Caserio del Mirador, Spain

We visited with a 3 year old and 9 month year old baby. Our 3 year old had a ball jumping on the trampoline, feeding the animals, riding on the Shetland pony, playing with the other little ones and all the toys in our apartment. We enjoyed relaxing in this beautiful spot and the sociable dinners with baby monitor on with the other parents. Sarah and Johnny are great hosts, plying us with wine, yummy food and chat! They made us feel like friends staying at their home. I'd highly recommend it for anyone who enjoys mixing with other families and wants a relaxed time. We made new friends on our visit who we'll meet up with again.

babys first holiday and it couldnt have been easier or more lovely, easy journey, comfy beds, all the baby gear and toys and animals etc, kids tea time is great with a huge range for the children to choose from, including home cooked blended mush for my boy (and wine for the mums). If you have a baby and want a holiday this is the place. heavenly.

This was one of the best holidays we've had. That's saying alt considering our son had tonsillitis most of the time we were there. Sarah and Johnny really took such great care of us, ensured we saw an English speaking doctor, and ensured we had lots of ice cream (: the dinners were the highlight if the trip. Great to be social in the evenings after baby care all day. We'll be back.

A gorgeous house nestled in the hills near Jalon, for holidays with kids created by parents of 3 children who knew from their own experience of travelling with children just what families want and need. I know from the past that travelling with a young child can feel like hard work, not quite the relaxing break I have needed. Sarah & Jonny have got it all covered. They have everything perfected - from the stuff you need but don't want to lug onto Ryanair - like beach chairs, to toys for the kids. There is plenty for the kids to do if you don't want to venture too far - from bunnies, goats and pigs for the kids to visit to a play area and the salt water pool for them to expend some of their energy. The food is AMAZING. I can't recommend CdM highly enough. I can't wait to go back and have been raving about this to all my friends who are parents. Paradise for parents. A place where children aren't tolerated but really welcomed and fully catered for.

What an enormous shame we are not going back to this little piece of paradise this year. It's already made us break our 'don't go back to the same place twice' rule, simply by being the most lovely spot to holiday with young children.

I found it online after exhaustive searches for somewhere to stay away from the madding crowd but with pots of things for our one son to do. Here in the Spanish hills you can choose from a dip in the pool, goat-feeding, bunny-hugging, swinging on the play-frame, tramping on the trampoline, sandpit-digging, olive-grove wandering or nearby mountain pottering. Further afield pack a bag for the beach (short drive), visit and swim in a set of crystal clear waterfalls, take an evening meal down by the coast or just stay in and let the lovely Sarah cook you one of her amazing Spanish meals. Dare you not to come back with, ahem, excess baggage.

Failing all that, just pick up a book and sit by the pool, relax, read, eat and sleep - you can even book a massage while the children potter about.

This place gets five stars all the way without the toe-curling uptightness of many five-star establishments. Top of our list.

Well that's us sorted for the next 10 years. Just returned from a long weekend at Caserio del Mirador and DID NOT want to come home. We went with our little boy (17 months) and had I known how easy holidaying abroad would have been I'd have gone sooner. If you're nervous about travelling with a little one I can't reccomend this place enough.

I fear I'm going to go on but here are our thoughts:

Accommodation - you stay in your own villa which is part of the one big family house. This means you have plenty of your own space (dont feel on top of other guests) but at the same time, still have that lovely homely feel. All the obvious bits are there (as in bed, shower etc) - plus fab touches, which just make it that much easier; toys galore, nappies, wipes, cot, cot bedding (we took our own sleeping bag, but the extra blankets were appreciated) high chair, extra wolly hat for chilly evening etc. Plus wi-fi (kept hubbie quiet) and plenty of books for me.

Food. Ah, the food. Sarah the owner is a brilliant cook and we were stuffed to the brim each evening (and ahem slightly squiffy). Our little boy ate everthing and no one batted an eyelid as greenbeans and pasta flew across the dining room (little boy, not hubbie I hasten to add). Apartments have their own hob, kettle, toaster too so you can rustle up something as and when you fancy.

It was too cool for the outdoor pool, but this looks fab for the warmer months. We did however enjoy just mooching around, playing on the climbing frame, feeding the pigs & goats, petting the bunnies etc. Our little boy loved the ride-on toys they have - I enjoyed sitting doing nothing. You're out in the countryside here - cue amazing views, plenty of fresh air and the sound of silence. Ah....

We hired a car to explore the area. Driving was so easy too - although fitting a car seat at the airport with no instructions is fairly interesting! We headed out to the local village, nice for a walk around and to the beach (30minutes or so). Dont worry about packing your beach mats, buckets and spades etc, Sarah has all that to borrow. Same with buggies & carriers if you need them.

I've given this place top marks as I honestly think for a baby & toddler friendly holiday this can't be beat. Hubbie & I both said that had we know somewhere like this existed last year we would have gone sooner and we've already booked for this summer. The owners are wonderful - its a bit like going to stay with very good friends - & go out of their way to help (without appearing behind you every 10 minutes if that makes sense).

Caserio del Mirador is a lovely homely complex of 5 apartments/with shared pool and terrace/dining area. We flew to Alicante and it was just over an hour away by car. Up in the hills, you're far enough away from the busy beach areas on the coast, but within easy driving distance of the coast.
We stayed in Fernando with just two adults which was so spacious, there was definitely plenty of room to get a cot in. The decor in this and the other apartments was simple and elegant, with a slightly Eastern feel, perfect for the hot weather. They've got a variety of sizes - it'll suit whether you've got just one or are coming with a few kids.
With little kitchens in each, you could easily cook for yourself the whole time, but the real bonus is that on those nights when you really want to be on holiday but don't want to leave your little ones too far away by going out to a restaurant, you can just head up to the main terrace, where you can just relax for dinner, perhaps with some of the guests from the other apartments. Sarah's food was fab - we tried calamari, chilli prawns, mushroom croquettes for tapas, moroccan-style chicken and rice, plus tiramisu for pudding and obviously the odd (bottle) glass of wine. Kids' tea is a total bonus too - Sarah caters for all tastes and requirements, and has a knack for getting little ones eating 'tricky' foods...;clams anyone?
If you're really after beaches, there are plenty within driving distance. We went down the hill to Javea, which was a gorgeous sandy beach with palm trees u and down, and some restaurants and shops to try. We also walked over the hills to the Wine Museum, a real highlight - a short walk you could manage with slightly older kids, and a REAL interesting experience.
Aside from the lush greenery of surroundings, the pool and the kitted-out apartments, there's a real sense of enjoying an experience at Caserio del Mirador. There's a myriad of friendly farm animals - Polly and Pepe the goats, Beryl(who escaped onto the pool terrace, much to the kids' amusement!) and Cheryl, the pot-bellied pigs and Furio and Rubio the horses. Plus rabbits and cats - a real animal community for the children to get attached to. Feeding the pigs was a particular favourite, to find out if there's anything they won't eat (hint - there isn't!). In general, you get the advantages of a self-catering place, in that you're free to travel around the area doing your own thing, but with the expert advice of Sarah and Johnny, who live and breathe holidays with young children. Cots, baby monitors, age and gender-specific toys, pool toys, emergency nappies - they've got it all on hand, or will be able to get hold of it for you. And most importantly - they'll be there with a glass of vino just when you need it.
I'd really recommend the whole holiday - it's a perfect getaway particularly for those with really young kids. Great food, drinks and company for you, plenty of space to spread out and play for the kids - everyone can relax and get what they want out of the holiday.

We recently returned from our second visit to Caserio del Mirador and we would heartily recommend it to anyone with young children. From the beautiful, peaceful location to the extremely welcoming and generous hospitality of the hosts, everything is designed to ensure a really relaxing and enjoyable break for parents while children have a fantastic time too.

Our children (4 and 2) immediately made friends with others of a similar age and by halfway through the week they were popping into each other's apartments or heading to the sandpit, climbing frame or trampoline with their new friends.

One thing that we really noticed this year was the freedom it gave to our 4-year-old daughter. We live in London and so at home we are always close by her to keep an eye on traffic etc but here she was able to go around the grounds on her own completely safely. There are always adults around to keep an eye everyone's kids, and that sense of communal childcare really made our week so relaxing.

Sarah and Johnny are the most welcoming and relaxed hosts possible and they manage effortlessly to look after everyone and make them feel at home. Every apartment is supplied with age-appropriate toys, games and books and because our daughter is a voracious reader, Sarah brought us another big pile of books halfway through the week. She and Johnny are full of suggestions of places to go and things to do but frankly it was just as pleasant to hang around at the apartment, feed the pigs and goats, visit the horses, talk to the cats and chat with other parents.

Sarah's cooking is delicious and it was so fantastic to know that once we'd sorted out bedtime for the children, our supper would arrive at our apartment, with some local wine, so we didn't need to think about cooking. There is a babysitting service on offer but we didn't feel the need to go anywhere.

All in all, this is a truly wonderful holiday which I hope we'll be able to return to next year.

This is a perfect holiday destination for families - we are currently planning our 4th visit as we have seen nothing else that can offer similar quality, accommodation, meal options and childrens facilities. Our children love it and regularly ask when they can visit Sarah and Jonny again in Spain! The flexibility that is offered for meals is perfect for a family - you can be catered for or go self catering and change this on a daily basis to suit your needs - although once you have tasted Sarah's cooking you are unlikely to turn down the meals!

Caserio del Mirador is a gem of a destination. Sarah, Johnny and their children are the most wonderful hosts and make you feel as though you have gone to visit old friends - offering just the right balance of privacy and friendliness. The location is stunning, the grounds beautiful and the apartments light, airy and spacious. We booked our second holiday there before we'd even finished our first and feel sure it's somewhere we wil return to for many years yet.

The most fantastic place to take your young children ever. I'm even a little reluctant to write a review as I want to keep it as our secret. From the moment you arrive you'll be planning which week you want to come the year after.
Sarah & Johnny are the most perfect hosts. Food is fabulous as is the drink! The children have plenty to do and are happy and then so are we. We have arrived home after both our visits relaxed and ready to book again!

The day we got back from our stay at Caserio del Mirador we booked to return the following year, need I say more?? Caserio del Mirador is an amazing place, Sarah and Johnny are fabulous hosts, nothing is too much trouble, the food and wine are excellent and the accommodation and views stunning. Our little girl (23 months at the time) absolutely loved it, there is so much for children to do. For us as adults even though we were in a place that is geared up for children we felt so relaxed and because there are only a small number of families there at a time and the activities are spaced out in different parts of the grounds you never ever feel "overrun" by children. The location itself is also great although we spent most of our time at Caserio itself just relaxing and recharging our batteries. Can't wait for our return visit!

We booked very late in the day, and as usual had done very little research into where we were going and what to expect.. So when we arrived we were completely blown away. The setting is breathtaking, facilities all you could want for an active one year old and hospitality very warm and welcoming. With food prepared for you, all the kids 'stuff' provided if you want it, and a safe environment you can just turn your brain onto holiday mode and enjoy yourself. Brilliant.

I have been to Caserio del Mirador a number of times now. It is quite simply spectacular. I cannot recommend this place enough. There is a perfect balance between making sure the kids are entertained and looked after and ensuring those a little older (i.e. me) feel like they are getting an adult relaxing break. It feels like the sort of holiday we used to take before we had kids.
The food is great, the grounds are fantastic and I love the way they bring the parents together if they want to eat.
The best thing about it is that Johnny and Sarah to run the place, look after the little things, once our plane was delayed coming over and after the drive up we were shown our apartment and there was dinner there waiting for us and the kids (and a nice bottle of local wine). I was worried about finding a supermarket after the kids were put to bed for supplies, instead I was able to enjoy the first minute of the holiday.
The best thing you can say in a review though is I have already booked my week there for this summer.

Disappearing off to Spain for a holiday with two small boys and a rather fractious 12-week-old baby may seem challenging at best, and slightly bonkers at worst. But for those of us who have discovered La Casa del Mirador, Sarah and Johnny Robinson's fabulously chilled baby-friendly retreat in Valencia, it's a breeze. We've just spent a wonderful week there, and we were already planning our next trip before the plane hit the tarmac back home.

Overlooking a breathtakingly beautiful valley and surrounded by olive and orange groves, this relaxed, stylish set-up has plenty to keep children and parents extremely happy. Our apartment (with its own terrace overlooking the valley) was gorgeous, and thoughtfully kitted out with everything we could possibly want - deeply comfortable beds, toys for the kids, a DVD player, basic groceries, and so much baby clobber that we only needed to bring nappies, wipes and clothes from the UK. The Robinsons had thought of literally everything else. (Even an off-road buggy and backpacks for taking little ones out for a hike in the hills).

Sarah's mouthwatering Spanish home cooking and Johnny's generous supply of wine made for long, sociable evenings (although they'll happily deliver meals to your apartment if you're feeling reclusive). In the daytime, we'd wake up to find a breakfast of fresh croissants and bread waiting outside our door, then watch the boys zoom off to play with the other kids and to visit the Robinson's assorted goats, pigs, ponies and rabbits. Tess, our baby, had started the holiday colicky and wakeful, but after a couple of days it was obvious her dad and I weren't the only ones unwinding. The more she slept, the more she slept. By day four she was waking up for a feed, a mammoth smiling session and a bit of a burble with whoever was looking her way, before zonking straight out again. I'm convinced there's something in the air.

It was a blissful holiday. The boys loved it, we loved it, and Tess loved it. Can't wait to go back.

We have a holiday house down in Javea but we always plan a few days away in the mountains at this splendid place in a very special part of Spain. Jonny and Sarah are perfect hosts, really relaxed, excellent cooks, humorous and entertaining. The apartments are very comfortable and stylishly decorated and re-vamped regularly; we see new developments each year so a visit is never exactly like the last one. Love this place and recommend it very highly.

I loved it. The Robinsons are thoughtful hosts, and that, in itself would have made our holiday.
The apartment was beautifully simple, with crisp cotton bedding, fluffy robes and a trunk of toys for the children. The food was delicious, wholesome and locally sourced. The children loved the animals and the pool. Sarah advised us on days out and local restaurants. It was a perfect place to take young children and I thoroughly recommend it!

We stayed at Caserio del Mirador in June 2010 with our 4yr old and 1yr old. We stayed in Santa Maria which is a 2 bedroom apartment and is beautiful. It has stunning views of the Jalon hills from the balcony.

My husband and I felt completely relaxed for the whole week of our stay (which is rare with 2 young children). The children's tea prepared by Sarah is fab and made better by the fact that parents have a glass of wine or beer while the children eat.

The home cooked meals are absolutely delicious. We enjoyed meals on our balcony and also with the group (4 other families in total).

Our 2 loved the animals, pool and swings. We appreciated all the kids equipment eg buggies, colouring equipment, toys in the rooms which are available to use.

Caserio is easily reached by car from Alicante airport (just over 1hr drive). Although we loved staying around the house it was great exploring the local area too.

In summary I think the ethos of "if the children are happy then the parents are" is the perfect statement about Caserio. This is a wonderful place to stay and we look forward to returning in August.

We found Villa Jalon (Caserio del Mirador) the week after a toddler was abducted from a large resort. As a consequence we decided to take out 3 yo boy and our 12-month daughter to somewhere remote, and safe with special attention being made to little ones, and us big ones. I didn't want to cook every night; it was a holiday after all! As we were on a budget we narrowed our criteria to mainland Europe, and having driven across Spain previously sought somewhere warm and with a pool. Our first search found villajalon.com. Not believing our good luck in such a pretty ad well appointed destination I called Sarah the next day to try and reserve accommodation, as luck would have it the most ideal apartment, Pinta, was available for our chosen dates.

Having been to Sarah and Johnny's three times now flying in to Valencia is better than Alicante, but only because the city itself is so pretty. Both are just over an hour to Jalon (Xalo) and then come the trip up the mountain. Dad's it's easy to forget your wife and kids are in the car so show some restraint! By the way you will need a car, but whether you decide to explore the coast or inland you'll not be disappointed.

From the first moment you arrive your senses are overloaded with how organized the set up is and how beautiful and relaxed you'll feel. I defy anyone to wear a watch whilst at Caserio del Mirador you just won't care. The apartments are well catered for and very clean, with explanations for all the amenities in your welcome pack or from Sarah and her family. Sarah's three children are all happy to help make you welcome whilst Sarah and Johnny go out of their way to make your stay a memorable one.

Our youngest is allergic to eggs, wheat, soya, lentils' and dairy so we were concerned about what Poppy could eat or drink. Sarah went out of her way to cook especially for her when all the kids ate together circa 6pm (exc Mons and Weds). By the way Johnny is on hand with a little grown up juice to help the adults relax. Around 8pm Sarah will cater for the adults either on your little verandah or communally. The food and wine will be unlike you'll have tried before and whilst there is a cost per head at the end of the week, the wine is un-limitless and the anecdotes and knowledge form both Sarah and Johnny are un-exhaustible. He best part is the baby monitor that links your room to the communal area. It is very easy to relax and have a holiday!

In addition you'll make friends with other parents (no more than 5 couples) that will last well after the holiday if you so which. More importantly you'll make enough of a relationship to watch out for each other's kids if your other darling wants to go to the sand pit or the trampoline. By accident the pool is therefore always overlooked by an adult.

I could go on about the animals, the locale, or about the villas' features, but the best suggestion I can make is go. You'll not be disappointed and you will not want to tell others about this little gem of a destination. Be warned though the season books up, up to 12 months in advance with families not wanting to miss the following years slot! Sarah and Johnny and their family will help you have one of the most memorable toddler holiday ever.

We found Villa Jalon (Caserio del Mirador) the week after a toddler was abducted from a large resort. As a consequence we decided to take out 3 yo boy and our 12-month daughter to somewhere remote, and safe with special attention being made to little ones, and us big ones. I didn't want to cook every night; it was a holiday after all! As we were on a budget we narrowed our criteria to mainland Europe, and having driven across Spain previously sought somewhere warm and with a pool. Our first search found villajalon.com. Not believing our good luck in such a pretty ad well appointed destination I called Sarah the next day to try and reserve accommodation, as luck would have it the most ideal apartment, Pinta, was available for our chosen dates.

Having been to Sarah and Johnny's three times now flying in to Valencia is better than Alicante, but only because the city itself is so pretty. Both are just over an hour to Jalon (Xalo) and then come the trip up the mountain. Dad's it's easy to forget your wife and kids are in the car so show some restraint! By the way you will need a car, but whether you decide to explore the coast or inland you'll not be disappointed.

From the first moment you arrive your senses are overloaded with how organized the set up is and how beautiful and relaxed you'll feel. I defy anyone to wear a watch whilst at Caserio del Mirador you just won't care. The apartments are well catered for and very clean, with explanations for all the amenities in your welcome pack or from Sarah and her family. Sarah's three children are all happy to help make you welcome whilst Sarah and Johnny go out of their way to make your stay a memorable one.

Our youngest is allergic to eggs, wheat, soya, lentils' and dairy so we were concerned about what Poppy could eat or drink. Sarah went out of her way to cook especially for her when all the kids ate together circa 6pm (exc Mons and Weds). By the way Johnny is on hand with a little grown up juice to help the adults relax. Around 8pm Sarah will cater for the adults either on your little verandah or communally. The food and wine will be unlike you'll have tried before and whilst there is a cost per head at the end of the week, the wine is un-limitless and the anecdotes and knowledge form both Sarah and Johnny are un-exhaustible. He best part is the baby monitor that links your room to the communal area. It is very easy to relax and have a holiday!

In addition you'll make friends with other parents (no more than 5 couples) that will last well after the holiday if you so which. More importantly you'll make enough of a relationship to watch out for each other's kids if your other darling wants to go to the sand pit or the trampoline. By accident the pool is therefore always overlooked by an adult.

I could go on about the animals, the locale, or about the villas' features, but the best suggestion I can make is go. You'll not be disappointed and you will not want to tell others about this little gem of a destination. Be warned though the season books up, up to 12 months in advance with families not wanting to miss the following years slot! Sarah and Johnny and their family will help you have one of the most memorable toddler holiday ever.

Caserio del Mirador sells itself as a baby friendly holiday and it certainly lives up to its reputation. My husband and I along with our 21 month old son had a fantastic two week break (August 2010) and would not hesitate to recommend it for young families seeking a relaxing holiday where everyone's needs - children and adults - are catered for.

Set in the mountains, an hours drive from Alicante airport (nice cheap easyjet flights from Gatwick) it is a beautiful location nestled amongst olive and almond groves and not much else. The remoteness of the location means kids can roam freely from the pool to the trampoline to see the horses, goats or rabbits without the fear of passing cars yet it is only a 7 minute drive to the nearest bar/restaurant/supermarket and 25 minutes to our favourite beach (Calpe).

Although you are not smack bang in the middle of a holiday resort, so a car is a must have, there are plenty of things to do both on and off-site. On-site activities are mainly relaxing for the adults and swimming, playing in the sandpit/trampoline/playground/ping pong table or feeding the animals for the little ones. Within a 25-45 minute drive there are a number of lovely beaches, some nice little towns to visit (Moraira and Altea) or bigger more touristy cities (such as Denia or Benidorm), Aqualandia - a fantastic waterpark suitable for all ages from walking onwards, a funfair in the evenings (most suitable for ages 1 - 8), waterfalls and even a few mountains to climb!

The owners, Sarah and Johnny along with their children Poppy, Florence and Charlie give you just the right mixture of presence and privacy and the Robinson family are a big part in what makes this such a friendly and relaxed holiday. Sarah (the cooking) and Johnny (the drinks pouring/local history knowledge) cater for guests - kids and adults separately - each night (except Mondays and Wednesdays) and as someone who loves food I was happily impressed with the quality of both the ingredients and the cooking and, whilst all of it had a Spanish influence, there was enough variety to not get bored of eating there every night. In fact, my husband and I didn't even take advantage of the babysitting service, as we would usually, to go out for dinner. Dinners are served communally on the upstairs terrace (within baby monitor distance) or privately on your own terrace, although we ate communally both with guests and with Sarah and Johnny as it was such a nice event and a lovely relaxing evening - especially being able to stumble 5 metres to bed after all the beer, wine and desert wine served every night!

Kids teas were a nice event each evening with kids being fed a range of foods and any special requests - early feeding, fussy eating - were catered for alongside a glass of beer/wine for the parents.

Our apartment (Nina) was a large one bedroom with room for a cot or toddler bed and a small kitchen. A small TV is in the living area which sporadically picked up UK channels and in any case there were enough to keep our son entertained while we had a lie in. There was no bath but a large bucket/bowl is provided which is not ideal but fine for a holiday (and big enough for our son to sit in). Great power shower! Although this is a self catering holiday the apartments are cleaned every other day which is lovely to come back to and towels/sheets etc changed after a week if you are staying on.

The outside areas of the property are well kept, the pool is well maintained, sunloungers are freely available and there were the most comfortable outdoor sofas (perfect for a glass of wine and a book after kids are in bed!). There is an honesty bar with soft drinks, beer, wine and ice creams by the pool. There is no need to bring your own toys, books, inflatables, parasols, beach blankets/towels, buckets/spades etc as there is a communal area to borrow these and a really good selection to choose from. There is a ping pong table onsite which was a fun alternative to the pool and beauty treatments are available on site once a week.

If it all sounds good, that's because it really was and we look forward to returning to Caserio del Mirador soon.