Los Castaños

A charming little village hotel in Andalucia

Owner Di Beach threw up the glamorous life of San Francisco to come to this quiet corner of Andalucia and to establish her 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.)

Click on the picture above for more photos

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 is a charming host, putting all her 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 MEM room (massage, exercise, meditation) equipped with a rowing machine and other items, a selection of exercise tapes and a beginners guide to meditation. 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 windows or balconies. (Yes, most rooms 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.

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 Massage, exercise, meditation room 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 En-suite bathroom 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.

Guest Feedback:

We will welcome your comments after you have visited this hotel. Send a review.

 

Room Rates in Euros (2010)
	All Year
Double room Each room has a king-size bed with 100% Egyptian cotton sheets, four-season fluffy duvets, a selection of pillows to suit all tastes. Or the room can be arranged with two twins if required. The ensuite bathroom (all have shower, three rooms also have a bathtub) is fully equipped with bathrobes, ecological olive oil products (body oil, shampoo and body gel), hairdryer, make-up remover, Q tips, heated towel rail, and other little necessities and luxuries. Each room has a sitting area with two comfortable traditional Spanish rocking armchairs. Most rooms have a balcony with marvellous mountain vistas, director chairs and an ashtray for outside smoking. The ground floor room has a narrower balcony with fabulous town views. Other amenities include: remote-controlled AC/heating, coffee and tea making facilities, a cookie tin (full of cookies), seasonal fruit. There is plenty of reading material, an alarm clock radio and even a sketch pad and materials.Close	€ 125
Minimum stay: 2 nights Currency Converter
Prices are per room per night including breakfast All prices are "plus 8% VAT" Los Castaños is a No Smoking hotel Extra bed (third person): € 27 per night Dinner: € 25 per person per day (€ 30 in high season) Supper: a selection of small dishes and tapas 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. Check Availability     Book Now!    Special Offers

Deposit:

No deposit. Just a credit card number is required to guarantee a reservation.

Cancellations:

Cancellation must be received in writing at least 7 days before scheduled arrival. Later cancellations may be charged a one nights stay. No-shows are charged the full booking cost.