A villa with private pool & mature gardens with views of a Moorish Castle

My wife & I stayed at Casa Mimosa in mid September 2012 and fell in love with the place. We can only echo all the reviews below outlining how amazing the villa was, how great hosts Helen & Steve's were, including a trip to the supermarket which without their guidance you would not find.

The villa is about a 30 min drive from the airport even with some traffic and a few missed turns. We had a car for the week but we spent most of the week just relaxing around the villa, taking in the sounds and sights of surrounding mountains from the comfort of the poolside. We loved listening to the distant donkey ee-ooring and its echoes on the mountains, the sounds of the cockerils shouting from sunrise each day and then late afternoons the neighbours riding home on horseback from working in the village.

The villa is extremely well kitted out, all possible kitchen utensils. There are amazing dining facilities, entertainment facilities (Bose CD and DVD system, TV, Sky).

We will definitely return for a week, probably once again going for a winter sun trip, we would not have been able to survive a 40 degree summer, although with aircon in every room and an amazing pool there are plenty of ways to keep cool. Next time we will explore surrounding towns and villages but again use the time to also relax around the villa as it really is a perfect getaway.

Tip: if you like reading, do not take a suitcase of books like we did. There are several book cases filled with all sorts of books ranging from fiction to learning languages, cooking, buying homes, setting up businesses etc.

I can pay Helen and Steve no greater complement than this. We have never stayed anywhere on holiday more than once. By day 4 we were already planning our trip for 2013.

The support, communication, help, guidance given by H&S from start to finish made this holiday the best we have ever had. A real home from home. Alora is authentic, unspoilt by tourists and we love it. The Villa is perfectly located and equipped to a very high standard.

Roll on 2013!

It's very hard to write an original review because as others have said it's pretty much been covered!
From the moment we arrived we were made to feel so welcome by Helen and Steve and after a sleepless night (travel lodge beds and kids in same room!) it was the perfect place just to stop everything and CHILL!
The villa wants for nothing, we especially enjoyed using the orange juicer, the kids like that which is handy!
Exceptionally clean, very tastefully decorated, a real home from home!
We experienced quite a heatwave and discovered only in the last couple of days that sitting on the chair that's under the palm at the front of the house provides an amazing view across the valley plus a lovely coolish breeze!
Was a real bonus not having to buy dishwasher or washing machine detergent, or loo rolls!
Can recommend the ice cream parlour in Alora, can't remember name but it's the one with bright pink and orange facing. Nicest ice cream I have ever had!
Trip to the lakes a must, hired a pedalo for 13 euros and had an hour of swimming, kids sliding off it, warm crystal clear water!
It was up to 40 degrees in the shade at times so most of the time spent was in the pool or reading in the shade, and so many places to choose from where to sit!
We had a trip to Gibraltar, recommend parking in the border town La Línea either in one of the larger fee paying car parks or what we did was park in a free beach bar one and walked the 20 minutes to the border control. From there a bus takes you to the cable car if you wish to see the Barbary macaques! One of the highlights for our holiday.
We will definitely return to this villa, it's probably the nicest we have ever stayed in- well I would say for definite it is.
We left some of our daughter's dresses hanging in a wardrobe and Helen very kindly sent these back to us!
Great holiday all round, thank you!