We are a group of musicians, photographers, nature lovers, tree huggers, artists, cooks, poets, fresh market connoisseurs, cool-water-from-the-town-fountain dippers, and mostly self-described bohemians. Our recent visit to Tom and Carmen's charming house, Casa Aloe, accommodated us and all of our needs. It was like coming home. The backyard view, alone, was worth the journey! Everything else, the cozy rooms, the well-equipped kitchen, the lovely village of Atalbeitar, the friendly neighbors, the ancient walking paths, and the ever-present sense of Moorish history, were icing on the cake. We cannot thank Tom and Carmen enough'for their kindness, help, and responses and for sharing their corner of the world. For us, it has made all the difference.

Our week at Casa Aloe was a wonderful escape from daily bustle, responsibilities and miserable weather...

Being the end of January, you could hardly call it scorching in the mountains, but the light was glorious, and the top of the day really was warm. More like a really good Scottish spring day

But enough about the weather.

The house is one huge work of art - so many wonderful details, all crafted out of the shell of a Moorish building dating back hundreds of years. Traditional building techniques which only enhance the special feeling of the place. It's a very three dimensional house - a few steps between most rooms give it a slightly rabbit warren/hobbit house feel, and probably not a perfect right angle in the building. Again, a glorious escape from our normal lives.

Very well presented for guests too, everything we needed was clear and our bed was warm, comfy and expansive!

Atalbeitar is a very quiet, unspoilt village - we saw a lot more cats than humans during our time in the village. It's a great jumping off point for the many slightly larger villages of La Taha and beyond, and Pitres is very nearby (10 minutes drive, or a unique half hour walk across the valley along goat tracks) for all your practical needs - ie, the supermarket!

We went as a couple, but I would love to return with a large group to fulfill the true potential of the house, and explore more of this gorgeous area.

The setting and atmosphere of Casa Aloe are exactly as they appear on the publicity shots, other-worldly. It was an ideal location for our family of 4 to relax and experience the beauty and laid-back life of the Alpujarras. The timing of our visit was at the height of summer so walking was a struggle in the heat. Nevertheless, an evening stroll lead us to excelllent pizza, local wine and endless tapas and in the mornings, ambling down the ancient tracks soon had us seeing ibex and finding welcome plunge pools. Talking of pools, we enjoyed the newly installed indoor one at the house and invented many new Olympic aquatic sports - take a beach ball! The owners do say the house is not suitable for the infirm and even the height of the first step after the front door took us by surprise, but this could be avoided by using the patio entrance. Again, this time as a cautious mother, I would be reluctant to recommend the house to parents of young children as there are a few vertical drops that would be very dangerous to adventurous toddlers. However, for older children and adults, safety measures have been taken in harmony with the beauty of the house. Do take mosquito protection if you are prone to being singled out and be aware that there is no air-conditionning - fans help on sticky nights. A final point, the road into the Alpujarras is very windy, so, if any of you suffer from car sickness or are over-cautious drivers you may want to view a stay here as a week to recuperate rather than as a base for a tour of Andalucia. That said, the days we lazed around the local area and took time to appreciate the views and simple pleasures were my happiest of a very enjoyable holiday.

When we arrived in the village, we walked into another century, of crooked lanes and water fountains and streets with no cars... through the door of Casa Aloe we were welcomed with a rich, artistic setting... The hand-craftiness of the interior felt in fitting with the surrounding environment, but also otherworldly and luxurious. A birthday breakfast on the terrace looking onto the steep valley, with the sun bouncing off the face of the next-door-mountain, is a sight to remember for some time....

Driving down the windy track to Atalbeitar has to be one of the great memories of 2010 for me, as it will forever be linked with arriving at the beautiful Casa Aloe, in the stunning Alpujarras. I have travelled around much of Spain, but the Alpujarras is something special, and nowehere represents the feeling of the area better than the beautiful village of Atalbeitar.

Casa Aloe is a beautifully restored Moorish house, with comfortable beds, beam ceilings and internal courtyard and views that take your breath away. Any direction you turn leads you on stunning walks in the Andalucian countryside.

Highly recommended.