Reviewed July 2010 by Karen and Pete, Ethan and Charlie
Thanks so much for a wonderful week and looking after us so well. We've all had such a lovely time. I'd be surprised if the boys ever had a better holiday than this.
Reviewed June 2010 by Nik, Di and Maisie Moo
A big thank you for your wonderful hospitality last week at your beautiful home. We had the perfect first holiday abroad with Maisie who clearly loved every second and misses buttercup madly - and the pool!
We look forward to seeing you guys again soon and hope you all have a lovely summer in the sun.
Reviewed June 2010 by Anna, Dave and Alice
Thank you very much for a fantastic week at Caserio del Mirador. We had a wonderful time. Dave and I said when we got home that we rarely manage to switch off as much as we did. The kids esp Alice had a fab time. The setting of your house, the food, wine and all the things for the children is great.
Reviewed April 2010 by Claudia
Thank you so much for a fantastic holiday. We've been back a week now and Eleanor's just finished with the chickenpox - we managed to get her back to the UK before she looked too spotty, thank goodness! But your kind offer of staying longer if we got stranded was very much appreciated, as was all your thoughtfulness throughout the week, not to mention great hospitality and delicious food. We haven't yet stopped telling people what a great time we had.
Reviewed April 2010 by Manav, Mandeep and Sayan Sohal
Thank you for making Sayan's first holiday abroad so memorable. We'll have absolutely no hesitation in recommending you to our friends and family - we had a magical time.
Reviewed November 2009 by Eileen, Iris and Sorley
Just a beautiful place, thanks for looking after us so well. I know who to blame if I end up buying a Shetland pony!
Reviewed November 2009 by Alex Meloy
Thank you for a great week at Caserio del Mirador - we are already missing the big blue skies. We really did have a fab time and feel that we couldn't have chosen a better place to go for our first real holiday with Luke. I have a feeling that we will be back in the years to come!
Reviewed October 2009 by Monica
We had the most wonderful time staying with Sarah and Johnny, they were great hosts and live in a beautiful place. Our 15 month old daughter loved her 2 weeks of playing by the pool, with the kittens, feeding the rabbits, bouncing on the trampoline and having dinner with her new toddler friends at tea time.
Reviewed October 2009 by Victoria Craddock
We had the most relaxing holiday we have ever had with our 3 year old twins. Sarah and Johnny made us very welcome and looked after our EVERY need. The accommodation MORE than catered for our two little monkeys! We will certainly be returning - it was a proper mountain retreat with everything we needed for a truly relaxing time.
Reviewed October 2009 by Anu Giri
It was the perfect holiday for young families. Sarah and Jonny are fabulous hosts and make you feel comfortable and relaxed. Nothing is too much trouble and at the end of the week we felt as if we'd spent a week staying with very good friends.
Reviewed July 2009 by Melissa Grafton
Thanks for making it such a great week’s holiday. We all had a lovely time and it is a beautiful location and set up you have arranged. There has been talking non stop about riding the pony and the “big horse” so thank you for doing that with her.
Many thanks and I hope you have a good rest of season.
Reviewed 7 May 2007 by Wayne Hill
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The best part of our holiday, and therefore the most memorable thing, is the welcome we received from Sarah and Johnny Robinson at this accommodation.
The accommodation was so completely perfect for a family with young children. The Robinsons have young children themselves, and staying at their guest house felt more like being a family friend than a hotel customer.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Don't be shy; if you need anything at all while you are staying with the Robinsons, just ask! They had supplies for beach trips, a backpack for carrying our toddler on a hike, a baby monitor for when it was naptime, as a few examples. I borrowed her son's toy cars, her shawl one chilly evening, and the list could go on. They are just so committed to making you comfortable during your stay.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Yes. Power is by generator and solar power of their own production, and it helps to bear this in mind and try to minimize your own usage.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
I would definitely give it 5 stars. The scenery was absolutely beautiful. The decision to stay at this accommodation, instead of at a beachside hotel, was the best decision we could have made. It's an easy (and breathtaking!) 30 minute drive to the beach, so you can have as much beach time as you want. But instead of being stuck in the developed and tourist-y towns, at the end of the day you are relaxing in a beautiful, secluded, peaceful place in the middle of 'real' Spain. We recommend a holiday at this accommodation to anyone who likes to stay off the beaten path--especially families with infants, toddlers, and/or school age children. After all, its much easier to stay off that beaten path when your kids are happy!
Reviewed 14 Apr 2007 by Lyndsey Woraker
We had a wonderful holiday with Sarah & Johnny at this accommodation, despite terrible weather!
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Location of villa, warm welcome from hosts and wonderful experience that children had on their first holiday abroad.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Don't miss the Sunday lunch - great paella cooked for all guests by Sarah
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Yes all produce was bought locally and hosts obviously had a very good relationship with the locals.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
***** Whole family loved holiday. Rate it 11 out of 10 as exceeded all expectations and we have booked to go back next year!
Reviewed 23 Aug 2006 by Sue Jones
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Sarah and Johnny are most generous and hospitable hosts and we couldn't have felt more welcome. They are particularly well informed about the area, where to go and what to see. We loved to sit and watch the evening glow disappear from the sky and then see the lights twinkle in the distant hillside villages, whilst enjoying a glass of local wine. So peaceful and away from it all.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
This is a fantastic place - wish it had been there when our children were small. It surely must be the most hassle and stress free holiday ever. Use the baby listening service, and just relax. There are beaches around but I guess you won't want to venture far. This has it all.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Absolutely. Johnny and Sarah will direct you where to purchase all the local produce as indeed they do themselves and they are committed to everything environmentally friendly.
4. Any other comments?
Absolutely idyllic! (we have stayed here 3 times - that must say something!).
I found this on Netmums and we spent a lovely 2 weeks there last Summer. Our apartment was gorgeous and gave us self catering privacy while we could send the children up to "the main house" every morning for fresh croissants and milk. We met some lovely guests and most evenings the grown ups all dined together (cooked by our charming hostess Sarah) and lashings of local wine (made by the Mayor!). Days spent by the lovely swimming pool or driving to explore the beaches. Bliss.
Caserio del Mirador (www.villaJalon.com) is a little piece of heaven and we would unhesitatingly recommend it to anyone - but most especially to parents of young (and even not-so-young) children. The kids can play safely while the parents chill. It's about as un-stressful as a family holiday could be and though you could spend a whole holiday lounging by the pool with its gorgeous views, there's plenty to do elsewhere: waterfalls to play in; mountains to climb; beaches of every variety from wave-swept, empty Atlantic-style ones to crescent shape ones packed with kiddie entertainment. Oh, and the bedrooms are jolly nice too and Sarah's cooking is brilliant.
We have just booked our fourth – yes, fourth – year running with Sarah and Johnny Robinson at Caserio del Mirador. The setting is inspirational, the company as hands-on or hands-off as you want it to be. My five-year-old always assumes 'going to Spain' means going to visit Caserio del Mirador and would be disappointed to go anywhere else. She loves playing in the pool with the kids and disappearing for hours on end into dressing up land upstairs... PS Try culture in Valencia, history in the mountains and thrills at Terra Mitica. Lots of nice pictures at www.VillaJalon.com of happy kids and lazy days! Roll on August 2007!
Reviewed 1 Jul 2007 by Sarah Williams
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The fun meals we had as a group and also the delicious meals that were cooked for us on the terrace outside our apartment which meant no cooking for us (Although there are the facilities). We were able to put our daughter down to sleep and have the monitor on as the terrace is right outside the door so we had a romantic meal which we are never able to do!!
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Research the flight times we flew to Valencia as better flight times for us although Alicante is slightly closer.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
The Villa is set in the mountains and uses only recycled water and solar powered/ generated electricity. All rubbish is recycled where possible so having minimum impact on the environment.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
The holiday was excellent we intend to go back next year when our daughter is a bit older. The Villa is situated in a perfect location far enough away from the hustle and bustle but close enough for day trips... yes we even went to Benidorm for the day but only to the fantastic Zoo they had!
Travelling was no hassle with a 7 month old baby, Sarah and Johnny provided a play matt, high chair, cot, toys and a blender and were on hand to help with anything at all times.