Stop Looking. Book this Home
This is our second year staying a week in this outstanding home and we really couldn't be more pleased. I'll start with the feature that by itself makes this place stand out: Juan and his family. This shows up on the website but it really should be front and center.
Juan is the consummate warm professional. When we returned from our trip last year we remarked that Juan is the type of person one would happily hire for almost literally any job and then want to spend time in conversation for the rest of the day. Juan is resourceful, warm, polite, generous, patient, kind. He legitimately seems to love children, taking a direct interest in each of our extended family's five, and even accepts our children's less desirable behaviors with grace. Juan not only anticipates needs but has the kind of social intelligence that makes you think it was your idea. Though his English is decent, he deliberately speaks to the two members of our group with some Spanish language proficiency because he can see that it makes us feel proud of our language skills.
Practically speaking, Juan (and/or his family):
- Cooks every breakfast OR lunch (Included in the rental price. Choose breakfast. Lunch is easy to find). This is not a couple of bowls of cereal and some muffins. We're talking multiple dishes of expertly prepared, delicious Mexican cuisine for your whole group timed to nearly the exact minute that you casually requested. He does the cleanup too.
- Makes a killer Margarita whenever requested
- Does all the housekeeping
- Solves basically any problem that might arise, usually within minutes
- Provides advice on the town of Sayulita
- For an additional $25-$30 per hour plus the cost of items required will...
--- Cook dinner (see my gushing notes on breakfast above). Though last year we went out a couple of times, this year we had Juan cook as many dinners as possible - it's that good.
--- Shop for groceries (our kids require an actual cow's worth of milk, for instance, and you almost always need ingredients for guac)
--- Watch any number of children (seriously, last year we left our 2 y/o, 3 y/o, and two 4y/o's with him and his family and the next day they all asked when he would come back. We kept our 3m/o with us but if we'd had some breast milk available, we might have chosen differently)
I will say it again: This place is worth the rental fee for Juan and his family alone. Just in case you need a few more reasons to stay, here are some highlights:
- The distance to town (10min walk) is just right and doesn't require motorized transport unless one of your party has an ambulatory disability - in which case you're in luck because this place has an elevator.
- The view is stunning. And not just occasionally. Gorgeous sunsets every night.
- The plan overall is open to the elements. You feel the breeze as walk the stairway, a 30' high thatched roof covers most of the top floor, everything is fresh all the time. If you're not careful, it's easy to spend the whole day here.
- Each bedroom can be closed and air-conditioned if desired (not that you need it during the high season when every night is essentially a perfect temperature.
- There is lots of public space - especially on the main top level - organized into zones so that large groups (we have 6 adults and 5 children under six) can either congregate or separate and never feel crowded.
- There is an infinity pool arranged to connect all of the zones (yes, it has a removable fence if you have young children)
So in summary: Stop looking. Book this home. Just don't take our week!
Warmly,
- The Reid/Warner Family
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Stayed: January, 2019