, whose bells ring often and can be unpleasant. The house has several floors, and nearly all the rooms have their own bathroom, though some bathrooms are outside. But the kitchen is small for a house this size and lacks basics like glasses and cups. The living room is a jumble of sofas in different shapes and colors, mostly leather, and they’re not very comfortable. There’s just one small TV, so the group has to vote and go with the majority. The mattresses and bed frames are terrible, so don’t count on sleeping well, though the pillows are good.

The house matched the photos and had everything we needed. Supermarkets are only five minutes away, and Gandia is around 40 minutes from there. We could also reach the beaches at Alicante or Valencia in about an hour. The internet was a little unreliable, but we were on vacation and didn’t give it much thought. Thanks for everything!

We were very comfortable and would recommend the place. The pool is on the small side, and the cleaning could be better. Inside, the rooms are spacious and there are four bathrooms, though the stairs between the house’s floors are a bit steep. It’s a cozy house, and the kitchen has all kinds of utensils.

We were nine people and stayed for four days and three nights. The woman looking after us was fantastic, friendly, and quick to answer questions by phone. We had no issues with her. There’s plenty here to make a group stay easier: the house is cozy and set up for more than ten people, with a pool, barbecue, dishwasher, cleaning supplies, and air conditioning in some rooms. There are two terraces and hammocks for relaxing, plus ping pong and foosball to pass the time. It was an unforgettable getaway, and I’d absolutely recommend it for friends or family.