El Rincón De Zaldierna

The garden was a mess, with belongings scattered around, and it wasn't private as advertised. Other guests and the owners used it too. There was also a glassed-in, covered space packed with old furniture, tennis rackets, and chairs, like a junk pile. The kitchen was the main reason I left early. Plates and glasses were dirty, pots still had food and oil on them, and the toaster, cooking utensils, and griddle were dirty, burnt, or chipped. The fridge was grimy, there was a hair in the coffee maker, the salt shaker had rusted through, and the glasses had fingerprints and other dirt. I left on Tuesday, August 1st, though I had paid through August 3rd. The owner's response to our complaint made me not want to stay: after we sent photos of the dishes, he said he thought they were clean, blamed us for making them dirty, and said we'd broken an umbrella. We never went near that umbrella.

The downstairs apartment is small, but we felt comfortable there. It was quite cold even at the end of August, though the blankets the owner provided helped. Movistar users should know that there is almost no coverage in the village. The ceilings also needed cleaning: we spent time removing cobwebs and killing spiders when we arrived. There wasn't much crockery or cutlery, either.

The house has potential, but the upkeep and management were poor, and the dirt was the worst part for me. Appliances and cutlery were broken and dirty. In the garden, a small glass gazebo was being used to pile up furniture and rubbish, and the owner seemed not to care. The sheets were clean but creased. We brought our own towels, and the ones there didn't look very nice. Since it's an old house, it was cold, and the pellet stove didn't work. I won't be back.

Zaldierna is a lovely little village, with mountain scenery and a peaceful feel that was a real treat after living in the city. There are walks for all ages nearby, and Ezcaray is only 5 kilometers away, with plenty to buy. I'd recommend the homemade products there, like sausages and honey. My husband and I spent 7 days at Rincón de Zaldierna, and the apartment had everything we needed. Juan and Guille, the owners, were always kind and attentive. We'd happily return, and I recommend it 100%.