Abadía del Marqués

We stayed for three days and had a great time. Javier and Carmen were so welcoming. The studio was lovely and had everything we needed, and it was warm and inviting when we arrived, which was especially appreciated in winter in Ávila. We couldn't make use of the patio because of the season, but it brings in lots of natural light. The location also worked well for visiting both the city and the mountains.

The first day of our trip was spoiled by our stay at Abadía del Marqués. We ended up changing our plans and moving to Ávila the next morning, where Las Leyendas cost €59 per room per night. It was comfortable and well located, with a bedroom and bathroom bigger than the entire rural apartment. Ávila was fantastic, and we really enjoyed the rest of our stay there. We'd stayed in plenty of rural houses before, especially in the north, but nowhere had felt so hot and claustrophobic. With no air conditioning, the fan in the middle of a heatwave made the getaway miserable. The apartment was called El Mirador, though the view was only of a ruined wall. We hadn't noticed the missing air conditioning because the reviews were so positive and the rating so high. Maybe that rating comes from winter visits, the children's activities, or the secluded setting that rural Spain promotes as a place for spiritual retreats. We had a gift box for two nights and added a third, but only used one night from the box, so I lost €90 on the extra night. A night at Abadía del Marqués is expensive. And dinner there on arrival day was another issue. We managed only because we'd spent the afternoon exploring Arévalo.

Javier was really helpful when we booked with the Wonderbox gift box, which I appreciated since that isn't always how these bookings go. Later, for personal reasons, we needed to cancel and move the reservation to another date. He made no fuss about it. Based on that experience, I'd definitely recommend booking here.

The village is tiny but charming, and we hope to come back next year. There were 83 people living there now, compared with more than 400 registered in 1960, according to what we've been reading about Spain's depopulated areas. There's a little bar, though we didn't go in, so I can't say anything about it. Javier was the best part of our two-day stay. He's incredibly kind with children, and there are animals to visit. Our room was brand new, with its own bathroom and kitchen. Everything was great except the heat. It gets extremely hot, so it's hard to feel fully comfortable, and Javier should consider putting in air conditioning. Thanks!