Stunning and spacious
Submitted: January 15, 2013
Stayed: January 2013
As the photos show, this house is simply stunning, and furnished with professional panache. It is very spacious, with three generous-sized bedrooms and (if I haven't left anything out) seven public rooms. We loved the several liminal spaces, open to the open air yet (except for the pool area) covered overhead. Actually the house was remarkably comfortable even when it was blisteringly hot outside. The three bedrooms have AC units and the other spaces don't, but all of the house was a real sanctuary in the heat. Breezes, few bugs (in January).
The immediate neighborhood is far less classy than the home's interior (but it isn't dangerous, and we had agreeable interactions with various neighbors). It's a changing neighborhood, but it has far to go. Be prepared for litter, building debris, plenty of dog dirt, and a rather bleak view from the front door. I say this not to discourage you from this very worthwhile rental but so that you aren't as stunned as we were on arrival.
There aren't groceries in the immediate neighborhood, though several blocks away there's an emporium of mostly packaged foods. For general shopping--produce and such--we went to Walmart across the Paseo de Montejo. You'd want a car to carry several people's groceries that far. For all I know there's something much nearer but we didn't find it. It would have been helpful if, as we'd had renting elsewhere, there'd been a folder of information about nearby resources.
We found the house spotlessly clean and supplied with ample linens. But I'd say that in spite of the obvious luxury of the renovations and furnishings, a few corners have been cut in the running of the place. The toilet seats were too small for the bowls, and the fitted sheets were skimpy for the mattresses, so that they tended to slide off. Those cushy pads you see on the poolside chaises, they've been replaced by flat ones that, once again, are too small. The flatware, glassware, and such were pretty limited. For the three bedrooms, we had only one working (universal) remote for the air conditioners, so we had to do a fancy dance to share them at night. These are tiny details: in general the home was gracious and comfortable, and it wouldn't take much to make it more so. And of course if this weren't a "luxury rental," I wouldn't have thought twice about these things. I'm a backpacker and can manage with very little when I expect to.
Recommended for:
Age 55+,
Adventure Seekers,
Girls Getaway,
Sightseeing,
Families with Teenagers,
Families with Young Children,
People with Disabilities,
Romantic Getaway
Owner's Response: Hello Ellen, thank you for your thoughtful review. I have spoken with our property manager and we are addressing the issues that you mentioned. If Merida is included in your future travel plans, I hope you will consider staying at one of our houses again. John
Helpful votes: 2/2
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