Nothing beats stepping outside of a morning to find a basket of warm croissants on your terrace and the sun rising over the valley. Perched on the side of a mountain above the Costa Blanca, surrounded by olive and almond terraces planted by the Moors, is a farmhouse-villa with 5 stylish apartments of various sizes, a Casita, and an Airstream for glampers. This mini-hotel offers everything you need to keep both adults and little ones entertained - we’ve never had such a relaxing holiday with a toddler in tow. And because of its intimate size, there’s a beautiful balance between privacy and sociability: it’s like staying at a friend’s house (with staff!).
In the lovely grounds are a pool, a sandpit, a trampoline, a play park, rocking horses, dressing-up boxes, books, games, toys and a small menagerie of animals (rabbits, goats, donkeys, hens, a pig, and a Shetland pony called Snow White). Parents themselves, Johnny and Sarah are remarkable hosts, seamlessly in tune with the needs of mums, dads and children. Not only do they provide pushchairs, rucksacks, beach towels and umbrellas, bouncers, massages on request and an honesty bar close to the pool, but lunches, kids’ teas and dinners too - 5 days a week if you want them, in your apartment or at the lively table within earshot of the baby monitor. Sarah cooks like an angel, Johnny makes the vino flow, and you'll go to bed as happy as Larry.
Highs
- It's perfect for pre-schoolers: there are pets, pushchairs, a large pool, playpark, and more besides
- Sarah and Johnny are friendly and generous to a fault; you could not wish for better hosts
- We loved the delicious and diverse food: paella lunches, kids’ teas, grown-ups’ dinners (with wine and beer included)
- The apartments are cheerful, stylish and spotless
- Everything a parent could need is here, from change mats to night lights and sterilisers, so you can pack light (more info)
Lows
- Weekly stays (Sat-Sat) are preferred in summer, but Sarah will always try to be flexible
- You'll need a car: the nearest town is 10 minutes down the mountain, and it's half an hour to the beach
- Dinner is unavailable 2 nights a week, and restaurants are a 10-minute drive / 15-minute walk
- Apartment kitchens are basic (hob, sink, fridge) - but you can use the hotel oven and microwave
Best time to go
We suggest April to June, when it’s not too hot. The sun shines, a gentle breeze blows, and the valley is bright with olive and almond trees, poppies and cornflowers… In summer you can laze by the pool as the children play, or take them off to the beach. Caserio del Mirador normally closes from November to April.
Our top tips
Pay close attention to the little slips of paper delivered with your breakfast – we loved learning about the resident animals and which ones to feed our leftovers to. The tips for day trips were spot-on, too. All of our fellow guests loved sandy Moraira Beach, which has a little stream running alongside the sand for splashing in.
Location
Caserio del Mirador is tucked away high in the Marina Alta, half an hour from the beaches of the Costa Blanca in eastern Spain. It's 10 minutes' drive from the town of Jalón (Xaló).
By Air:
The closest airport is Alicante (105km), just over an hour away by car (motorway all the way). Valencia airport is a little further (134km). Click on the links below for a list of airlines serving these airports.
From the Airport
You'll need a car to get here, and to get around. For car rentals, click here to see our recommendations. You can park for free at the hotel.
Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.
More on getting to the Costa Blanca and getting around
Airports:
- Alicante 105.0 km ALC
- Valencia 134.0 km VLC
Other:
- Beach 52.0 km
- Shops 5.0 km
- Restaurant 5.0 km
Our guests' ratings...
Based on 5 independent reviews from i-escape guests
A beautiful setting, fabulous food and drink and my children loved feeding all the animals, the playground, sandpit and trampoline. Kids tea was a highlight and great then being able to enjoy an adults dinner without needing to worry about babysitters. Thank you for a lovely stay.
Amazing stay all across, the entire hotel is a paradise for kids. And the early tea time means that late dinners can be amazing for parents too!
Wonderful and relaxing holiday with our 18 month old daughter. The hotel is set on a hillside with gorgeous views down the valley, rooms are spacious and comfortable with all of the extras needed for a stress free holiday with kids. Good selection of toys and books. The baby dinner time was a highlight! Definitely recommend and will consider returning.
We had a fantastic time at Caserio del Mirador with our daughter (almost 2) for our first holiday abroad as a family. It was the perfect set up for children, lots of toys, animals and exploring to be done. The location is beautiful and I’m driving distance of beaches and Xalo is worth a walk round too. The food was just fab, both for adults and children. Sarah was so welcoming and made us all feel right at home. I highly recommend a visit here, we’re already planning our return.
We couldn't have enjoyed our stay at Caserio del Mirador more, thank you so much Sarah and team! From start to finish, Sarah made our first holiday with Sam, eighteenth months an absolute breeze.
Caserio del Mirador is an oasis of calm and tranquility with a relaxed atmosphere and we didn't have to think about ANYTHING - every whim was already catered for. Sarah is both a mind reader and a baby whisperer.
Highlights included children's tea, the epic view and the myriad of animals.
Feedback is only from guests who have booked and stayed through i-escape