There’s beauty in the detail. Every furnishing and fitting of this light-filled apartment - wrapped within what was once the grand salon of a 19th-century mansion house - reflects its artist owners’ love of crafted, Zen-like interiors, and of art for art’s sake.
Faced with a blank canvas and one enormous room, owners Jim and Alice slotted a mezzanine floor with a master bedroom beneath the barrel-vaulted ceiling, accessed via an open-rise staircase of chrome, steel and walnut wood. Down below, they divided the living spaces with ingenious glass panels, and added tall south-facing windows to create a gloriously light interior. There are jazzy paintings, gadgets galore, swish white leather sofas and a great sound system. But perhaps the best thing about this apartment is its location. Right outside your door is one of Andalucia’s most seductive city centres, blissfully untainted by the tourist hordes.
Highs
- Amazingly quiet, considering you're only yards from the historic centre
- Fantastic value, given the space and the location
- A fabulously equipped kitchen: self-catering won't be a chore
- The space works well for 2 couples, a family with older children, or as a spacious romantic bolthole
- To be here at sunset is really something: watch a skyline of church towers turning pink through the high windows
Lows
- The apartment doesn't have any private outside space
- Access by car through a labyrinth of narrow streets is tricky - but rates include a space in a nearby underground car park
- Not ideal for children under 10 due to the open staircase
- The caretaker only speaks Spanish, but there's comprehensive guest info and the owners are available by phone to answer any questions
- Note the 5-night minimum stay
Best time to go
Any time of year is a good time to visit Jerez. July and August can be uncomfortably hot but at other times you are almost bound to see some sunshine. It would be great to visit during the annual Jerez feria, which follows that of Seville (i.e. early-mid May) - though you'll need to book very early. Bear in mind that the Jerez Moto GP - another extremely popular weekend - takes place in Spring every year.
Our top tips
Jerez is a foodie paradise: there are masses of tapas bars and some excellent restaurants. Don’t miss Jim and Alice’s favourite eatery, Albores . It’s close to the Alcázar, has oodles of charm and serves up excellent trad-Andaluz nosh.
- Boutique Apartment
- 2 bedrooms
- Self-catering (restaurants nearby)
- Babies and 10+ year-olds welcome
- Open all year
- Pool
- Spa Treatments
- Beach nearby
- Pet Friendly
- Disabled Access
- Car not necessary
- Parking
- Restaurants Nearby
- WiFi
- Air Conditioning
- Guest Lounge
- Terrace
- Garden
- Gym
- Daily Maid Service
- Towels & Bedlinen
- English-speaking caretaker
Rooms
The apartment sleeps up to 4 with an ensuite king/twin up above and a second double and bathroom down below.
The master bedroom is on the mezzanine, with a massive kingsize bed topped with Egyptian cotton sheets and feather pillows: hardly surprising that we managed to oversleep! A glass panel set into the floor and a second one above the bed bring in the light: luminosity is a big part of the feel-good factor here, and there are views of the cathedral. A sliding door leads to a smallish shower room where you’ll find a surface-top sink, heated towel rail and Zara bath products. A padded lime-green headboard, bright paintings and lacquered bedside tables complete the snazzy upstairs picture.
The downstairs double bedroom has a really airy feel thanks to its soaring ceiling and half-moon window, which opens onto the mansion’s cloistered courtyard. Light-blocking curtains can be pulled across should you prefer a dark sleeping space. There's a pull-out desk and a wireless printer, really handy should you have forgotten to print out those boarding cards. This room’s bathroom is a few metres away, to one side of the entrance hall, where laundry gear, beach towels and so on are hidden away in a high cupboard. It has a bath and overhead shower backed by ochre-coloured walls of polished stucco. Taps, as well as the surface-top sink, are courtesy of Philippe Starck.
Both bedrooms have hot and cold air-con as well as free-standing fans to keep the sizzling summers at bay.
The open-plan living area includes white leather sofas, a satellite TV and DVD player, and a dining table for 4. Books, DVDs and plants create a welcoming home-away-from-home feel.
Features include:
- Air conditioning
- Microwave
- WiFi
Eating
You'll quickly guess the open-plan kitchen was German-built: there’s a real look of Vorsprung Durch Technik. A big fridge with separate freezer, an electric hob and oven, a microwave, dishwasher and washing machine tucked away behind shiny grey doors. A Silestone work surface backed by a long run of stainless steel splashback synchs really nicely with the NY loft-like vibe of the rest of the apartment.
Even though you’ll be a small group, Jim and Alice have provided enough gear for a party of 10 along with every conceivable kitchen gizmo - plus all the basics like oil, vinegar, tea, coffee and spices, and the offer of a shopping service. Self-catering has never been so appealing. Alice has drawn up a nifty map of the city centre that shows all the best grocery stores, whilst an outing to the mercado municipal is a must for anyone with Epicurean leanings.
And for eating out, you couldn’t be better placed - there are dozens of great cafés and restaurants within strolling range. Try Albores and its sister restaurant A Mar for Mediterranean favourites, or La Cruz Blanca for a tapas-style meal, with daily specials chalked up on blackboards and tables spilling out into the leafy Plaza de la Yerba. El Almacen is perfect for tasting all the lovely wines from the area, while Taperia Fundador offers tapas combined with a great bodega tour.
Features include:
- Children's meals
- Microwave
- Restaurants nearby
- Basic supplies
Activities
- Top of your what-to-do list must be a visit to the town’s sherry bodegas. Our favourites include González Byass, Domecq and Williams Humbert, which all offer tastings and guided tours
- Even if you’re not a passionate horse person, the Royal Equestrian School makes a fascinating excursion: these dancing thoroughbreds are the Ferraris of Spain and Europe’s equine world
- Jerez's architectural highlights include Alcázar (a former Moorish fortress, now a park with beautiful gardens and great views of Jerez from the 2 towers), and Cartuja (the monastery, designed in Late Gothic style). The Museo Arqe (archeological museum) is also worth a visit
- Check out a flamenco peña (club); come for the extraordinary festival in February or try to coincide with one of the Friday-night concerts that take place at the Alcázar during the month of August
- Head for the sea: you’re a 20-minute drive from the sand and less than an hour from the very best beaches on the Atlantic coast, including Tarifa and Bolonia
- Treat yourself to an indulgent session in the town’s Moorish-style hammam (free for booking through i-escape)
- Spend a day in Seville or Cádiz (only 25 minutes away), or head further inland to discover Ronda's amazing gorge and the surrounding pueblos blancos (White Villages)
- Head to Montecastillo or Arcos Gardens to shoot a round of golf: both have superb 18-hole courses
- Take a 4x4 excursion or a boat trip out from Sanlúcar de Barrameda to discover the hauntingly beautiful wetland reserve of El Parque Nacional de Doñana
Activities on site or nearby include:
- Golf
- Horse riding
- Nightlife
- Shopping / markets
- Wildlife
Kids
This is a comfy, relaxing and centrally located base from which to explore the delights of Jerez. The old city is child-friendly and car-free. Apartment 43 wasn’t set up with younger kids in mind – there's a steep, open-sided staircase – so the owners recommend children of below toddling age or over 10s – but there’s plenty of space and the apartment can comfortably sleep up to 4 + a baby.
Best for:
Babies (0-1 years), Children (4-12 years), Teens (over 12)
Family friendly accommodation:
The rooms can be flexibly configured according to the shape and size of your family. The mezzanine king can be split into 2 single beds for older children, or you could sleep here yourselves and pop pre-teens and teens plus a baby cot in the downstairs double bedroom, which has black-out curtains. The downstairs bathroom has a tub
Cots Available
Baby equipment:
- Baby cot with bedlinen
- High chair
Remember baby and child equipment may be limited or need pre-booking
Children's meals:
The kitchen is well equipped so catering for your family will be easy (there's an oven, microwave, food blender and dishwasher). Jerez is a foodie paradise and the nearby eateries are family friendly and relaxed. There's a food market within walking distance
Kids Activities on site:
- DVDs, puzzles and books
- Superfast internet connection
- iPod dock
- Music system
Kids Activities nearby:
- Jerez has many plazas and there are playgrounds beside al fresco cafes so kids can roam around whilst parents relax with a drink
- Teens will be very happy here - there are plenty of places for their entertainment, including shops and plazas. Football matches are shown on wide screens in bars
- Zoo and Botanical Gardens
- Waterpark (Agualand) is a 10-minute drive away
- Beaches are a 20-minute drive away
Families Should Know:
- The steep staircase is open
- An English-speaking doctor can be called out
Distances:
- Airport: 20 minutes (Jerez)
- Shops, including a pharmacy: 3 minutes
For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection
Location
The apartment is set in the historical heart of Jerez de la Frontera, Andalucia, just 15 minutes from Jerez airport.
By Air:
Jerez Airport is very close (13km/20 mins). You could also travel through Seville (102km/70 mins), Gibraltar (128km/80 mins) or Málaga (237km/ just over 2 hours). Click on the links below for a list of airlines serving these airports.
From the Airport
To get the most out of a stay in this region, we recommend you hire a car (see below), although if you plan to stay put in Jerez you won't need one and can just take a taxi.
By Car:
See our car rental recommendations. The apartment has a private parking space in an underground car park close by.
Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.com.
More on getting to Andalucia and getting around
Airports:
- Jerez de la Frontera 13.0 km XRY
- Seville San Pablo 102.0 km SVQ
Other:
- Beach 10.0 km
- Shops 0.2 km
- Restaurant 0.2 km
Our guests' ratings...
Based on 1 independent review from i-escape guests