Family friendly holidays in a cottage near the Costa Brava

Description

5 MAJOR PLUS POINTS

1. You feel like in an oasis although you’re in a Costa Brava cottage, only ten minutes (12km) away.
2. Incredible view from the terrace, you enjoy the sunset with the Pyrenees in the background.
3. Living like at a farm, or at least the chicken, horses and donkeys welcome you every morning.
4. Here, children learn how important organic remains are to other creatures. My nephews also “stole” whole bananas and freshly baked bread, just to pamper the animals!
5. Sant Feliu de Guixols with its family friendly beaches and offers is only 12km away.

 

THE SETTING

In 2014, Catalonia took the lead on Mallorca or Las Islas Canarias as Spain’s most popular tourist destination, and since than, it has not changed! Filmmakers like Woody Allen included Barcelona‘s metropolis in their tapes. The Costa Brava is known internationally not only for its emblematic rocks but also for its beautiful coves and beaches in a length of 200km.

Close to the best restaurant of the world

It’s the great combination to be able to visit the artwork of the geniuses Dalí and Gaudí, combined with natural landscapes, medieval villages, and incomparable gastronomy. This is where the “gurus” and gourmets Ferran Adrià and the brothers of the Celler de Can Roca emerged, the best Restaurant of the world in 2015 regarding the World’s 50 Best Restaurants Academy! These are some of the causes why the whole region has become a tourist magnet! So it doesn’t surprise me that magazines like National Geographic also treat the Costa Brava as Top Destination.

Good price-performance ratio

The other side of the coin is that it is quite difficult to find accommodation at the Costa Brava if you look for a quiet place near the sea and at the same time with good price-performance ratio. After a long search, my sister and I finally made it: Only twelve kilometers from the fishing village of Sant Feliu de Guíxols, we found this holiday house LORENS, a more than 500 years old cottage which is surrounded by wheat fields, pine forests and cork oak. We liked it so much that our cousin did not think much of it and the following year, she came with her whole family.

What Leonardo has to say about the holiday rental

“We spent the first week in a wonderful cottage near the Costa Brava. It’s a big cottage formed by four houses, 5 minutes by car from the town Llagostera. Laura the owner welcomed me with a Spanish “Hola” and with two bottles of wine for my parents. In the house, there live five sheep, two horses, three cats, several hens and three very sociable donkeys. Animals have plenty of room to move around.

I really loved the fact being able to touch the animals from so close, without having a barrier between us.

Every morning, they lined up next to our terrace, waiting for us to give them food scraps like banana peels, for example.

There was also a pool with beach loungers. At night, we used to sit on the terrace and watched the city of Girona (from far away), with a dark red sunset. There was a terrace and garden, ideal for small parties. I would recommend this house as a perfect place for anyone. “

Leonardo of Munich, 9 years old, my cousin’s son and future writer!

Many thanks @Leonardo for your great description about the property!

Well, the first time I (Jutta) visited the PORXO vacation rental was in July 2015 with my sister, my brother-in-law and my nephews. We only had 5 days but despite having such a special environment as the Costa Brava, we stayed quite some time at that place …

• On the terrace (breakfast, chat, take a break, have a barbecue, have dinner)
• On the farm (pampering the animals, giving them food and talking to them)

• In the field (bowling, cricket or other games)
• In the shared pool (swim and splash, read, chat with neighbors)
• or just enjoy the endless sunset with a glass of wine.

Four different apartments within the cottage

The LORENS holiday farm is divided in 4 parts that can be rented separately. Depending on the number of people, you might be able to add a room from the apartment next door, so just ask us.

1) PORXO: A family friendly place for a family with up to 3 children

This part of the house has two floors. On the ground floor you have a large kitchen with direct access to the terrace with open views on the horizon. There is the dining room which is living room at the same time and two bedrooms: one single and one double room, each one with a private bathroom. A spiral staircase goes up to the suite. Here, the parents have air conditioning and their own space which includes a big bedroom, a corridor and a complete bathroom. There is a children’s protection of before entering the stairs, so you can carry a baby or a small child up here without problems.

2) FORNET – Cozy single-family house for 2 to 4 people

This is a one-story cottage with a double bedroom with bathroom and a sofa bed, equipped with kitchen and a small terrace with the same wonderful views as the apartment PORXO next door.

Have a peek at my video description in instagram of the cosy little part of the finca:

Have a peek at my #video description of the cosy little part of #holidayrental CASA LORENT which used to be a horse stable before. It's a neat #getaway for a couple or a little family for up to 4 persons with 1 #bedroom and a big modern sofa-bed in the living and kitchen area. You'll have access to a #pool in the middle of nature and the best: Your own little #terrace with a splendid views towards the Pirineus and #Girona. The donkeys, horses and chicken will be happy to eat your leftovers. The #beaches of the #CostaBrava are close-by in 12km reach ???? #CasaRural #eco #holidayhouse #InstaCostaBrava #Ferienhaus #FerienhausamMeer #FerienaufdemBauernhof #familienfreundliche #Unterkunft #instavideo #instafun #Videooftheday #Holidays #CatalunyaExperience #instalike

A post shared by Jutta ????| DESconnect (@des_connect) on Jul 5, 2017 at 12:33am PDT

3) LORETO – For 3 or 4 families (8 to 14 people) 4 rooms with bathroom, fireplace

This part of the house is the 2nd largest. There is also a dishwasher, a washing machine and a dryer. Once again, each room has its own bathroom and is spread over two floors. On the other side, it has a smaller terrace and located to the north. If you want to watch the sunset, you can take advantage of the picnic area next to the shared pool.

4) LORENS, the main part of the farmhouse from 14 to 20 people

This one is really spacious: 7 bedrooms, each one with its own bathroom. There are rooms with double, triple and quadruple beds and one with a maximum of 8 beds (ideal for children). A spacious dining room and a kitchen with a wood stove. To enter into the house, you pass through a large patio with trees. In summer, you are grateful for the shade offered by them. There’s also a barbecue and a kitchen area outside the house.

All the parts are connected to each other, so you can even rent the whole complex for a maximum of 40 people.
In summertime, you can rent it only weekly from Friday to Friday.

SUSTAINABILITY IN MIND

• Here, you separate your waste. This has been common here already for a long time.
• Evidently free living cattle (sheep, horses, donkeys, chickens)
• If you stay for one week, Laura brings you freshly caught eggs and a bottle of wine.
• Light bulbs are energy-saving.
• It is planned to place solar panels.
• The agricultural activity is sustainable.

Laura, the owner of Costa Brava cottage Lorent, loves animals and takes good care of them.

It is also foreseen to collaborate with local businesses in terms of the sale of their products. Products of proximity and ecological.

PLACES OF INTEREST

The old fishing villages Sant Feliu de Guixols (12 km), Palamós (30 km), Calella de Palafrugell (36km) Llafranc (39 Km) Begur (45 Kms)

We’ve passed a splendid panoramic road between Sant Feliu de Guixols and Tossa de Mar until the Hermitage of Sant Grau up to 350m high (there is a cafe restaurant there). There are trails to the top of Puig de les Cadiretes.

Platja d ‘Aro (10 km), a village with a big number of shops which open every day of the year, terraces by day and night, drinks …not so much my kind of thing but good to know.

Dolmen of the Cova d’en Daina in the municipality of Romanyà de la Selva that is almost next to the LORENS cottage. La Cova d’en Daina is a Catalan gallery of 7 meters in length

And obviously Girona, the northern capital of Catalonia with its bridges over the river Onyar and its beautiful old town! This small town has merged gastronomy and history to retain its essence of a village neighborhood. Take the chance and climb up to the meadow behind the cathedral! There is a lovely path where you have great views over the city and its surroundings.

‘SLOW’ACTIVITIES

Camí de Ronda

Do not miss walking at least a few kilometers of the GR-92 Camí de Ronda path which goes along the Catalan coast! It starts in Blanes and climbs approx. 200 km to Portbou on the border with France. These trails were used by fishermen for centuries and are perfect for family friendly holidays.

Via ferrata Gorges de Salenys

This ferrate is ideal for beginners and for those who want to practice the passage through the Tibetan bridges. It has a nice start and a more physical end next to Salt del Llop.

Via ferrata of Cala del Moli

This via ferrata is for advanced. Located directly on the rocks of the sea, the scenery is spectacular!

Thank you Helen for providing us with this great picture of you at Cala del Moli!

Cyclotourism – MTB

The famous cyclists’ route “Vies Verdes” is right next to you! The little town of Llagostera is a passageway of these Green Ways, which connect Olot with Girona and the Costa Brava.

We will bring you in touch with the best offers of the region.

HOW TO GET THERE BY PUBLIC TRANSPORT

It is advisable to come with your own car or bikes, since the nearest town is Llagostera at 5km distance and there is no public bus within the little towns.

Nevertheless, there is a long distance regular line passing through Llagostera and Laura would be willing to pick you up if you decide to come without a car.

The nearest train station is Caldes de Malavella (10 Kms).

HOLIDAY RENTAL LICENCE

The official Tourism Licence No of the Generalitat de Catalunya is PG-599

Prices to rent EL PORXO of the LORENS Cottage

Capacity of this unit: max 5 persons

Prices can still vary with special bank holidays or depending on the size of the group. Please ask us!

Prices to rent LORENT Cottage

Capacity of all units together: max 40 persons

Prices can still vary with special bank holidays or depending on the size of the group. Please ask us!

Prices to rent the PORXO part where I stayed

Capacity: 3 rooms for up to 4 + 2 persons

Prices to rent the small FORNET house

Capacity: 1 room for up to 2 + 2 persons

Prices to rent the big LORETO house

Capacity: 4 rooms for up to 10 + 4 persons

Prices to rent the main part of LORENT COTTAGE

Capacity: 1o rooms for up to 12 + 4 persons

Prices include:
– towels and bed sheets (no beach towels)
– internet WiFi
– heating
– wood for the chimney
– use of community installations like the pool or the picnic area

Additional charge:
– cleaning costs 100 € extra per stay
– 25 €/ night per each extra person

REVIEWS