Looking for a place along the Basque coast near the French and Spanish border to spend a few weeks with our son, I came across this traditional, spacious Basque home. The home is charming, cozy, quiet and incredibly relaxing. Our hosts Maite and Eduardo have been a dream. Check-in couldn't have been easier or more enjoyable. We were looking for a couple of days of relaxation and we found it. Our hosts texted us before arriving for added assistance. They were there to let us in personally and give us a detailed tour of the home.
Not only is it spacious and have everything you need, it is very comfortable... from the beds to the cushioned chairs in the kitchen to the living room couch and arm chair.
The home has nice views overlooking the town of Irun and the property both inside and out is very peaceful. Street parking is free and there is always something available.
The interior is complete and utter eye candy, from the hardwood floors throughout the home to the ceramic kitchen and bathroom tiles. The kitchen has a comfortable layout with a large stainless steel fridge / freezer with smudge and fingerprint proof doors, plenty of counter space, a brand new stove top / cooker, a washing machine, detergent, a dishwasher, a stainless steel oven, TWO coffee makers, a toaster, a microwave, coffee and teas, sugar and salt, oil and vinegar, plenty of pots and pans... everything needed to cook good, wholesome meals....a must when traveling!!! Varied drinks are provided for your arrival including fruits juice, coke, beer and a bottle of hard apple cider, typical of this region. Fresh oranges and lemons picked right from their own lemon and orange trees in the home's front garden (one can't get any fresher or more organic than that!!) await you on the fruit tray placed on the counter in front of the kitchen window. Oh, and did I mention that there is a large, heavy duty, free standing juice presser that sits on the window sill in the kitchen to make fresh lemon and/or orange juice from the lemons and oranges provided? Attention to detail has not been skimped on in this home.
The living room and upper level of the home have a wood structure that creates a gentle aroma throughout this part of the home that is incredibly soothing to the senses, something that I'm sure to miss after our stay. It's creates an overall pleasantness that will more than likely make you want to come back to enjoy just one more time.
The living room has a large screen Sony television set in a dark wood wall cabinet that has all kinds of family details to make you feel like "one of the family" during your stay. The couch and the armchair in the living room are very comfortable, so much so that you might find yourself nodding off into a gentle nap that you may not have planned on. The upper level of the home, which is accessed by the wooden staircase set along the side wall in the living room, is incredibly spacious, with two individual beds and an ample work space where 1, 2 or even 3 individuals can get computer or other work done that may need to completed during one's stay. There is also an area dedicated to little children with a table, chairs and toys to keep them entertained for some time. Between the work station and beds lies a wide range of books for the avid reader, however, I believe that they are all in Spanish so if you're not fluent, you may want to bring a book of your own from home and enjoy it in this laid back, lofty area, part of the home.
The bathroom is spacious and pleasant to the eye. The shower is is powerful and the showerhead is lightweight and easy to maneuver (doesn't tire your hand or wrist) The temperature can be set to exactly where you want it as it has a thermostat control to the right of the base mounted to the wall of the shower stall. The bathroom is provided with plenty of towels, hand soap on the sink and body wash or liquid soap, shampoo and conditioner in the shower stall. There is also a bar soap holder on the bathroom sink in case you've decided to bring your favorite soap bar from home to use while traveling. After showering, if you open the window just a few inches or centimeters, the entire bathroom airs out quickly and the full sized mirror clears up in seconds. I was thinking about wiping down the inside part of the shower doors to avoid water stains, but by opening the window for a few minutes, you don't need to. Plus the shower doors have some kind of clear decorative plastic attached to them that make it look as if water droplets are dripping down the inside of the doors and the effect is both charming and practical as it removes the need to be constantly making an effort to keep everything looking freshly wiped down. I found little details like this throughout the home that really left an impression on me. For instance, the hand soap itself smells like one I've only ever found in grocery stores in Spain and I believe it's called "La Toja". This brand has a very distinct scent which I absolutely love....it smells like heaven. You'll have to mention if you feel the same. The soap dispenser itself looks like it's made of porcelain, it's that catching to the eye, but it's actually a very well designed soft plastic. As a mother I'm always looking for such little finds that add beauty and detail to a home yet are safe for children who might be underfoot... or adults who might be feeling tired and a tad bit clumsy.
The beds are firm and very comfortable. The décor in the bedrooms is relaxing