Casa Rural El Rivero

The house is in good condition externally, with an incredible garden that brings great serenity. It must have been an impressive summer house, but it remains exactly as it was built in 1975. This means it needs complete renovation, including plumbing, pipes, and electrical wiring. The bathrooms, bedrooms, windows, and the kitchen—which the description describes as retro, but isn't just retro, it's from that era without any investment—are from before the days of the TV series "Cuéntame." It's actually two separate kitchens, one for the staff and the other for the owners' meals. All the utensils are old and worn, and the linens and dish towels are quite pathetic. The rooms are anything but welcoming; they're straight out of that era. The bathrooms are dreadful, so very old that one of the toilets is loose, and the one in the staff room next to the staff kitchen is in deplorable condition. Besides being very old, the toilet seat falls off constantly every time you sit down, and the bowl rings are misaligned. By the way, the photo of that room on the website is inaccurate, as those floral quilts and cushions have been replaced by old bedspreads from that period. The wardrobe is also in terrible condition, with doors that don't close properly. The bathtub has an unused water heater hanging from the ceiling, and it's all rusty and lined with patchwork leftover tiles. Add to all this the lack of cleanliness, the old, scratchy, and insufficient towels, and the lack of signage and lighting to guide you there. It's a real shame because the house must have been impressive for its time, but if the owners don't invest in it, the houses deteriorate, and I don't know how they continue to rent this house in these conditions without being aware of the need for a complete renovation. They certainly don't value it much. Not recommended at all as a place to stay because it's in such a shabby state. Note: the ping pong paddles were bought by a couple who rented it a year ago, according to the review, and they already need replacing. They haven't even bothered to invest in that.

October 2025

The house is very large, with plenty of space, which was perfect for our large group (17 people and 1 pet). The dining area has enough tables and chairs for everyone. There are several other rooms, but only one has air conditioning. During the first few days, when it was normally hot for summer, the house was quite warm (there had been a heatwave the previous week), and we wished there were more air-conditioned rooms. There are two fully equipped kitchens: a small refrigerator, a large refrigerator, a chest freezer, and a dishwasher. There are also stovetops, but some of the burners weren't working properly. The kitchenware is well-supplied (glasses, plates, cutlery, etc.), although the cooking utensils (pots, pans, casseroles, etc.) are usable but very outdated, and many are in poor condition (missing handles, food sticking, etc.). The washing machine is in a separate room; we didn't use it because access requires speaking with the caretakers of the property, who live on the premises in a house attached to the rental property. Their house is clearly visible from the pool area. The bathrooms need attention. The toilet next to the kitchen has a damaged seat and ring. When you sit down, it comes loose and falls directly onto your back. Another toilet is detached from the floor and moves every time you sit down. At least one shower curtain is tattered. Some towels also smelled musty. There are some loose floor tiles, and even a small spike (presumably from an old stopper) when getting out of the bathtub, posing a risk of cuts or punctures. The hot water takes a while to arrive, but it does come out with good pressure and temperature. The double bedrooms have a small ceiling fan. Some are cooler than others, due to the layout of the house. The two bunk room bedrooms had a standing fan (one had two, but one wasn't working). Some of the furniture and kitchenware need servicing and/or replacement (some chairs are broken, tablecloths have holes and stains, etc.). The pool and surrounding gardens are well-maintained. The sports court is in use, but the surface is uneven in places. The cleaning is quite basic; there are areas that clearly haven't been cleaned in a long time (cobwebs, layers of accumulated dust, etc.). The house is clearly old and was built with good materials, but it needs more maintenance and renovation. The house is easily accessible and well located for exploring the Vera Valley.

September 2025

The surroundings and location are spectacular. The house would be amazing if it were a bit more maintained, but it's very old, and although it's clean, the condition of the bathrooms, kitchen, etc., is quite detracting. There's no exterior lighting at night. The experience was very good; the living room windows offer spectacular views, and the living rooms are huge with a ping-pong table. We had to buy some paddles because the ones we had were broken. There's always a caretaker who lives there, and although you don't see him while you're there, it's worth mentioning that he's present during your stay. Repairs to the bathrooms, kitchens, and the doors that don't close properly would be very helpful.

January 2025

An excellent option for a relaxing weekend getaway with children and friends. Everything in this house is very spacious, from the beautiful green areas to the interior spaces. The furniture, kitchenware, linens, and general furnishings are quite old but very well maintained and add to the charm. With a swimming pool, barbecue, and paddle tennis court, there's never a dull moment. As a final suggestion, I would recommend stocking up on fly repellent, as the rural location means there are many flies, and they easily enter the dining and living areas.

July 2023

A disaster of a house! Very large, spacious... It must have been amazing at one time, but now it's completely neglected. Blinds that won't go up, others without even cords, broken doors covered with stickers, ancient beds... It's clear the house used to be fantastic, but it hasn't been maintained. The only things that are maintained are the pool and the lawn, which are very nice. The furniture is old, but that's not the problem... it's that it's been neglected and many things are unusable. Definitely not for me.

October 2023