Hacienda San Rafael
A family-run, former olive farm in a beautiful rural Andalucian setting, halfway between Seville and Jerez.
The family-owned and managed Hacienda San Rafael strikes the perfect balance between rustic charm and modern sophistication, with the relaxed atmosphere of a private country house.
The eleven rooms are set around a cobbled courtyard, each with a veranda where breakfast is served. Colourful bougainvillea drapes the whitewashed walls, while the interiors have a casual, rustic feel to them. For those seeking additional privacy, there are three casitas (thatched cottages) in the five acres of gardens.
There are three swimming pools and a paddle tennis court, while the main building has an air-conditioned library and an honesty bar. Massages and yoga are also available.
The restaurant serves good, simple Mediterranean food based on fresh, locally sourced produce, with dining alfresco whenever possible.
Why We Love It
The owners of the Hacienda own another great property - Corral del Rey - in the heart of Seville.
La Almuña
Hugh and Jane Arbuthnott, whose home this has been for 20 years, are excellent hosts and incredibly knowledgeable about the area; with them you will see places and aspects of life unattainable to others.
Perched high in the foothills of the Serrania de Ronda, the house has breathtaking views of whitewashed pueblos blancos scattered over green mountains stretching to the distant Pillars Hercules and beyond into Africa.
The surrounding landscape includes massive grey limestone mountains, cork oak forests, olive groves, open farmland aglow with sunflowers and pastures ablaze with wild flowers. The house is surrounded by an acre of garden, some formal with lawns and the rest olive grove and orchards of oranges, apricots, almonds and peaches.
Eating and drinking are an essential part of staying at La Almuña. Jane is a renowned cook creating delicious meals and picnics with fresh organic ingredients mostly home-grown from the Almuña kitchen garden.
Activities include swimming, tennis, golf, and walks through cork forests and beautiful sierras. Excursions to Ronda and Jerez and nights away in Granada and Seville can be arranged, as can bird watching trips as far as northern Morocco and the Coto Donaña and whale watching in the Straits.
The property is frequently hired out on an exclusive basis for groups of friends or families, and is the ideal base for get-togethers, celebrations, and joint holidays.
Why We Love It
Almuña is a farm of about 500 acres, mainly oak woodland and some arable where sheep and cattle graze. The only sounds to disturb you are those of sheep bells and a serenade of nightingales in springtime.
Casa La Siesta
Casa la Siesta is just as romantic as the story of the two owners - a pair of young English language students who met at a nearby Spanish school, fell in love, packed in their jobs back home and bought this ramshackle hacienda.
The place is perfect for a long lazy weekend away, and all done up with the most impeccable taste. There are just seven double en suite rooms with exposed beams and vintage bedspreads which have views of the surrounding countryside or the courtyard full of olive trees and lavender. Each room has its own private terrace and air-conditioning and/or under-floor heating depending on the season. The beds are super-comfy emperor or king-size doubles and the bathrooms have both Moroccan plastered showers and roll-top baths.
There's not a lot to do at the hacienda itself, and that's exactly as intended, with a little pool for cooling off in, and several nooks and crannies designed for privacy and the whiling away of a lazy afternoon while the friendly staff bring round platters of tapas and more chilled sherry. At night the gardens are lit with lanterns and the food keeps coming, thanks to the catering business background of one of the owners.
If guests can gird their loins enough to venture out, the Moorish town of Vejer de la Frontera is well worth a visit and there is riding, surfing and kite-surfing nearby.
Why We Love It
Nearby Vejer is one of many villages with the suffix 'de la Frontera', meaning it was on the border of Moorish controlled Spain, hence the heavy Moroccan/Islamic influence in the architecture.
Palacio de los Patos
The hotel consists of two buildings: a beautifully restored 19th-century urban mansion, and a stylish modern annex.
A grand marble staircase leads to the beautifully designed rooms, all of which have plasma TV's, CD & DVD players, and internet access. The hotel's spa is great for unwinding after a long day's sightseeing, with a variety of massages and treatments, as well as an indoor swimming pool, Jacuzzi, sauna, and steambath. Other facilities include a bar and Arabian-style gardens. The hotel's restaurant is one of the best in town and has an outdoor terrace.
Why We Love It
Although the hotel is in a bustling central neighbourhood of Granada, step inside and you leave much of the hustle and bustle behind.
Palacio del Bailio
The Palacio del Bailio is a beautifully restored former palace, set around patios and gardens in the heart of Cordoba.
Although the palace is protected as a cultural monument, it has been meticulously restored and the tasteful rooms are fitted with the latest technology. Facilities include an outdoor swimming pool and a spa housed in what were once the Roman baths, offering a sauna, steambath, Thai massages, reflexology and a variety of other treatments. The hotel's restaurant serves Andalucian cuisine, and there is also a more informal tapas bar, as well as 24-hour room service.
Why We Love It
This five-star hotel is arranged around a beautiful garden and several courtyard patios, one of which has a glass floor to reveal the archaeological remains below.
Trasierra
This 16th Century hacienda is surrounded by three thousand acres of olive and orange groves and is ideal for those looking for a beautiful and peaceful rural retreat.
Being up in the hills, the temperature is generally cooler than down in the plains - a welcome relief during the height of the Andalusian summer. Each guest room - some in the main guesthouse, others in restored cottages dotted around the gardens - is individually decorated with great attention to detail. There is a large swimming pool with a great view, a floodlit tennis court, and plenty of good walk to enjoy.
The food is healthy Mediterranean fare, with many ingredients grown at Trasierra itself or from local suppliers. In the evenings, you can sip cocktails in the fig garden. Horse riding is available, and at certain times of year, Trasierra hosts yoga and cookery weeks.
Why We Love It
Trasierra, set high in the Sierra Morena mountains north east of Seville, is owned and run by a British family with mum Charlotte overseeing and daughter Gioconda cooking up fabulous feasts. Handsome sons Jackson and George add to the attractions on offer.
