Los Castaños

A charming little village hotel in Andalucia

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Owners Di and Lu threw up the glamorous life of San Francisco to come to this quiet corner of Andalucia and to establish their little five-bedroom hotel in the tiny village of Cartajima. The result was Los Castaños, where a warm welcome awaits the intrepid visitors who make it through the mountain roads to their door. (Actually Cartajima is only 10 miles from the historic town of Ronda and 30 miles from Marbella so you're never far from the bright lights if that's really what you want.)

The hotel is a large village house next to the church right in the centre of the smallest of the Pueblos Blancos, so "real Spain" doesn't get any more real than this. Di and Lu are charming hosts, putting all their emphasis into quality and comfort, within a totally relaxing atmosphere. There is a rooftop terrace with incredible views and a plunge pool for the many sunny days, and in winter you can curl up by a roaring fire in the lounge. There is also a relaxation and massage room equipped with a selection of exercise tapes and other exercise equipment. For yet more peace and quiet, take a cooling drink in the Moorish patio.

Each of the double rooms is a carefully designed sanctuary with a kingsize double bed, a sitting area and a balcony. There is air-conditioning and heating and always a bowl of fruit on the table. Uniquely, there are sketching materials in every room so all guests can try their hand at capturing the inspirational views from their balconies. (Yes. You get a private balcony too.)

Cartajima lies amongst lush chestnut trees and spectacular mountain scenery. It offers marvellous walks for the energetic, a convenient centre for cultural expeditions for the enthusiastic, peace and quiet for the world-weary, even walks with the local bird-watching expert. There is a history here that goes back thousands of years, stretching from pre-historic cave paintings through the traces of Phoenician visits to the long periods of Roman and Moorish occupation to the final flowering of Christian Spain. Visitors here can enjoy it all, as well as soft beaches, a warm sea, cool mountains, stunning architecture and views all the way to Africa.

Restaurant:

Dinner at Los Castaños is not like eating in a restaurant; guests can enjoy a delightful dinner party with new-found friends and delicious food. The cuisine at Los Castaños is "Western Mediterranean", combining the best of Andalucian and north African flavours so a typical menu might begin with ajo blanco, followed by langostinos with two sauces, then pork tenderloin with brandy cream sauce and lovingly prepared vegetables, and finally chocolate orange cake. All food is freshly cooked "from scratch", just for guests of the hotel, so it is essential to book at breakfast time at the latest if you are planning to dine in. The Los Castaños kitchen is also very good at catering for special diets such as vegetarian.

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A Word From the Owner:

"We created Los Castaños with the idea that our guests would become more than just customers. If you are feeling sociable we like to sit and chat over a bottle of wine. On the other hand, if you need peace and quiet we can arrange that!"

Hotel Amenities:

IN THE HOTEL	IN YOUR ROOM
Honesty Bar Restaurant Lounge Library, with books and games Rooftop Terrace with panoramic mountain views Plunge pool Internet access Satellite TV and DVD library Ample street parking	Kingsize bed (or twin) Minibar Tea/coffee facilities Fresh fruit and biscuits Sketching materials (when you see the view, you'll know why!) Air-conditioning Central heating for the winter Hair dryer Bathrobes

Nearby Amenities:

Walking: paths link the 7 villages that comprise the Alto Genal
Horse-riding in Ronda
Caving and rock-climbing in Los Riscos behind Cartajima
River swimming (if you've never experienced it, do try it!)
Bird watching (Di can arrange a day-long guided ornithological outing, and there are occasional week-long courses)
Writing courses

Ronda: many places of historical and cultural interest
Marbella: lively resort, for a bit of a change!
Beaches: all along the Costa Del Sol, about 45 minutes away
Pueblos Blancos: make a tour, for those who prefer to drive.
Serranía de Ronda: the mountains are all around

What We Say:

Los Castaños is a delightful village house in a tiny and charming village surrounded by stunning mountain scenery. "Real Spain" is an over-used expression, but we think this is as real as it gets.

Customer Feedback:

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Room Rates in Euros (2008)
	All Year
Double room	€ 116
Minimum stay: 2 nights
Prices are per room per night including breakfast All prices are "plus 7% VAT" All rooms have private en-suite facilities Los Castaños is a No Smoking hotel Extra bed (third person): € 35 per night Dinner: € 35 per person per day Supper: € 15 per person per night (a selection of small dishes such as patatas allioli, serrano ham, boquerones and so on; ideal for those who've already had a big lunch) Children are welcome but need to be supervised as the rooftop terrace is a potential hazard There is wheelchair access to the dining room and lounge, and one of the guest rooms. A credit card number and a 25% non-refundable deposit is required to confirm a reservation. Click Here For Currency Converter
Special Courses: Holiday courses led by professional tutors. Choose from digital photography, creative writing and landscape watercolour . Contact us for the latest information and dates.

Cancellations:

In the event of a cancellation, the deposit is retained (travel insurance is recommended). No-shows are charged the full booking cost.