What People Say

Read on to hear what well over 100 of our guests have written in the visitors’ book at El Noque. It is incredibly humbling to hear how much everybody loves it.

“As a family, we’d rented a largish villa each summer for our holidays, and usually we tried a different country each year. August 2009 found us at El Noque for our first ever trip to Southern Spain. We loved El Noque, and we loved the area. We all agreed that it was, by far, the best villa we’d ever stayed in, and that it felt like home to us. But we didn’t intend to return, as another country beckoned for 2010. But life is full of serendipity, and reading The Sunday Times Property Section in February 2010 there was El Noque and for sale. Of course, we had absolutely no intention of buying a property and we thoroughly enjoyed the “another house in another country” adventure. But, by the end of May 2010 we were the proud owners of El Noque. That is how irresistible we found the house. We simply decided that we were never going to find another rental property that would be in the same league, and that we would get years and years of pleasure out of holidaying there. El Noque was, and still is, so different to so many holiday rental villas. It has been furnished and equipped as a much loved home rather than for holiday lets. So many villas have cheap furniture and accessories and yet still charge a full price. El Noque makes everyone feel as though they are at home. And it has all the benefits and attractions that we were after. The staff were, and are, terrific, and everything about El Noque was first class…the size, the land it sits in, the style, the location, the weather, the quiet rural setting and above all the fact that the lovely previous owners, Ed and Katha Wood, had undertaken the complete renovation of this old farmhouse in such a simple but elegant way. We did not want to change a thing. Its a friendly family house that automatically lifts your spirits. Time after time. And the bonus for us is that we now have two dear friends called Ed and Katha Wood!

“It is rare indeed for expectation in the imagination to be exceeded by the actual reality but El Noque has provided such an instance. A beautiful site, quite impeccably appointed, wonderfully organised, and not possible therefore to contemplate anything that might be missing or improved. All there is to say is a huge and completely unfettered thank you!”

“It’s the fruition of all your clever designs and plans that have matured into the wonder that is El Noque”

“Greetings from Finland. Thank you for a wonderful vacation. The house is beautiful, amazing. We swam every day, and enjoyed warm weather also. Thank you, Renata, for your good and kind hosting.”

“The best word to describe El Noque in the winter, is cosy. From the moment we arrived, we felt comfortable and content. The eight of us loved every minute of our stay. Renata was so kind to give the children their first riding experience and helping to find a turkey to celebrate our American Thanksgiving. We will never forget this place and hope to come again some day. Thank you so much.”

“Better in reality than in the initial imagination. El Noque is just that. A truly remarkable place – beautifully appointed and impeccably administered. We are hugely happy already and will be the more so as our two weeks pass. We are very lucky to be here”

“We felt so very spoilt to be in such a lovely house with wonderful sunny, and surprisingly warm, winter days and evenings full of fun and games. It was all very memorable.You don’t need us to tell you that El Noque is a truly special place.. The house is stunning. I can’t believe how beautiful it is – all the details thought through and finished in such style. It is like being in a 6 star hotel without having other guests around!”

“You created a truly magical villa and we will always be in your debt for that.”

“Thank you for a glorious stay. It is not often that one finds a hidden paradise like this. We are planning our next trip!”

“We have really enjoyed our week. It has been such a pleasure to stay in a house which is so well equipped with such high quality furnishings and equipment. The kitchen is wonderful to cook in – it has simply everything. The pool area is a delight. Sadly, it is now back to rain in Ireland!”

“We had been hoping to come back, and we did! What a haven of relaxation with stunning surroundings and luxurious accommodation. We thoroughly enjoyed the week and we would love to come back again.”

“Our fourth visit – we love it here and don’t want to leave. We love Renata too. Always as lovely and perfect.”

“You are the saviours of our honeymoon ‘dream’! We had the most blissful week here. A beautiful, clear white room and a huge and most comfortable bed. It was the most special week that we could possibly have had.”

“We have had quite outstanding weather – frosty mornings, warm in the middle of the day and impressive sunsets. Horses and Donkeys have proliferated.”

“This family home reflects Andalucian style with meticulous care and attention to detail. Our time at El Noque was the highlight of our stay in Southern Europe. We were treated with a level of care and attention that we will never forget.”

“We have had the most amazing experience here. Our wedding was incredible, like something out of a dream. We could not have had a better time. So, So Wonderful!”

“Thank you for this wonderful house. So peaceful, relaxing and beautifully decorated.”

“El Noque is the perfect house. The worst part of our stay was knowing that we will be leaving.”

“What an amazing place. I can only describe El Noque as paradise on earth.”

“El Noque is an absolutely outstanding home. It has it all. I only wish we could stay much longer.”

"We came from Australia, via Paris and Amsterdam. It was such a joy arriving at El Noque. Even the pilates sessions with Yolanda were great fun. Thank you for giving us this unique experience.”

“We had a blissful week here. We hope to return and for longer. This is one of the loveliest holiday villas in the world.”

“This was our third visit – El Noque is even more lovely than before. I am looking forward to seeing the Spring flowers next year.”

“Our group of ten friends absolutely loved El Noque. We have stayed in many villas and El Noque is the top one.”

“What a supporting cast you have, Renata. El Noque is a must go to destination. What an amazing week.”

“We loved your relaxed, elegant and beautifully decorated Spanish retreat.”

“We are a large Chilean family. We had a crazy idea to make a 60th birthday celebration in Andalucia – the land of our forbears. This idea turned out to be great. The house is unbelievably nice. Thank you for everything – we hope to be back one day.”

“Four days of rain did not dampen our spirits at El Noque – and when the sun finally came out, the delight of the pool beckoned. Our stay ended on a perfect note.”

“A fabulous week in a beautiful location – El Noque is stunning. Good friends, good food, good music – what more can we ask?”

“We were awestruck by the calm and tranquillity of El Noque. There were many highlights – here are just a few: dinners, olive oil tasting, the classical guitar concert, exploring pueblos blancos – I could go on and on. We appreciated the incredible attention to beauty and architectural detail.”

“What a perfect location for a Spanish, British, Bermudan family Christmas. We love the estate. The sound of the donkeys in the mornings, the fresh mint in the fields, and the exquisite view from the master bathtub. We also very much appreciated the book collection. We very much look forward to coming back.”

“El Noque is an oasis. Warm fires cheered us every day. We slept deeply and restfully. We were cooked wonderful meals – Debra fed us together with our souls and hearts. Renata saved us, every day, with her good cheer and laughter, whenever we called on her for help. Our stay has been wonderful.”

“It really is an incredible place.”

“The house is amazing, with every last detail thought through, and those mountains are a wonderful backdrop”.

“I LOVE MAISON. Super maison. Merci Francois.”

“It’s my second time being here. I like the fresh orange juice and the cereal with chocolate. I like to put on my new dress and eat in the nice restaurant. I like to pet the dog and the cats.”

“We felt so pampered and well looked after. I could feel every moment getting more and more relaxed. It is a beautiful oasis, and you have definitely given us a new lease of life.”

“The Andalucian Dream come true for eight Australian Travellers. We arrived here after weeks of travel. Once through those big gates, life just got better and better. Lots of outside activities every day led to getting back to the house in the late afternoons for perfect relaxation – listening to those beautiful sounds of the Andalucian countryside – birds, donkeys, horses, dogs, peacocks, roosters!”

“It’ll be hard, if not impossible, to top the house, the views, the service – just being here”.

“The house is stunning – I can’t believe how beautiful it was – all details thought about and finished with style.”

“The house is idyllic and so very well equipped, and you found us such a great selection of activities”.

“This house is heaven on earth – Oh, how we will miss it. We loved it so much that we changed our plans to stay for one extra night. Thank you for making such a beautiful home and letting us share it – every square inch is perfection”.

“We felt very spoilt to be in such a lovely house with wonderful sunny days and evenings full of fun and game – all very memorable.”

“What a place! What a brand! Not a place I will be glad to get home from. The long and winding lavender path will always stay with me. Heaven is probably an over used word to describe El Noque, so perhaps Elysian Fields, Paradise Found, Valhalla or Nirvana will simply have to do.”

“This has been one of the most relaxing and comfortable holidays we have ever had. It is a great house, in an amazing location, with a fantastic atmosphere.”

“El Noque is wonderful.”

“The boys learned to swim – encouraged by a watch each if they could swim a width unaided!!”

“El Noque surpassed our expectations in every possible way. From the moment we saw the gardens and the pool, framed by rolling hills and constant sun, we knew we could not bear to tear ourselves away. Dining nightly by the pool was a habit we quickly acquired. Our stay was capped by Renata who came through at every turn and looked after us as if we were family. The library provided an endless supply of reading material to accompany our time in the hammocks.”

“What a really BEAUTIFUL place! We LOVED our stay here, all the wonderful fruit trees, flowers and Andalucian hills! The walled pool garden in fabulous – the children adored it – and the house inside is perfect!”

“It is such a joy to be back in the best house in the world.”

“Boo Hoo, we have got to leave! Have never been to this part of Spain before but have simply loved it. This house is just perfect in every way – an absolutely heavenly hideaway. We have had such fun with our lovely friends and family – both young and old. Serious pigging out on figs, tomatoes and pomegranates etc. Thank you, thank you, Renata, for everything. Love your dogs. Thank you Deborah for our wonderful dinner.”

“Fabulous house, great holiday – Perfecto! A wonderful place to meet up as a family. Lots of gorgeous little places to slip away into. The house is so beautifully furnished – and with such simplicity – cool and stylish.”

“A lovely cool welcoming house with all “mod cons”. Highlights were lazy mornings by the pool, Deborah’s delicious meals, the old town of Ronda and the bullring, tapas, the beautiful countryside and vegetables and herbs from the garden.”

“Fabulous Christmas at El Noque, so amazing to be back here again.”

“Renata Fabulosa! Our days at El Noque were cold, rainy and wonderful. We look forward to returning in the summer to enjoy the pool and the countryside.”

“We thoroughly enjoyed our week in the beautiful La Huerta El Noque. Everything we could possibly need was here and ready for use. One day trips in the region were wonderful – a variation we will not soon forget…to the ranch raising Toros, the ecological vineyard and lovely restaurants. The best was returning from a hot journey and lying by the pool!”

“Our third visit and the first time we saw a cloud in the sky! A perfect week’s holiday – thank you so much. Renata is the jewel in the crown. Heaven!”

“It has been wonderful to return to El Noque for the second time. We have loved our week just as much as our first one, and are all very sad to leave. The pool has been in constant use in the blistering but dry heat. Renata is wonderful and so kind and helpful.”

“What a wonderful house El Noque is. The interior of the house is fantastic. The gardens are really lovely and the pool garden is quite the best we have ever seen. Deborah cooked us wonderful meals. Renata was great.”

“We enjoyed our time here tremendously. The house is done up in such charming, but simple, good taste. We want to come back. Deborah was a huge highlight – her cooking was excellent and she is such a sweet and wonderful person. The swimming pool and its garden are gorgeous and all the rooms are lovely and very comfortable. We could barely drag ourselves away to go to Ronda!”

“We have had the most wonderful relaxing week here at El Noque. It is such a beautiful house, and so tastefully done up. Everything has been perfect. Renata has been so helpful, and so kind in letting our little girls have a ride on her gorgeous horses. Deborah’s cooking on two nights was a particular treat – absolutely delicious. We will definitely be back again…and again!”

“A wonderful slice of serious luxury before heading off to North Africa for an overland expedition in a bumpy landrover. We are missing clean white sheets, soft pillows and wonderful showers. Loved every minute of our stay in this amazing family home. Let us know when you put it up for sale!”

“This is the perfect place for relaxing. Spent most of our time lounging in the hammocks by the pool, with the occasional venture into Ronda. A huge thank you to Deborah for the wonderful Spanish food, cooked in our own home away from home.”

“We came from Hong Kong, Surrey and Oxfordshire for a chance to see each other. This fantastic house was the perfect getaway from the noise, bustle and pollution of Hong Kong.”

“What can I say about this place. While I am an aspiring Literati, words fail me when I try to describe how beautiful this place is – idyllic, a fairytale setting, the beautiful whiteness of the place seems to go hand in hand with the lovely delicacy of everything down to the teacups!”

“This house is humungus and great! The fruit and vegetable garden was wonderful and we had lovely food. The house is so cool, and outside there is great shade. I will miss the pool and the horses so much.”

“We have had such a wonderful stay, beginning at 1.30 in the morning when we arrived to be greeted by a blazing log fire kindly lit for us by Renata. The house is lovely – all the bedrooms are spacious – and it is both simply and thoughtfully decorated. My daughter was especially happy with the enormous four poster and huge bedroom. It was lovely to have Deborah to come and cook a delicious meal for us while we relaxed. Asking my four children what their highlights were, I had a rapid response ‘Polka (Renata’s dog), the horses, and running through the rape seed’.”

“Thank you so much for a wonderful, beautiful, sun and fun filled week at El Noque – escaping the cold and rain. Renata was amazing, so helpful and gracious. Our trip would not have been the same without the amazing meals cooked to perfection by Deborah – just brilliant!”

“So sad to leave such a very peaceful place. Had a truly wonderful stay and will be back.”

“Adios, El Noque! Thank you for many nights of fun laughter and even an engagement! We have fond hopes to return.”

“Just to say that the house you created is blooming….thanks to your excellent design and vision, the demand has never been greater…we are fully booked from this Saturday in early May until the beginning of October. I understand that most other villas around Ronda are struggling to get any bookings at all. We feel very lucky!”

“Fabulous House! Every need is catered for. Love the extra touches – beautiful soaps, luxurious towels. We have had a wonderful week here. Deborah’s cooking is magnificent – better than any restaurant. Amazing – never been anywhere this fantastic before – loved the pool and everything about the house. There is nothing to say other than “Wow”! Loved all the detail – concealed cisterns, a perfectly equipped kitchen with lovely sharp knives and heavy saucepans – loads of wonderful serving dishes, and tables and chairs all in the right places – great CDsm DVDs and books.”

“I wish I didn’t have to leave. It was perfect. The pool was great – we loved the hammocks. We want to come back as soon as possible”.

“It was a delight to leave the short dark English days and enjoy the winter brightness, crisp air, morning frosts and mountain views of El Noque. The log fire downstairs was burning whenever we wanted, and even more lovely, the one in the master bedroom. This really is a house for all seasons. Thank you.”

“The pool – and library – are quite the best of all the houses abroad we have ever visited. It is the nicest we’ve ever stayed in.”

“El Noque was everything we could possibly have hoped for & more. It was absolutely perfect. We had a wonderful time with our family, gathering from London, Mexico City and Los Angeles. So many places to sit and relax, very comfortable beds, cleaning staff super friendly, and Renata a gem.”

“This is the best place we have ever stayed – including Australia, England, France, Argentina, Morocco, Germany and the U.S.A”.

“Thank you for an amazing vacation – all the way from Mexico. The house is perfect! We had a wonderful time, and we expect to be back”.

“Where have you been all my life???? Your beautiful accommodation takes my breath away. We will be back ‘en masse’”

“Happy Valentine’s Day. We have had a lovely week here at El Noque. We’ve done some great walks and seen some super little villages. We loved Seville. Had it been hotter, we would have had a great time in the pool – maybe next time. My daughter Grace also learned to climb her first stairs here!”

“El Noque has been everything I hoped it would be – and more! When I stumbled upon it – online – two years ago, I had a daydream that I could have my wedding here, but I never really thought it could become a reality. So to have our wedding ceremony, blessing and pool party here was so incredible and memorable… and to follow this with a week in this paradise with my family has truly been a dream come true.”

“It has been the perfect place for our family to come and enjoy our time together. We’ve loved every minute of it – every square inch of this lovely home. Andalucia is such a beautiful part of the world and we had so much fun exploring it. The highlight however, has been for our four boys to roam around the property, and play football and Badminton. Thank you, thank you, for opening your home and Spain for us”.

“We had a fabulous time. We loved it! What a great country and a great trip. Thank you sooo much for making it possible for us”.

“We loved staying at El Noque. The house is gorgeous: simple, well equipped and extremely comfortable. Our friends were incredibly impressed and rather jealous. A wonderful book collection too”.

“We have just spent a superb week in a beautiful home which has everthing. El Noque is quite exceptional. We would readily return, knowing that we would be staying in luxurious surroundings with facilities of an impeccable standard. This is a treasure, which will stay with us for a very long time. We love the setting, the grounds, the beautiful horses and the wonderful mountainous backdrop. There is so much to see, so we really need to come back if you will have us.”

“We still have the best part of a week to go, but couldn’t wait any longer to say how wonderful the property is. Beautifully cared for and fabulously equipped. We are having a terrific time. Thank you so much for giving us the opportunity to indulge”.
“The entire family loved this beautiful house”.

“The lavender sweep: the splash of the pool: the sun makes you smile, the shade keeps you cool; kindness of hosts, the light through the grass; food on the table, the wine in the glass; cool of the house, the warmth of the staff; pop of a cork, the hoot of a laugh; quiet of friendships, some old and some new; noise of a party, the swallows, the view; gold checkered valley, the blue distant mountains; ant on the cobble, the burbling fountains; pointing of poplars, fragments of art; magic El Noque has entered my heart”.

“El Noque is beautiful and creative. We love the lavender walk and the planting of the pool garden. We had a wonderful and happy time – lots of laughter and too many bottles of wine”.

“First of all, we really hope that your relationship with your neighbours has not deteriorated because of our stay – can you imagine what a sound 12 girls can produce?! We have spent our week hiking, rafting, sipping Jerez sherry, swimming, sun bathing, looking down at Ronda from a balloon… but most of all enjoying all that El Noque has to offer. We are not ready to go home, but sadly we must!”

“Exquisite tranquillity – only interrupted by loud guests laughter! A wonderfully planned and loved house…we had such a lovely time”.

“A true hacienda Espanola with modern facilities. A great place from which to visit the beautiful Ronda, Sevilla and Cadiz. We enjoyed the gardens pool and great hospitality”.
“Well, I like to look for the cats and chase them! We are coming back”.

“Our family has taken many vacations to a number of wonderful places throughout the world. Yet, Ronda in general, and El Noque in particular, now holds the number one spot in our minds and in our hearts! The house is such a beautiful well thought out place for a family to play and rest. The staff are wonderfully friendly and attentive. We can’t wait to come back!”

“Wonderful place, wonderful people, wonderful holiday – we leave refreshed but very sad to go. Renata is a huge fount of local knowledge and a great personality. We will be back.”

“Well done for creating a little paradise here.”

“We have had a fantastic week here celebrating our Ruby Wedding with our children and grandchildren. El Noque is such a beautiful house and the grandchildren loved the horses, the Badminton… and the toy cupboards!!”

“We loved your villa… we rent a similar sized one each year, but El Noque was by far the best furnished and provisioned …by far….it felt like being at home (except for the blue skies and warmth)”.

“What a gorgeous house – the nicest place we have ever stayed. At this time in the spring, the house has been wonderfully cosy and welcoming with glorious log fires and under floor heating. Deborah cooked us two wonderful dinners – what a treat to eat such lovely food at home. Very sad to go home.”

“We had a fantastic time and enjoyed every minute. The sun shone every day and the pool was warm enough for us hardy Brits”.

“Thank you so much. It couldn’t have been a happier time. We all loved El Noque and the area. It was all quite magical. We loved the proximity to Ronda and the mountain views”.

“All going utterly swimmingly here. You have been so clever: every tiny little detail thought of and we are all bathing in the luxury. It has been beyond happy. We are smitten by the area and have loved every square inch of, and minute spent at, El Noque”.

“El Noque is so well planned and comfortable. Renata and Deborah were so willing and helpful. Wild flower walks were stunning and there was enough time for a bit of manzanilla bar crawling”.

“The worst part of our stay has been knowing that we’re leaving an absolutely outstanding home. Lazy days enjoyed by the pool and in the gardens. The joy of eating every breakfast lunch and dinner outside”.

“We had a fantastic week in such an amazing house. By the pool. Bike riding in the hills around Ronda. The children loved the donkeys cats and kittens – and endless supply of games toys and DVDs”.

“The villa could not be more comfortable – a glorious summer ambience. The gardens and the pool were perfect. All the staff were delightful. We hope to return and for longer – this is one of the loveliest holiday villas”.

“We loved your relaxed elegant beautifully detailed Spanish retreat. The attention to detail is very impressive”.

“What a magnificent home. So much attention to fine detail. Every room is a delight and so many venues to eat drink and socialise. Renata was simply wonderful, nothing too much trouble and every need met just as soon as mentioned. Deborah is a great cook and a lovely person”.

“Our group of ten friends absolutely loved El Noque. We have stayed in many villas, and this ranks right at the top of all of them”.

“What a wonderful week in this glorious setting – so peaceful and relaxing”.

“What a magical setting for six good friends to gather, celebrate and enjoy wonderful time together. Not only is the house magnificent, but we were awestruck by the calm and tranquillity”.

“A fabulous week in a beautiful location – stunning villa – good friends, good food, good wine, good music – what more can I say?”

“What a perfect combination for a family Christmas. We love the estate. The sound of the donkeys braying in the mornings, the fresh mint in the fields, the exquisite view from the master bath, the book collection – and so so much more”.

“El Noque is an Oasis. A warm fire greeted us every day. At the end of each day, such peaceful sleep. Maria fed both our souls and our hearts. It has been a wonderful stay”.

“What a house! We have loved every minute here – lazy days in front of the fire, trips to Ronda, feeding the cats, dancing ‘til 4.00 am, drinking Sangria. We will remember it forever”.

“We couldn’t have designed a villa more beautiful than this, and so accommodating, even for a family member in a wheelchair. Renata was such a gracious, attentive and responsive host. Thank you for the gift of El Noque – this has been the trip of a lifetime for us”.

“This is such a beautiful estate, finished in such comfort and taste. We feel so privileged that you were willing to share it with us”.

“Fifth time for us – perfect as ever! Lots of animal friends who we love coming back to see. Roll on the sixth visit. Thank you for a glorious week in paradise”.

“A dreamlike week in this beautiful paradise that is luxurious rustic elegant and cosy – all at once. It has been a perfect gathering place for our two families – dispersed far and wide in our everyday lives – blessed with this week of togetherness”.