Mirador de Ovio Otero V

We had a great Easter break at Casa playa de Guadamia in the quiet rural hamlet of Ovio, in Llanes. It’s surrounded by nature and has views of the Cantabrian Sea. The staff were friendly, attentive, and available whenever we needed anything, and we’ll definitely be back. The single-story house sleeps up to six. There’s a large private fenced garden, porch, and barbecue, and pets are welcome, which is a real plus, especially for families with children. Inside are one double bedroom with an en-suite bathroom, two twin bedrooms, a baby cot, another bathroom, a living-dining room, and a kitchen with access to the terrace. The house has heating throughout and a fireplace in the living room. A few minor things could be better. The kitchen cupboards are very worn, some doors don’t shut properly, and the kitchen chairs are damaged, though the kitchen has the appliances and other things you need. The terrace furniture is very old, and one bathroom doesn’t have a shower.

The surroundings are beautiful, and with more care this could be a lovely place to return to. As it was, the house felt very neglected and uncomfortable for the six of us during our week there, especially given the very high rent. There were blood marks from squashed mosquitoes and other insects on the walls, dirt throughout, and a musty smell. The kitchen had very few utensils, and the stovetop was so slow that cooking was barely possible. In front of the refrigerator, a floor tile was broken and could cut you or your pet; the power socket was pulled out with wires exposed, which was dangerous. There was another broken tile in the bathroom, and the shower curtains were moldy, making it impossible to shower there. The two loft doors were left ajar and held with what looked like masking tape, so something stored there could fall on someone. The mattresses were warped and extremely uncomfortable. The bedside lamp was moldy and its shade was enlarged. The only armchair was stained and too small for six; they tried to cover the stain with a bedspread, but it didn’t cover it. The flat-screen TV was tiny, 24 inches at most, the Wi-Fi barely worked, and the portable barbecue was old, tiny, and extremely dirty. There were other issues too. We asked for a refund because the cleaning had effectively not been done, but they only said they’d inform the owner about the damage. The house needs attention, including repainting for hygiene. In these conditions it isn’t worth the high rent, and I felt uncomfortable even thinking about which wall I might touch. I can send photos documenting all of this.

The location was amazing, but the accommodation itself wasn’t. We were seven friends with two double beds, two singles, and an extra bed. That extra bed was a mess: the mattress felt like a cushion, and there were no sheets for it. Turning on the oven tripped the circuit breaker, and the host’s lack of empathy made the stay worse. The listing says beachfront, but it isn’t on the beach or even second or third line.

The apartment’s strongest point is its location. We stayed in August, and it felt frankly expensive for what was provided. The oil boiler is in the kitchen; since we only used it for hot water in summer, it made noise and spread an unpleasant smell through the house. The master bedroom blinds were broken and couldn’t be raised or lowered, and there were no curtains. There was little furniture, the beds were very uncomfortable, Wi-Fi was nearly nonexistent, and the old TV was small, no more than 25 inches. Outside was the best part, especially the table, though the outdoor area is shared. We thought some of the garden was privately fenced, but it was all open. With our pet, that was a problem: the outside gate was open, so it could escape and disturb neighbors or get hit by a car. The place isn’t comfortable or well equipped, but it’s well placed for trips to the sea and mountains. San Antonio beach is about a 15-minute walk away, and you can take a longer walk to beautiful beaches like Cuevas del Mar. Given the location, it’s hard to find anything better, but at least in August it’s poor value.