Onsite parking is available at the property.

Tranquil retreat with private pool and beautiful gardens Reviews, Deals & Photos 2026

Q: Does Tranquil retreat with private pool and beautiful gardens have a pool?

Yes, this property has an outdoor pool.

Q: Is Tranquil retreat with private pool and beautiful gardens pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows pets (limit 1 total).

Q: Where is Tranquil retreat with private pool and beautiful gardens located?

Situated by the sea, this villa is within 2 mi (3 km) of Los Arcos, City Council of Arenas, and Fuente Árabe. Bentomiz Castle is 2.9 mi (4.6 km) away.

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Andrew V.

Jul 8, 2017

Excellent stay, lovely village, lots of history to the house

Overall a great holiday. Very tranquil but also not far from coast and lots of good walks nearby. Nice to learn about the history of the house and the Seymour-Davies's initial foray into Spanish life.

Stayed 11 nights in Jun 2017

10/10 Excellent

Minnie Riley

Jun 30, 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lovely property

Very restful break in lovely house. Thanknyou

Stayed 10 nights in Jun 2023

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Sep 15, 2013

Private village house with great pool

Daimalos is unusual in its privacy in a village setting - we loved the beautiful, mature garden and we were constantly in the good-sized tiled pool. We found different spots to sit outside depending on the heat and time of day. The house is rather old-fashioned but charming, and we enjoyed the library, the fully-stocked kitchen, convenience of the dishwasher and washing machine. Because the main bedroom is so much bigger than the second bedroom, this is a house for a family rather than two couples, although probably not for very small children or the elderly due to steps (and pool steps). If you want to be quiet, enjoy home-cooked meals on the terraces, and simply relax, this is a good choice. Lots to do and see in the wider area as well as the beach at Torre del Mar (limited options in the village itself and the nearby town) but we just stayed put and had a lovely week's rest.

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Janet W.

Aug 15, 2016

Wonderfully authentic Spanish house in small mountain village - full of character

We have just returned from 2 very relaxing weeks at Casa Daimalos. The house is an interesting family home with a well equipped kitchen, fantastic library (no need to bring any books!) and plenty of good quality outside furniture. Beach towels included. Good stable wifi which enabled my husband to follow the cricket and for our teenage daughters to keep in touch with friends via FaceTime and Skype. We spent many hours round and in the good sized pool which oversees the garden terraces which were full of oranges and figs whilst we were there. Lovely to enjoy a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice in the morning and an electric juicer is even provided! Evenings spent on the terrace under the vine were also a delight eating good food with a bottle or two of Spanish Rioja. The grapes were lovely and sweet too. Nearest restaurant 2km so car essential. We went to Competa and other local mountain villages to eat and also down in Torre del Mar which is about 30 mins down the mountain. Nerja and Frigiliana were among other places we visited and enjoyed. Local villagers very welcoming and we were invited into a couple of their houses and shown around! This is not a place for those who want lots of nightlife and a typical Costa del Sol villa. This house oozes old fashioned character and charm in a peaceful locationThe owners were very quick to respond to any questions we had and nothing was too much trouble. We hope to return!

Stayed 14 nights in Jul 2016

10/10 Excellent

Tanja K.

Nov 3, 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Ferienparadies

Diese Unterkunft am Rande eines ruhigen, weißen Dorfes in Andalusien ist ideal zum Abschalten und Erholen. Das Haus ist mit viel Liebe zum Detail eingerichtet und bestens ausgestattet. Der Garten ist ein blühendes Paradies mit beeindruckendem Baumbestand, das man während des Urlaubs ganz für sich allein hat. Ein besonderes Highlight ist der schöne Pool mit Blick auf die umliegenden Hügel. Unser Sohn hatte dank des vorhandenen Wasserspielzeugs jede Menge Spaß damit. Obwohl wir unsere Gastgeber nie gesehen haben, hat Adam es mit seinen E-Mails geschafft, dass wir uns willkommen und gut informiert fühlten. Alles, was man zum Leben braucht, bekommt man im 2 km entfernten Arenas. Direkt von Daimalos aus kann man sich auf eine gut markierte 7 km lange Wanderung begeben, die herrliche Ausblicke bietet. Weitere abwechslungsreiche, ausgeschilderte Wanderwege findet man in den Nachbardörfern (Corumbela, Archez, Competa). Casa Daimalos ist ein herrlicher Ort zum Verweilen und um die nähere Umgebung zu erkunden. Da sich die kurvenreiche Strecke nach Vélez-Málaga hinunter zieht, eignet es sich aber weniger aus Ausgangsbasis für Reisende, die häufig ans Meer fahren möchten oder mehrere große Touren (etwa nach Granada, zum Caminito del Rey o.ä.) planen.

Stayed 7 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Gary M., London Uk

Oct 19, 2022

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lovely house in a great location

I’ve been holidaying in this area for fifteen years and this probably one of the nicest houses I’ve stayed in. It’s a traditional large village house with nicely proportioned rooms, very clean and tidy, equipped with everything you need to feel at home. Great outside space, the garden is peaceful and private with mature plants and trees and a lovely swimming pool, I spent a relaxing ten here, I really didn’t want to leave. I wish I’d discovered this house earlier

Stayed 10 nights in Oct 2022

10/10 Excellent

George M., Brandenburg, Deutschland

Oct 27, 2021

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Haus mit Tradition

Abgeschieden und doch nur 30 Minuten weg vom Meer und durch das Internet verbunden mit der Welt. Wanderungen in der Umgebung in malerischer Landschaft. Südfrüchte vom Baum ernten, Mandeln ernten und in der eigens dafür vorgesehen Maschine knacken. Wundervolle andalusische Kacheln, antike Einrichtung und doch moderne Küchengeräte. Mein Lieblingsplatz waren die Fenster-Erker mit Blick ins Tal.

Stayed 15 nights in Oct 2021

10/10 Excellent

Colin W.

Aug 15, 2021

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Tranquil and Picturesque

We stayed here in August and enjoyed our stay immensely. There is a great view down the valley and the property offered everything we needed, especially the pool!

Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2021

10/10 Excellent

per p.

Aug 13, 2020

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

perfect and peaceful

Wonderful house, that did not feel like a sterile rental house. Lots of charm and soul, the kitchen is great, the garden is beautiful and we enjoyed a week of perfect peace. Only downside was that we were not able to already book again for our fall holiday

10/10 Excellent

Martin Turner

Jul 20, 2020

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fabulous long weekend away

A thoroughly enjoyable long weekend in Villa Daimalos. The location is pretty, tranquil with a lovely characterful villa with a great pool and views. Highly recommended. Our queries were instantly dealt with in a friendly and efficient manner, a great experince all round. Thank you Adam & family.

Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2020

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveler

Oct 20, 2019

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wundervoller Ort

Es war ein sehr sehr schöner Aufenthalt in diesem wunderschönen Haus. So geschmackvoll, gemütlich und einladend eingerichtet. Alles da, was man braucht. Der wundervolle pool in der schönen Außenanlagen haben uns hier eine tolle Woche verbringen lassen. Jeder Zeit gern wieder.

Stayed 7 nights in Oct 2019

10/10 Excellent

Mark F.

Jul 31, 2019

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Chilled out week in Spain!

We had a fantastic week at this property. If you wanting a week of chilling, reading, cooking and just relaxing then this is the place for you. We spent most of our time floating on the pool, relaxing. The villa has got a wonderful library which entertained us for the whole week. The village itself is very remote, so make sure you do a big shop before heading up to the villa. There is a small shop on Arenas, but it did not stock much. All in all we had a wonderful time. Thank y

Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2019

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Angela M.

Nov 26, 2017

Wonderful vacation!

We stayed almost two weeks in Daimalos and had a fabulous vacation! The house is situated in a very tiny little typical Andalusian village with a beautiful view of the surrounding hills and the Mediterranean Sea in the distance. From the outside the house is rather inconspicuous. Inside there is lots of space and it is beautifully furnished with original Spanish and some English elements. It certainly is something very special! A real home away that breathes the owner's love for culture, style, literature, and foreign people. It has a very personal atmosphere. You come in on the first floor, where there is a nice double room with a beautiful view, an access to a little roof terrace and a bathroom en suite with a bath tub. Whenever you continue down the steps you enter a vast living room with an amazing library full of classical and modern English literature (gorgeous!!), a comfortable sitting corner by the fireplace (very good for the winter!) and a big dinner table. The kitchen is very well equipped! On the same floor there is a twin bed-room and another bathroom with a shower and a washing machine. Everything was clean and tidy. The beds are very comfortable, the showers have a very good water-jet. The whole garden as well as the pool are very clean and well kept. There is erything you need for barbecue. We didn't buy bread in the village but always went into Velez Malaga for shoppings. We did go to Arenas a few times. There are a few bars around and shops for basics, although we were always unfortunate to come at a time where everything was closed (siesta!). The people are very friendly! We ate once at the little restaurant on the road to Daimalos but only got deep frozen food. Otherwise the food was always very fresh and very good, especially the fish-dishes! We were very lucky with the weather for November - only sunny and warm except for one day of rain. We did some beautiful hikes in the area, drove to the sea and saw the main Andalusian cities of the area. The communication with the owner was very easy, quick, sympathetic, and very welcoming! Thank you Adam for everything! We certainly had a wonderful time and would love to come back!

Stayed 12 nights in Nov 2017

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Juliette C.

Nov 8, 2017

Just perfect

Exactly what we were looking for. Quiet, characterful, comfortable and beautiful. The garden was stunning. The bookshelf was bursting with classics of all varieties. The kitchen was well equipped. The little shops in Arenas were wonderful, and certainly well stocked enough for everyday cooking. We wanted to stay forever!

Stayed 6 nights in Oct 2017

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Annie M.

Aug 21, 2017

Great week at Casa Daimalos

Nous avons passé une semaine très agréable à Casa Daimalos. La maison est confortable et le jardin et la piscine sont parfaitement tenus. La mer est à 20 minutes par une route panoramique splendide. Nous recommanderons votre maison à nos amis.

Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2017

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Tessa Dunn

Sep 11, 2016

Captivating village house in stunning location.

From the moment we walked into Villa Daimalos we knew that our stay there was going to be special. Set against mountains close to a village but in a very private location there is a magical sense of timelessness about the place, partly due to the amazing library of books there which is truly impressive and also due to the love and care that has clearly been put into its creation. As for outside the pool is perfect , the fountains entrancing, the ambiance relaxing and the view? It's breathtaking. We have all been put under its spell and hope to return to see it again in all seasons. Thank you to Adam and his family for all their help. Best wishes, Tessa, Chris, Daisy and Arran Dunn.

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Rachel G.

Aug 22, 2016

A tranquil Andalucian 'home from home' with stunning views

We really enjoyed our stay here. The villa is beautiful throughout, and the lovely gardens are well maintained. The pool was in good order and clean, and with plenty of chairs and loungers about it was easy to relax both in and out of the water. Inside, the kitchen is very well-equipped, so once we'd done a big grocery shop at Eroski in Velez-Malaga, self-catering was very easy. We also appreciated the electric fans and the well-stocked library. There was lots of information left by the owners and previous visitors about interesting things to do in the area, but with temperatures between 30 and 40° (mid August) we spent most of our time 'at home'. We'll have to go back at another time of year! We really appreciated being able to order a food parcel in for our arrival late on Saturday night, and in fact all communication with the owners was excellent. Thank you very much, Seymour-Davieses, it was just the summer holiday that we were hoping for.

Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2016

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Clare C.

Jul 9, 2016

Spacious, private, well equipped, full of character, magnificent terrace, garden and pool.

The moment we opened the door we were delighted. We loved the character of the house with its tiles and wood. It was beautifully cool on hot days - designed for cross breezes. The ambiance of the little medieval village perched on the hill was pleasant and the views stunning. The house, being a family home, is well equipped with everything from CDs, library, games to mosquito coils and garlic crusher. We enjoyed preparing meals and bbq. We shared the house with friends and felt that we each had plenty of space with a bathroom each. We've been travelling for a while so it was great to unpack and do some washing. We were quickly calling the villa home! We loved the garden with its citrus trees. And the terrace and pool was where we began and ended each day. Some days we stayed "home", others we explored the local villages. We loved Competa and Arenas was nice too. For beaches we went to Torre del Mar and Nerja. As recommended by the hosts we went to the Bodegas Bentomiz for tasting and lunch which was excellent. The house was clean and set up to be welcoming by Scott the caretaker. He was friendly, accommodating & responsive to our needs. Overall a great holiday experience.

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

8/10 Good

Jun 16, 2014

Perfect

A group of us visited Daimalos for the first time to attend a friend's wedding nearby. The villa exceeded expectations, and had stunning views, huge pool and garden area, and a lovely authentic feel to it. We had a perfect week having lilo fights in the pools, relaxing sunbathing and lovely evenings sat in the terrace. So relaxing and we never once felt the need to explore anywhere else. It was a shame we discovered the shop & bakery in stunning Arenas so late on as that actually had all the little extras we needed. Only downside would be the dog that kept inviting itself in and wouldn't leave (!) and the very difficult driving directions (they could have been 5 bullet points not 5 pages as it was actually very easy to find). Apart from that perfect - we'd certainly come again, excellent value and just what we all needed! Thank you!

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Corinna S., England

Jun 13, 2014

Tranquil secluded and authentic retreat

We would very much like to thank Sheila and Steve for being wonderful unobtrusive yet helpful when required hosts. The directions sent were acurate and we arrived without a hitch. Sheila and Steve greeted us and ensured we gained entry to the property and then left us to settle in and said they were just across the road if we needed anything- which is what we like. The Villa is a thoroughly charming property, with facilities completely in order and extremely pleasing- well stocked library, clean pool and inside/outside furniture, original artworks on display, plenty of crockery and good firm mattresses on the beds. The garden is a secluded delight- with a plethora of fruit trees which will of course drop fruit and leaves ( the outside had been immaculately swept for our arrival and Sheila and Steve said they would come in and do the garden throughout our visit but honoured our quiet times) in addition the birds sing in the trees which we love- however for those that don't like the above we can recommend any characterless properties elsewhere! It is a steep path down to the Villa about 10m and it is a rural village setting- stated in the property description. The Villa is a perfect private place to unwind in peace. Sheila and Steve offer to get shopping if you require before your arrival and any questions they're on hand to promptly sort out or answer and were extremely pleasant. Villa Daimalos a wonderful secluded retreat, thank you.

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

8/10 Good

Jun 4, 2014

Full of character, lovely garden

We have recently returned from our second visit to Daimalos. The first was last September, and we enjoyed it so much that we felt we had to come back. I’m glad we did, because the two seasons have been so different. Autumn was a time for relaxing by the pool, whereas in spring the exotic trees and shrubs are coming into flower and it’s warm enough for lunch outside every day, but still cool enough for walking in the hills. In terms of the house, it’s not a typical buy-to-let Costa del Sol Villa, but very much a family home, with shelves of books, family photos, and a lived-in feel which we found part of its appeal! But despite the slightly chaotic informality, it has a well-equipped kitchen, WiFi and smart TV, and it’s clear that since our first visit that the owners have spent time and thought into improving the pool-side tiles and supplying new loungers and tables, which are a marked improvement on the last ones! Parking is still a bit of a problem, but Steve and Sheila (the owners) will always help you out with any assistance you need. Visitors should be aware that the villa is in a very small village that is charming to walk around, but lacking shops or restaurants. This didn’t bother us in the slightest as we bought food and drink whenever we drove down to the coast. The villa is primarily a place to get away from it all and relax with a good book, and so suited us perfectly! All in all a quirky place, but we would certainly recommend it.

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

2/10 Terrible

Alan J.

May 20, 2014

Horrendous Experience !

We arrived at the property after 5pm, Sunday as requested by the owner. The first difficulty we encountered was parking our car in order to unpack our suitcases, access to the house is by a very steep path. We were asked to move the car to the village square by the owner as no parking space available by the property. Upon entering the property we were horrified at the condition that it had been left, it was obvious that the house had not been cleaned prior to our arrival. Conditions included, dirty windows completely covered in cobwebs, dust and crumbs on floor and furniture, one seat was covered in sand. Small portable TV was broken but with a "post it" note informing that the DVD did work (DVD's provided were samples from Daily Mail and years old!) The refrigerator had left over food inside and the ice box was in need of a serious defrost! Rotten jar's of preserves found in food cupboards. Musty smell throughout property due mostly to the vast amount of ancient books. Outside the property was even worse, old warped plastic patio furniture, garden hoses strewn across patio area, overgrown greenery and fallen fruit which had been allowed to rot on the ground. Patio area was covered in leaves, broken tiles in and around the pool, two garden fountains were smelly and covered in algae which attracted the mosquitos. We could continue but suffice to say we only stayed one evening at this horrendous property, the one saving grace being the wi fi access which helped us make good our escape at 9am the next morning and out of pocket for the experience. The owners were not willing to discuss our complaints despite numerous e mails, texts and phone calls, and in fact put the phone down on us and refused to discuss the matter any further. We went back to the property a few days later to try and speak to the owner however we were met with poor custormer service and again refusal to discuss our complaints. We can only advise you not to make the same mistake that we did and find alternative accommodation to stay. As this "quaint" spanish village was full of ex pat's and the only people we spoke to there were English. No doubt Sheila and Steve will dispute these complaints however we have been to Spain on numerous occasions and know that there are beautiful properties with really professional owners/agents. We both like to think of ourselves as honest, reasonable people and would like to endorse the findings of the French people who stayed prior to us. Mr.Mrs Jones

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

8/10 Good

Cheryl B., Norfolk

Sep 16, 2013

Beautiful Daimalos

yet another relaxing holiday spent in the charming Villa Daimalos.Rustic and laid back, and in a very peaceful location. Lazy days spent under the lemon tree , and dipping into the pool to cool off. An abundance of books to read , and wifi connection for our teenage sons to keep in touch with the rest of the world! My husband did his usual early morning walks in the beautiful countryside .Sheila and Steve who look after the property offer walking trips, and we would recommend these to those who are not familiar with the area. Sheila and Steve will also stock up on provisions if you send them a shopping list prior to your arrival, and are on hand if you need any other help during your stay. Beaches, shops etc are a short car journey away......but we tend to stock up and just 'chill out' in this beautiful location. Yes, another laid back holiday in Daimalos and we will be back again next year....becoming a bit of a family tradition!

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