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Review 2058: Fincas and Houses, Apartment

www.fincasandhouses.com

Recommended
Review by Dennis Switzer from Canada

2bed/1bath apartment, Caceres, Extremadura

When

March, 2006, One Week

Location

The apartment is located in the City of Caceres. It backs onto the walled old city very near the Pl de Sta Clara. It was very quiet. The bedrooms are "in back" but we did not notice any excessive noise at any time day or night.

The Plaza Mayor, walled city, main paseo, shops, tourismos and library ( for free internet access)are all within easy walking.

We both thought this was a place where we could live.

Nearby Amenities

There are many fine dining places within an easy walk of the apartment (some mentioned by others in this website).

Cafes and bars abound.

The supermarket is nearby. It is a short uphill walk. A corner grocery store is at the end of the block.

The House/Apartment

The apartment occupies the first floor of an older building over the owners' offices. The interior is completely refurbished and in excellent shape. There is a double entrance, one to the building and one to the apartment each with its own key.

Garden

There is a private walled patio area at the back of the apartment. If the weather is inclement, there is a room, with lighting, table, chairs and sliding doors off the patio. We found this ideal for suppers.

Furnishings/Cleanliness/Living Areas

Everything was new and of high quality. The sofa and chairs were comfortable and there was Spanish cable TV.

The room has a remote controlled heating/airconditioning unit.

The room is combined with the kitchen are with a breakfast table as a divider.

Bedrooms/Bathrooms

The double bedroom had ample closet and storage space.It was tastefully decorated. The bed was very comfortable and the sheets and coverings fresh and new. The room had an remote controlled heating/airconditioning unit. The window opened out on to the patio area.

The single bedroom had a comfortable bed. It was on an interior wall with a window onto the inner air shaft. We spied a playpen in the closet.

The bathroom provided ample hot water and had a separate heating unit to warm the room. It was all marble with new fixtures

Kitchen

One was able to prepare full meals in the kitchen. The utensels were of good quality and the surfaces easily cleaned.

We were at home preparing meals here.

Problems or Bonuses

The windows are all double sealed. The front room living area had French doors so we could open them and see the comings and goings along our street.

Since it is in the "old city" parking is a problem. After a cursory scout down the streets nearby, if nothing was available, we chose to go to the large municipal parking near Plaza Mayor. Parking is monitored and costs EU7.80 for a 24 hour period. The garage is a five minute walk (if one isn't sidetracked by a tinto or cafe con leche!).

The price included all linens, and cleaning.

Agency and Representatives (and price)

Both Janine and Antonio were professional in all our dealings. They answered all our inquiries in a timely manner. If anything, the website underplays the quality of the accommodation. They can accommodate bookings of longer or shorter duration and, if possible, accommodate arrival and departures at times other than the standard Saturday/Sunday period. In March 2006, the cost was Eu350/week.

Since their offices are downstairs they were readily available. They also provided us with their cell phone number.

Both speak English. (Janine is Glaswegian)

Do you recommend this vacation rental to others?

People with mobility problems may have difficulty with the stairs to the apartment.

If we visit Caceres again, this apartment will be our first choice for accommodation.

Things to do in this area

The old walled city is a World Heritage Monument. The renaissance mansions were homes to conqistadors and fighters in the reconquest. The town museum is worth a visit. It has an 11th century Arab cistern in the basement. A walk around the town at night is magical.

The much-mentioned El Figon restaurant is around the corner in the Pl. de San Juan. Plaza Mayor has a number of cafes and restaurants that offer good, if somewhat uninspired, meals.

Day trippers to the countryside are rewarded with excellent scenery. There are dolmens and a much restored Roman bridge in the West (near Alcantara) near the Portuguese border. To the East, there is Trujillo, home of conquistadors, and Guadalupe, home of the Virgin of the Americas.

This review is the opinion of a Slow Travel member and not of slowtrav.com.

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