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
- Pushchairs
- Baby carriers
- Baby cots and bedding
- Changing mats and emergency nappies
- Bouncer
- Night lights
- Baby bath
- Highchairs
- Sterilisers
- Rubber ducks
Some equipment may need to be requested in advance
Babysitting can be arranged should you wish to dine out without the kids
Monitors to borrow, and the dining terrace is within their range
A daily kids’ supper during which they all sit around a big table while Sarah brings out lots of crowd-pleasing favourites (like pasta, vegetables and sausages) plus a couple of more unusual dishes to try (perhaps octopus or squid rings).
- Play areas
- Animals to pet
- Sandpit
- Trampoline
- Swimming pool (10x5m), warmed by a heat pump
- Table tennis
- Jigsaws
- Games
- Kids' DVDs
- Ride-on tractors and cars
- Castles
- Aquapark
- Aquariums
- Beaches
- Safari park
- Waterfalls
- Playgrounds
- Boutique Hotel
- 7 apartments for 2 adults + 1-4 kids
- Breakfast (+ other meals & self-catering)
- All ages welcome; best for under 5s
- Closed: 23 Nov 2024 - 4 Apr 2025...
- Heated Pool
- Spa Treatments
- Beach Nearby
- Babysitting
- Creche / Kids Club
- Car essential
- Parking
- Pet Friendly
- Disabled Access
- Restaurants Nearby
- WiFi
- Air Conditioning
- Guest Lounge
- Terrace
- Garden
- Gym
- Daily Maid Service
- Towels & Bedlinen
- Children's play areas
- Games, toys, animals
Rooms
The 5 apartments are downstairs in the main villa but they're all independent, each with its own latern-lit outdoor space; the Casita and Airstream are a stroll away for those seeking 100% privacy. All are well-designed, roomy, airy and spotlessly maintained, and there’s cleaning 6 days per week. Some have 2 bedrooms (a double and a toy-filled twin), others have space for a child's bed (our son was given a proper little wooden toddler bed) or 1-2 baby cots.
We stayed in Taronger and loved the large open-plan living room and huge bed. If we wanted separate bedrooms we’d choose pool-side Palmera with its cute twin kids’ bedroom. And don’t be put off by the lack of bathtub – big plastic tubs are provided for quick and easy kids’ bath times.
White walls and tiled floors, leather and bold colours: the look is bright and contemporary. Beds are large and extremely comfortable, sofas are generous, and terraces have views. Being off-grid, kitchens are simple: hob, fridge, kettle and a hand-held blender. Bathrooms come with fluffy towels, toiletries, cotton buds and more.
Features include:
- Bathrobes
- Fan
- Hairdryer
- In-room treatments available
- Minibar
- Mosquito net
- Safe box
- WiFi
Eating
Breakfast is a basket of fresh croissants and rolls, brought to your door around 8.30am each day – our son loved the peeping out of the window to see if it had arrived. Butter, jam, tea, coffee, milk, biscuits, Weetabix and children's yoghurt are provided and will be in your (simple) kitchen when you arrive.
Other meals are well worth staying in for. Arrive in time for lunch on your first day and you’ll be treated to a delicious spread of bread, cheeses, ham and tomatoes, or steak off the grill. Sunday lunch is a magnificent paella, and kids eat half price.
Kids tea is the highlight of the day, adults join in with a glass of wine or beer. Designing kids’ meals around different tastes is no easy task, but Sarah succeeds. We were impressed to see even the fussiest eaters wolf down roast chicken and octopus, plus there’s always something ‘safe’ on offer too (homemade burgers, pasta). Once the kids are tucked up in bed (every apartment has a baby monitor), the adults gather for an aperitif before dinner. Served around a big wooden table, the menu is Mediterranean and seasonal: slow-roast meats, grilled fish, tortilla with padron peppers, croquetas, and plenty of home-grown delights from the vegetable garden. There’s tapas on Friday (our favourite meal of the trip), and Johnny keeps guests’ glasses full (drinks during the kids' tea and dinner are included in the price of the meals, there's an honesty bar in operation for all other times). Dinner can be delivered to your terrace if you prefer some privacy.
So food and drink flow 5 nights out of 7, and on Monday and Wednesday you fend for yourself. There are several restaurants in Jalón (Xaló), a winding 10-minute drive down the road, plus a couple of lunchtime options within a 15-minute walk - we like the sound of Verd I Vent, a converted barn with tasty, good-value food. If you’re having a beach day, break for lunch at Pizzeria Pepa in Javea.
Features include:
- Bar
- Breakfast
- Coffee maker
- Communal dining
- Dinner by arrangement
- Food blender
- Hob or stove
- Kids' meals
- Kitchenette
- Lunch by arrangement
- Room service
- Vegetarian options
Activities
- It's a half-hour drive to the coast, and the beaches are justifiably famous. Visit the pebbled cove at Barraca - glorious for snorkelling and, if the waves are up, surfing - or the long sands of Oliva. Calpe has 2 great beaches, and close by is Las Salinas, an inland lagoon where flamingos are seen
- Nature is quite a draw, and opportunities for hiking, biking and fresh air open up a wild side to the Costa Blanca that tourists rarely see. Follow the goats’ trails if you dare
- Discover natural waterfalls near Callosa, a safari park near Pego, water slides at Aqualandia, and dolphins at Mundomar
- For parents interested in history there are castle ruins, hilltop forts and look-outs aplenty - legacy of the Moors
- Don’t miss Altea, a labyrinth of white-washed streets, designer shops and galleries, with seafront restaurants and a distinctive blue-domed church
- Drop in to Valencia for the day. It has a beautiful Old Town (mellow stones, orange trees, fountain’d squares), the dazzling City of Arts and Sciences (with a huge aquarium) and the Mercado Central (Europe’s largest covered food market)
Activities on site or nearby include:
- Birdwatching
- Hiking
- Historical sites
- Horse riding
- Mountain biking
- Shopping / markets
- Swimming
- Table tennis
- Tennis
- Wine tasting
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
Feedback is only from guests who have booked and stayed through i-escape