Malabau Beach House

I wouldn't recommend Malibau House in Tarifa. The apartment felt set up to maximize profit instead of making guests comfortable, and the host was extremely unaccommodating and uninterested in sorting out problems. The place was in very poor condition, with visible mould and persistent dampness even when we kept the doors open for most of the day. Nights felt cold and clammy, and the blanket was incredibly thin. The beds were uncomfortable and low quality. The mattress was wrapped in plastic, so it couldn't breathe. If you sweat even a little, you end up feeling damp and cold in that trapped moisture. We had trouble sleeping for other reasons too. A green light in the room stayed on and couldn't be switched off, so we had to cover it ourselves to make the room darker. The curtains didn't cover the whole window, letting light in where they were too short. The apartment was also very dirty. There were black hairs stuck to the shower wall when we arrived, and the floor was clearly unclean. I found out how bad it was after dropping something and wiping the floor with a brand-new cleaning towel. It immediately came away filthy. It was poorly equipped as well: half the cutlery was missing, there was no freezer, and several old, worn or partly broken things needed replacing. The Wi-Fi was unbelievably slow, so Spotify couldn't download music properly. Netflix, advertised on the smart TV, didn't work at all. There were cockroaches in the apartment too. What concerned us most was how we felt inside. My son and I both felt noticeably unwell during our stay, and consistently better whenever we were outside. I can't say exactly what caused it. It may have been the mould, humidity, poor airflow, or something else about the apartment, but the difference was very noticeable to us. The place came across as neglected, damp, dirty, poorly maintained and under-equipped, as though guest comfort wasn't a priority. I'd strongly recommend looking elsewhere in Tarifa. It's pretty clear the good reviews are fake.

I had a really pleasant 10-day stay at Malabau Beach House. It's clean and has everything you need, with easy communication. The location is perfect, central but in a very quiet area. I'll be back :)

The location couldn’t be better, and the host was really friendly and helpful. Such a great apartment.

The apartment is cute and cozy, and the location really is unbeatable. Still, a few things need attention. The stovetop works, but it’s very slow, and with no oven, a microwave would help. A freezer in the fridge would be useful too. For a nine-day stay, I’d have liked twice as many towels. The duvets should be checked for cleanliness. We also found a cockroach in one of the drawers, though the area is infested.