Just an hour from Málaga, I discovered a hidden gem in Andalusia: a lovingly restored townhouse in a white mountain village. Here, craftsmanship, authenticity and comfort come together, and life naturally slows down. A place with a soul, where you don’t just stay, but truly become part of the village. A true Local Hideaway.
Gather your friends, family, acquaintances, remote co-workers or whoever else you want… because I’ve found you a beautiful house. A family project where daughter Lara, a talented interior designer, transformed the old aristocratic building into a wonderfully comfortable house for 10 people with 5 bedrooms and bathrooms. The garden is huge and has a pool, various seating areas and outdoor dining facilities. The kitchen is a dream!
And then there’s the location… within walking distance of my favourite Catalan city, Girona, with a plethora of good restaurants and a nature park in the hinterland. Okay, it’s not a cheap stay, but if you split the costs, you really do have a gem of a hideaway, I can guarantee you that!
The Ourika Valley is enchantingly beautiful! And the good news is that it’s less than an hour’s drive from Marrakesh, making it the perfect combination for a day trip during your stay! Brothers Mohammed and Hussein have created a solar-powered eco-paradise with first-class sunset views. There are only seven rooms, varying in size and décor, a beautiful terrace, a restaurant serving a homemade three-course dinner, an honesty bar (alcohol is served), a beautiful infinity pool and a hammam. It is a lovely hideaway from which to discover this beautiful area and enjoy a change of scenery from your stay in Marrakesh!
Personally, I find a lovely hotel just outside the hustle and bustle of Marrakech’s old medina to be the best of both worlds. You can seek out the hustle and bustle whenever you want: wander through the narrow streets of the medina, shop till you drop, and soak up all the sights and smells. But you can also retreat to a beautiful tropical oasis with plenty of space, a garden and a swimming pool. And it gets even better, because this fantastic hideaway just outside the city also has a sister hotel in the medina… so you can combine relaxed outdoor living with one or two nights in the city! For when you can’t choose and want to experience both!