Casa Rural Penaquente

A lovely little B&B tucked into the forest, and so peaceful. Pistachio, the very friendly cat, was a bonus. Dinner is about a 10-minute drive away, so it’s not too remote, and there’s a microwave and kettle if you’d rather bring something back.

We took our dog and really enjoyed the huge garden. With the pool and all that lovely, quiet scenery, summer seems like the best time to stay here. The house itself is in a beautiful, peaceful spot, surrounded by nature with no noise at all. Inside, though, there was more furniture than we needed, leaving very little room for our suitcases and clothes. A small roof over the dining area would also make it easier to use in summer. Even with those things, it was a wonderful, completely tranquil stay.

The scenery is ideal, the beds are very comfortable, and the sheets are good quality. The place itself is magnificent, but I think a few things need attention. The house’s common area downstairs feels very old-fashioned and could use a small investment. Breakfast has no choice, and it’s all sweet, processed food. The suite bathtub is really uncomfortable to use: it’s in the attic, where you can barely stand, and there’s no curtain or screen, so taking a shower is a real chore. Hahaha. Also, keep in mind that it’s in a eucalyptus forest, quite remote, and difficult to reach.

The only things we enjoyed were the peaceful location, the garden and pool, and especially the affectionate cat who followed us everywhere. The room itself was fine, but it was 17 degrees inside and there was no heating, so we had to sleep in sweaters. There was no hot water either. When we called the owner, she said she didn’t know how to turn the dial. It was a disaster. We also found a glass sleeve and a toilet seat cover in the bathroom bin, left by previous guests.