Bolonia Beach Houses

The Stone House

This house is the largest of the trio, sleeping 2-6 + 1 child. The name stems from the huge sandstone boulders serving as the back wall. We loved the floor-to-ceiling tapestry from Burma, and phrases made from painted wooden letters reflect the owner's pacifist/Buddhist take on life. A fireplace and central heating keep things warm in winter, and there's a magnificent plunge pool in the private garden.

Our favourite bedroom was the rooftop double, which has a huge, sea-facing terrace and an ensuite shower room. Two walls of glass, one facing the sea, the other the rock garden, meet in one corner. The other two bedrooms, just off the living area, have double beds and sea views.

In the open-plan living area, you'll find a swish kitchen: to one side is the dining table, to the other is the terrace for alfresco meals, complete with a barbecue.

The Glass House

This one-storey, conservatory-like house sleeps 2-4 and really maximises the views from the huge master suite. Floor-to-ceiling windows form the walls on two sides, and the sofa and bed are carefully positioned to lazily drink in the scenery. Sliding doors open directly onto the private garden, and there's an ensuite with a shower and bathtub. A smaller twin bedroom, also ensuite but shower only, connects to the living space.

The open-plan kitchen-dining room is sleek, contemporary and well-equipped for self-catering. Despite being built into the rockface, the room is flooded with daylight thanks to a vast glass skylight. The dining room leads into a sitting room with more wall-to-wall windows and access to the garden.

The Casita

The smallest house is best suited to couples, sleeping 2-3. The all-in-one living room has a small kitchen, a dining table and lovely big windows that allow light to pour in. Off from here is the shower bathroom. The open-sided stairs that lead up to the bedroom increase the sense of space (although they are somewhat treacherous!), as do walls of light-coloured stucco, off-white floor tiles and the lack of decorative clutter.

Up in the bedroom, a huge window, coupled with a mirror backing the double bed, brings in light and the glittering waves of El Cañuelo beach. The sofabed downstairs can serve as a third bed. The Casita doesn't have as much outdoor space as the others, but there's a little terrace with some shaded seating at the back of the house, accessed via the lounge.

Kids

The rocks, the garden, the forest, dunes and beach: this is a fun setting for adventurous kids. But it's not ideal for toddlers, given the number of steps, sharp edges and drops in in the garden.

Best for:

Children (4-12 years)

Family friendly accommodation:

The Casita sleeps up to 3 in a double bed and a small single sofabed. The Glass House has a private garden, one double and one twin bedroom; all rooms are on the same level. The Stone House sleeps 6 in 3 double bedrooms plus one additional child on a sofabed upstairs. This villa has its own private garden and a plunge pool.

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

Bolonia Beach Houses are set near the hamlet of Bolonia in Andalucia, southern Spain. They are a 20-minute drive from the centre of Tarifa.

By Air
Fly into Gibraltar (70km), Jerez (120km), Málaga (170km) or Seville (200km).

By Car
You will definitely need a car to get here. For hire cars see our car rental recommendations. We advise requesting a hire car with good road clearance or four-wheel drive, though almost all cars (except perhaps a low sports car) can reach the houses if driven carefully.

Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.