San José

We booked Casa Cueva for 11 nights for two people and left after two hours. In eight hours of travel we'd arrived at a filthy, run-down place, despite booking seven months ahead. The bathroom sink was covered with grime, hair, and dead bugs; the toilet leaked; and the shower tray was cracked end to end, with hair in its drain. The fridge was filthy, the kitchen had very few old utensils, including just one broken knife, and the pans were awful. There was no microwave, extractor fan, bathroom cupboard, or towels. The outdoor grill or griddle couldn't be used. Nothing about the place was positive. The rural setting doesn't excuse dirt and neglect. They wanted cash, with no online or card payment. We booked through Booking.com, and luckily we didn't lose our money. They expected to be paid as if nothing were wrong. We had to leave.

The scenery was spectacular, and the place was quiet. The house was huge, the beds were super comfortable, and Manuel, the owner, was very attentive.

We were lucky enough to see fawns during our peaceful, lovely weekend. The owner made us feel welcome and was very friendly, and they even gave us firewood for a bonfire at no charge. Highly recommended! The bad reviews are all fake.

The setting among olive groves and greenery makes this a lovely place to switch off. The simple houses share the property with animals, and our children loved running around and using the pool. The owners made us feel at home. Getting there means taking an unpaved road, but the map they send is clear and makes the route easy to follow. There isn't a town, restaurant, or city nearby, so it's best to shop for everything you need before you arrive. We'd gladly return and highly recommend it.