What guests say

We have stayed in many villas in Spain, Greece and France and El Monte Bajo is definitely the best by far.
A fantastic property in a perfect setting with beautiful views from the garden & pool area which is very private.
Beautifully decorated and furnished, inside & out & spotlessly clean, it is a very special place.
Great communication when booking with the owner, Danny, & we arrived to a freshly prepared salad and a bottle of wine chilling in the fridge. The housekeeping, garden & pool team do a brilliant job.
We didn’t explore the area as much as we usually would because we were so comfortable in the villa.
Thank you, a perfecto holiday!

My partner and I spent 3 weeks in El Monte Bajo in January and we loved everything about it. The Villa is spacious; comfortable; very well equipped and with rustic but luxurious charm. Breakfasts were almost always eaten on the verandah to enjoy the wonderful views (more of which later). The kitchen area with its huge island was so warm and welcoming that we always dined there in the evening, although there is an attractive separate dining area. After dinner the very large and elegant lounge beckoned with its deep and comfortable cushions, views to the mountains and garden. The large corner tv has a good range of English speaking channels to choose from. The bedrooms are all tastefully furnished. We slept in the master bedroom which had views looking out towards the mountains and the most comfortable mattress I have ever slept on. The ensuite bathroom was spacious with a splendid soft water shower that made you want to linger.
Even though it was January we benefited from good temperatures and plenty of sunshine during the daytime but the evenings could sometimes be a little chilly. This was not a problem though, because the Villa has plenty of wall mounted and portable heaters which work extremely well and also the best wood burning stove that we have ever encountered.
Outside the large verandah looks onto the most beautiful, extensive garden with lawned area, pool and cabana, several different seating areas, pretty flower beds, colourful climbing plants, tall palm trees and ponds with fountains, little fish and lots of frogs. From a distance we would sometimes see a few frogs basking in the sunshine but whenever we approached they would jump remarkably swiftly into the water and burrow into the mud on the bottom of the pond. You would be lucky to catch sight of the frogs but would often hear a series of “plopping” sounds and see ripples on the water. One day I counted 14 such “plopping” noises!!
In addition to the glory of the garden during the day … there was more to come! At night the garden is beautifully lit by many coloured lights which come on automatically and transform it into a magical place which we never tired of looking at. Even inside the house the many large windows allow you to continue to enjoy the wonderful illumination. It’s like visiting Edinburgh botanic gardens at Christmas time – just exquisite!
From booking El Monte Bajo and throughout our stay there Danny, the owner, could not have been more helpful with information and advice when needed. He also has an excellent team of people who helped to make our stay a special time. Ana had prepared a salad and provided us with other goodies which were much appreciated and saved us the trouble of having to go shopping or find somewhere to eat immediately following our arrival. Also on her weekly visits to clean Ana was friendly and helpful and nothing was too much trouble for her. Jose also was exceptionally helpful and very attentive to making sure that everything in the property was in good working order. He was also kind enough to help us with a delivery issue that had nothing to do with the Villa and went out of his way to help us try to resolve it. The gardeners Alejandro and Antonio were friendly and unobtrusive and did a wonderful job keeping the garden looking at it’s best.
We really cannot fault this Villa and plan to return to it, maybe next year. We highly recommend it. The only thing to note if you stay here is that the reason you get such wonderful views of the mountains, Nerja and the sea is because the villa is on top of a hill that climbs quite steeply so we would recommend you have a car or, if you do not drive, be prepared to use taxis.
Thank you Danny, Ana, Jose, Alejandro and Antonio for everything. We look forward to returning soon.

Our family of 5 (including 3 teens) just spent an unforgettable week at El Monte Bajo- so perfect in its unpretentious, rustic charm and impeccable quality. Our kids approve of the strong wifi, indoor/ outdoor music streaming systems and effective air con especially! There are so many unique and interesting features to the decor (inside and out). We were captivated by the views of the mountains and the sea; at night-time the tranquil garden transforms into a multi-coloured jewel. There are ample seating areas, a wonderful pool complete with a well-equipped cabana. All of these complimented by a cute outdoor visitor (a black cat 🐈‍⬛), a helpful and personable owner (Danny), always ready to answer our questions, and a wonderful, dedicated and friendly team of locals who take care of the place. We feel totally spoiled and completely refreshed, hoping to return soon!

I stayed at El Monte Bajo in Feb-March for a week; partly on my own and partly with my husband. I'm not easily impressed (I tend to be a little on the "seen it all, done it all" side I'm afraid) but I must say, no words I write would ever do justice on how wonderful El Monte Bajo is. Everything you see on this website is of course true and real – but I promise, once you actually get there, you'll think "oh, this looks even better than in the pictures"! And just to be clear – yes it was quite large a house for a party of 1 to 2 people! I felt like royalty to be honest 🙂

This house is not only full of rustic countryside charm, but it is also impeccably clean, and every detail you could imagine is of highest quality. There is 100% comfort in every aspect: convenient parking, perfectly equipped kitchen, highest quality bedding, plentiful bathrooms, air con to keep the temperature just right. And oh, air play connected loudspeakers even by the pool. And absolutely beautiful ad tasteful design in everything.

Danny, the owner, is most reliable and genuinely interested in your wellbeing and comfort. He clearly loves this property and succeeds in keeping it absolutely tip top with his wonderful onsite team. Danny also makes sure that you find the property without issues, and also makes sure you know how to operate things in the house.

Did I mention the fantastic view, the spacious pool, the frog pond and the cat? I think you just have to go and see for yourself 🙂

We have just completed our 4th visit to these wonderful properties but just had our first to Al Ladino. All three previous occasions we stayed in El Monte Bajo, so we are in a great position to be able to compare the two. We are not usually in the habit of coming back to the same place for a holiday over and over again. However, Nerja has held a special place in our heart over the years after holidaying here a couple of times when our children were young. We chanced across Danny’s villa when planning a return holiday 2/3 years ago, now the children have grown and flown the nest. The stunning location, charm and standard of the properties have brought us back several times since. We see ourselves coming back again and again as we love it here and can see that as our family grows again, with grandchildren etc, we will have many options on how to enjoy this flexible quality accommodation. If you are considering booking then don’t hesitate, you can’t fail to love it and Danny is a friendly, efficient & helpful host. It would be easy to think that maybe you get something less by staying at Al Ladino rather than El Monte Bajo but that isn’t the case. Both villas are of exceptional quality. The only thing that’s different is size. Al Ladino is a charming two bedroom property. Arguably it has the best master bedroom suite of the two properties but the master suites in both properties benefit from double his and hers sinks, large walk-in showers and a bath! The only real difference is that Al Ladino has two bedrooms vs El Monte Bajo’s 4, a smaller pool and a smaller garden. It’s more laid to patio than the large grassed area in the property next door but does have really good outdoor space including a large brick BBQ. El Monte Bajo has stunning gardens with more space and greenery. I think Al Ladino has marginally better views of the mountains and coastline due to the hedge height being just that little bit lower but they are both amazing. If you are 4 people or less, then Al Ladino is perfect. El Monte Bajo with the recently added bedroom (although we haven’t seen it yet) is superb for larger groups and El Monte Bajo has a fabulous well equipped kitchen and more internal living space. If you’re more than 8 then you could easily combine both properties and have 6 double bedrooms only separated by garden gates but cleverly designed for privacy and quiet, if you are only using one of the properties. All bedrooms are en-suite and each one is roomy and delightful so no-one has to take the compromise room, which can often happen when large family groups or friends are holidaying together. I’d say if you’re wondering whether to book either property do it! I can’t imagine for one minute anyone being disappointed. You need a hire car or be prepared to use taxis for transport, which are easy to find and it’s only 10 minutes into town, it is on top of a very steep hill, hence the amazing views.

We had the most wonderful time in the most wonderful Villa. It was remarkable the way the view of the garden, and the view in general, when you opened the front door would take your breath away each and every time. It is nothing short of an oasis in the incredibly hot and dry weather at this time of the year.

Another remarkable aspect is the attention to detail all round the Villa. It was very apparent that a lot of thought had gone into the way the furniture, fixtures and fittings and facilities would be set up all round the Villa, in exquisite detail, to maximise comfort and convenience.

The way the Villa is furnished and decorated in it's rustic style is absolutely magnificent and gives it such a homely feel. You do, indeed, feel very much at home and fully relaxed. The beds were so comfortable, the en-suite bathrooms were immaculately and beautifully designed and provided, the Living room was large and splendid, and the kitchen…well, no matter how great the Villa was all round, I'd like to single it out for particular praise; it is such a huge and beautiful kitchen and such a multi-purpose island in the middle that I spent a lot of time there carrying out work on my laptop first thing in the morning and not just preparing breakfast, lunch, etc.

Danny and I were in regular contact, he was so keen that we enjoy our stay at the Villa. His restaurant recommendations / suggestions were very welcome and pretty much spot on, his instructions to get to the Villa were perfect, and his fact sheet / information sheet on how to operate the various devices around the Villa were ideal.

We have shared photos and videos of the Villa with friends and family who have been wowed by it, and I would most definitely recommend 'El Monte Bajo', and would recommend it very highly indeed.

We spent a family holiday week in El Monte Bajo (and the neigbouring Al Ladino) and were bowled over by the quality of the accommodation, the extensive garden and large private pool. Al Ladino has been reviewed on its own website wwww.alladino.com/reviews The impressive maintenance and cleaning services, regular communication from Danny before and during our holiday and attention to detail is phenomenal. El Monte Bajo is a breathtaking property. The villa is spacious and yet intimate, the garden is spectacular with nooks and crannies and different areas for relaxing. The pool is huge and there are 2 ponds with the noisiest frogs imaginable! There were 8 of us and it was easy to lose each other in the villa and garden, although our favourite times were when we got together to eat & drink on the verandah. It is very difficult to put El Monte's character into words … the photos and videos give only part of the picture.
We would definitely love to return one day and we're confident that it will remain as peaceful, practical and awesome as it is today.

We have just returned from a family holiday in El Monte Bajo. What can I say ?? It’s all been said before. The villa and garden are magical. The villa is furnished beautifully & is enhanced by the lighting at night. The garden is wonderful with plenty of seats in both sun & shade. The views of the sea & mountains are breathtaking. At night the lighting turns it into an enchanted garden. As others have said it is so peaceful & relaxing we spent a lot of time at the villa- far more than at previous rentals & we wanted to get back every afternoon. Ana left us a lovely welcome basket & Danny was in touch by email to ask if there were any problems ( there weren’t).

My sister-in-law wanted to adopt the stray cats & we were entertained by looking for the frogs in the pools & the noise they made.

The villa is spotlessly clean & the gardens well cared for. The team are obviously proud of the villa & gardens.

Thank you for sharing this beautiful home with us.

The Grants.

We have returned from our first visit to El Monte Bajo but not Nerja. We absolutely loved the villa and the garden and we had the bonus of sunny weather. The views, the attention to detail, the welcome pack – it’s all been said in other reviews. Thanks to Danny and his team for making this so memorable. Nothing was too much trouble.

We stayed in El Monte Bajo 1-8th September and what a treasure it is!

It's hard to say anything about this beautiful villa, pool and garden, that hasn't already been said.

Three generations of family stayed and enjoyed all it's comforts including a fabulous birthday/anniversary meal cooked for us by two local Spanish ladies, Nelli and Anna.

We know the area around Nerja, which is fortunate, as we too found it hard to leave the villa!

If you want comfort, peace and tranquillity, stunning views and you just want to slow life down, El Monte Bajo is the place for you!

Many thanks to Danny, who could not have been more helpful and to his team for making our week what we hoped it would be.