Finca El Sueño

Changovers:  To allow for full cleaning, maintenance and any repairs in each property in the limited time between our back-to-back bookings, please note that the earliest ARRIVAL is after 16:00 and the latest DEPARTURE is before 10.00 - unless agreed in writing with El Sueño.  

Departure:  Please leave the property in a clean and tidy condition, including removing all rubbish, recycling etc - with the keys in the lock box or the front door.  Your deposit will then be returned fourteen days after departure - subject to our Terms & Conditions.  

Any additional services provided by external suppliers either on arrival or any time during your booking eg taxi, childminding, bike hire etc are not the responsiblity of El Sueño, nor can they be paid from your security deposit.  All these will need to be paid for as agreed and directly between the provider by the guests themselves, before departure.

Even with the best of intentions, something can inadvertently be missed during cleaning by our team of hard-working staff, for which we apologise - or might take a short time to organise a replacement or repair if we have only become aware of it during a busy changeover, in which case a note will be left in the property, sent via email/Whatsapp or a member of staff will speak to you.   

Therefore, if you have any questions or cause for concern either on arrival or during your stay either inside the property, as well as on the finca including shared spaces (swimming pools, play areas etc), please kindly contact the Office of El Sueño immediately in person at the first opportunity.  This can be done either person eg our daily caretaker, via Whatsapp on: +44 7709 984 726 or e-mail: relax@elsueno.net - we can then find the right person to resolve this as quickly as possible in a commensurate manner and you can get on with enjoying your holiday!

Replacements & Repairs:  We appreciate things get broken or just stop working just through general wear & tear during a booking, so please report any problem or breakage to the Office at the first opportunity - in person, by Whatsapp on: +44 7709 984 726 or e-mail: relax@elsueno.net

Guests: A member of our team is on the finca daily, but it is a large place so we always appreciate if guests let us know immediately about anything that seems unusual, damaged or just might need checking eg swimming pool, play areas etc.  Gracias!

We will do our best to check, repair or replace as appropriate and as quickly as possible with our caretaker and/or from our spares - or contact a third party professional to organise what is needed as required, within a reasonable timeframe.

WIFI This is offered as a complimentary service without speed guarantees and on the finca only, via your own device with WiFi capability - there is one code per property which all the guests in the booking can use while on the finca.  

We check and update the system regularly, so at present each property also has its own booster - both the general wifi access code for the finca and name  for your booster (or separate code for the Cortijo) are both provided with your arrival email/Whatsapp.

BANDWIDTH  The wifi signal is currently sent from Vejer, so due to the more limited bandwidth in our rural area as well as seasonal weather conditions, please note that our free wifi does have limitations and is not guaranteed (eg slower speeds at peak times etc).  It is therefore provided as suitable for basic general internet useage, not downloading or streaming large ítems. 

Extra: If you have a particular requirement requiring greater or guaranteed bandwidth such an important Skype call, please use the internet café in Vejer itself - or consider purchasing a ‘dongle’ available from many local mobile phone shops (Vodafone, Movistar, Telefonica etc) and similar outlets.  For printing or sending higher specification items, please visit the internet cafe.

No Smoking!  Please note that the property and finca are non-smoking. 

Any costs incurred by smoking and associated damage will be charged for.

Fire Risks!  Please take the utmost care with all forms of fire during your stay as they pose a real danger, not just inside the property but especially outside in the hot dry summer months - not least as we are in a highly-protected Parque Natural.  There are also considerable Government fines amounting to thousands of euros for risking or causing a fire particularly through negligence, for which the main booking contact of each property is responsible both on and off the finca.

Therefore, the main booking contact is responsible to please ensure everyone in the property:

* only uses candles & tealights inside appropriate holders - do not place directly on surfaces 

* always fully extinguish of all matches, candles & woodburner fires and barbeque charcoals after use in a very careful and appropriate manner - especially at night or whenever you leave the property, go inside for the night etc.  Throwing water can cause hot coals, wax etc to be pushed out onto other surfaces and cause damage.

* firestarters must only used in minimum amounts and always be stored safely away for exterior barbecues only - NO liquid fuel

*properly dispose of COLD ash and coals in the recycling metal bucket 

* barbeques are for cooking only - using the base metal ash tray, metal shelves provided and charcoal only.  They must not be used as open fires even for cooking, or with wood or other products, at any time. 

* all exterior open fires/firepits are banned in our Parque Natural throughout the year, with very large fines for which guests will be responsible - as well as the costs of any damage caused.  (Even bonfires require a Government permit and only allocated days during the Winter.)

For longer bookings, the property is given a light general clean weekly (or as specified in the booking email) with a fresh change of bedlinen and bathroom towels - usually on a Friday between 09:00-14:00 during your stay, with a complete changeover on the day of your departure.   You do not need to be present to provide access - but to ensure the cleaning team can do their job properly, we ask that guests are not nside the property or they will avoid that area.

Please note that this is not a full clean so does not include tidying up kitchens and washing up – while we ask that guests kindly remove their rubbish and recycling throughout their booking just as the locals do, which can be dropped off in the  large village bins whenever you pass through. (The cleaner's van is small and just for staff and  laundry, so they cannot do this for you.).  

Additional cleaning and linen are available on request in advance, for a further charge - subject to availability and notice.  Please contact us for further information.

Please note: if the property is found to require more than average cleaning or repairs on changeover, any additional working hours or extra staff may be charged for – so that we can complete the work promptly in time for the following booking.

Bedinen and bathroom towels are provided for use for inside the property only (ie not outisde by the swimming pools or for the beach) and are changed during agreed housekeeping days and times at the time of booking - normally weekly during the main season.  

We also kindly ask that guests do not use bedlinen, bathroom towels or any internal soft furnishings including cushions, sofa cushions, carpets curtains etc anywhere outside, including garden, swimming pool, cars & beach – please note that all cleaning or replacements for damage, stains etc will be charged for. 

Please note that washing machines are provided for personal clothing laundry only, not to wash any bedlinen, bathroom towels, soft furnishings provided by El Sueño.  This is not only to conserve water & energy but to ensure the required cleaning and hygiene standards are met, so all linen and bathroom towels are laundered offsite by a profesional laundry service. 

Pool/beach towels are not provided  by El Sueño, so guests will either need to bring their own - or they can be purchased at local supermarkets and beach shops.

General:  Pleaste note that there is NO local house-to-house rubbish collection in this area of rural Spain, so we do not provide larger bins on the finca for this purpose. 

This is the responsibility of each self-catering property to do this for themselves, both during the booking and on departure.   

Rubbish is not removed by our cleaning company, either during mid stay cleans on changeovers at the end of a booking.  

Therefore, all guests are asked to regularly bag up any rubbish & recycling hroughout their booking and drop it into the large general collection bins in the village whenever they pass through which are emptied daily – just as all the local homeowners do!  

Please do not leave bags of rubbish either inside or even outside your door at any time during your stay, as they will quickly begin to smell & attract unwanted wildlife including rodents (as well as pose a risk to our resident cats) in this warmer climate!  

Recycling:  A green glass bottle bank and yellow large bins are for recycling (mainly plastic)  are located by Venta Pacquito in the middle of the village  - while a larger range can be found by most supermarkets and in larger towns.  Please leave any clean newspapers in the property, as these can be re-used on the finca.  

Compost:   due to the amount of cross-contamination which attracted rodents etc, we currently are not able to accept any compost.  However, COLD ash from woodburners and barbecues put into metal buckets by the BBQs will be taken on changeovers.   

Please note: all household rubbish and recycling is the responsibility of the guests   in self-catering properties and not removed by the cleaners or caretaker, either during weekly housekeeping or final changeover.  If rubbish is left behind, there will be a significant charge made by our cleaning company to dispose of this.

                                                    Gracias!

Conservation:   As our Winters become drier with no rain for several months in the Summer, there is always a water shortage in this rural corner Spain.  Please be very careful with the amount of water you use - particularly as we are not on the mains water but rely on our own private wells and water system for the properties, pools & gardens, so the supply is limited!  

Please help to reduce the water you use on a daily basis, by turning the tap off while brushing your teeth & taking shorter showers rather than baths,  Everything you do to help the local area & wildlife is greatly appreciated!

Note: We have also installed new ecological filters on the kitchen taps which are replaced every three months, so please do not remove.  You will need to gently lift he lever at the side of the filter on the tap to switch the water flow through it when you want filtered water for drinking, cooking, washing fruit & vegetables to eat raw etc - but use standard tap water for washing up and general cleaning.

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NO WATER:  The safety mechanism of our own well system is sensitive, so if there is a power surge or any fault detected, it will trip the safety switch and turn it off.  If water pressure drops or disappears, please let us know by Whatsapp or email immediately -   so our caretaker can check and switch it back on.  In the meantime, even if there is a low flow please only use water where really essential as the holding tank will quickly run low with five properties using it.  Gracias!

WATER & ENERGY CONSERVATION 

Using the dishwasher (properly filled but not overloaded) not only saves guests time in the kitchen, greatly reduces the amount of water, energy and cleaning products used to clean dirty dishes - as well as ensures everything is properly and safely cleaned, particularly in hot weather,

For non-dishwasher items eg wooden utensil, pans & some plastic, please use a washing-up bowl to save water (not clean under a freely running tap).

Note: if the salt or rinse aid light shows on the machine, please let us know immediately as the dishwasher may not work either efficiently or at all without it.  Our caretaker can top it up for you when they are next on the finca.

COLD WATER

We have our own private water supply, so we kindly ask guests to reduce and conserve the amount they use - particularly during the long dry Summer months.  We also ask that you please do not use the hoses in the gardens eg for water games, private paddling pools etc.

For extra cold water, please do not run the tap as you will only drain the large holding tank which is a constant temperature - just keep a bottle or jug in the fridge to chill, or add some ice cubes!

HOT WATER:

Each property has hot water provision sufficient for the maximum occupany of the property, based on average use.  However, all guests are kindly asked to use hot water in a careful and considerate manner, particularly mindful of the method of heating for their property as detailed below.  Gracias!

*  Almendra, Mimosa and Pimienta's hot water is provided by each Casita’s own gas combination boiler which heat the hot water on demand, but it can take a while to warm up initially and for pressure and flow is to be used in one bathroom at a time.  As soon as the water starts to feel cooler, please inform us immediately so the gas bottle can be changed   when the caretaker is next on site, which may be the following day - as main gas is not available in Spain.  There will still be sufficient gas in the tank for the gas hob for an additional day or two.

*  Alcornoque's hot water is heated by an electric tank on a timer, which provides hot water on demand but limited to the size of the tank.  It is very hot as the tank is small to expediate heating, so please be careful with little ones  and note that the tank will need to refill and heat up when drained - particularly after a bath.

*  The Cortijo's hot water is heated  by solar panels during daylight hours on sunny days, with a second electrical hot water tank for Winter months of December to March which is smaller in size.  The double-end baths are very  large, so please consider them an occasional treat as just two taken at night will empty either tank - so it will then take a while to heat up again from cold (which is the following day outside of Winter).  There is also a small hot water heater under the kitchen sink.

Please note that if you use two hot water taps at the same time in any property regardless of how the hot water is heated, especially if one is a shower/bath, one or both taps might run cool - as the hot water will go to the primary/closest tap first.  In Almendra, Mimosa and Pimienta, flushing a toilet can also temporariily affect the cold water pressure and flow to the gas heater.  

There is no main sewerage/waste water system in rural areas of Spain including our village, so we all use private septic tanks.  

Therefore, only natural waste and a limited toilet paper can be flushed down toilets - ie no baby wipes, feminine products or ‘flushable’ items.  In the kitchen, no coffee grounds, food items, cooking oil etc can go down the sink either - please use the compost bin (no dairy, fish or meat).

Please note  in Spain that NO paper is normally flushed down toilets, as waste pipes are much narrower - so in public bathrooms eg restaurants etc always use the bin provided beside for this.

Blockage:  Our team check each house on changeovers to ensure everything is working well.  However, if a bathroom or kitchen pipe become blocked or starts to leak during your stay, please contact the Office immediately by Whatsapp or email and do not try to clear it yourself particularly using chemicals which can cause issues with our septic system - so our caretaker will review and try to clear it quickly for you, before the situation gets worse.  

Note:  For larger blockages a professional plumber/drainage company may need to be called - who may not be available immediately. The drainage company charge is now a minimum €500 callout fee, which will be charged to the guest if it is found that they have caused the blockage (eg baby wipes, coffee grounds etc).

Fuse Board:  There is a fuse board for each property by the front door (kitchen door in the Cortijo).  If there is a power cut for more than a few minutes, please check to see if any of the fuses have switched off/down  - it is safe to put back on/up as often caused by a small surge in an item, particularly if brought by the guest.  However, if there is any smell of burning, more than one fuse is off/down, all fuses are on/up but there is no power in the house for more than 30 minutes, please contact us immediately.

Voltage & Plugs:  The voltage in Spain is 220 volts, although this can fluctuate - so we strongly advise guests to buy their own adaptors and always use a surge plug when using specialist or sensitive equipment, such as computers etc.  Please kindly do not remove or borrow plugs & adaptors provided for other equipment in the house.  

Switch Off & Conserve:   Please switch off equipment or take out plugs (not just leave on standby eg television & DVD), when not in active use or at night.  Always turn off heating (wall panel heaters are being moved over to timers) fans and lights when not required, eg whenever away from the property and at night - including outside lights after going to bed, as these can really disturb local wildlife including owls.

Note: it is usual in Spain for products rather than properties to be earthed.   However, all our properties are grounded - while each property also has its own fuse box located by the front door.  

Kitchen Hobs  There is no mains gas in Southern Spain, so all gas hobs in the properties use gas from a bottle - all the ovens are electric.  These gas bottles are checked (and replaced when necessary) on every changeover to ensure there is sufficient for your booking, but let us know immediately if it appears to be running low so it can be checked and changed when the caretaker is next on site.

Casitas hot water:  As mentioned under the 'Cold & Hot Water' section above, the combination boilers in Almendra, Mimosa and Pimienta Casitas are also run from the same gas bottle   Therefore, as soon as the hot water starts to feel a little cooler in these properties just let us know by Whatsapp or email, so our caretaker can replace it. when they are next on site, which may be the following day if late.   (At this point, there will be sufficient gas in the tank to heat the water for another shower or two, as well as run the gas hob for another day or two as well.)

Electric fans As an ecological finca, we offer electric fans for all the bedrooms & main living areas rather than air-conditioning. Traditional features such as tiled floors, high ceilings, windows shutters & curtains and surrounding shady trees also work together to keep the houses cooler during the hotter months.  

The traditional bars on the windows and external patio doors are designed to allow for the internal windows and doors to be left open at night, so the property can cool down in the warmer months with the night breezes.  Please read our  Naturally Eco Cool section below for more tips!

Insects & Screens  We encourage all types of wildlife as part of our ecological approach, although we appreciate guests want to avoid them in the houses - so please read our handy tip sheet with practical and family friendly suggestions on how to prevent ants and mosquitoes & other insects in our warmer climate!

Let nature , traditional design of the house and local tips work to keep you and your property cool - the Spanish way.

Early Morning – if not left open  through the night already, open up all the doors and windows as early as possible, to freshen the house with the last of the cooler night air.

Mid Morning– close shutters and curtains against the sun - following it around the house from East (back) to West (front) to keep the house shaded throughout the day.  Rear shutters can be opened when shaded, as long as it is cooler outside than in.

Early Afternoon– close all windows and doors if there is little wind or it is from the East (Levante), but keep open but still shaded if the cool sea breezes from the West & Vejer (Poinente) are blowing.

Early Evening– open all the doors and windows as the outside temperatures drop after dusk.  Ensure all the insect door & window screens are closed before dusk, as this is when mosquitos are most active & enter the house.  Please do not squash insects on walls - but if you do, clean marks immediately or they will need repainting on changeover!

Night– sleep with windows open as the security bars are there just for this purpose!  Night temperatures are usually lovely and cool throughout the Summer, giving you both a good nights sleep and cooling the house right down - the benefits of which can last into the next day.

If you go out for the day, close all windows & shutters, doors & curtains to keep the house as shaded and cool as possible.  Sunlight is very strong and heats the house up quickly, so enjoy it outside!  

Please do not leave fans switched on in empty rooms, or when away from the property - this wastes energy and is also a potential fire risk!   

Gracias!

While Winter months on the Costa de la Luz are usually mild and sunny, it can occasionally be cold and wet (with frost every few years).   Therefore, locals dress for the season, not just the sunshine - as by early evening the temperatures can drop quickly, particularly on clear nights. 

The thick stone walls, tiled floors and high Casita ceilings are essential to keep the properties cool for much of the year, but wearing warmer clothing and footwear including slippers inside will keep you more comfortable during the cooler months.  As we are close to the sea, it is also essential for guests to air the houses frequently during a booking as condensation will cause damp and mould inside - a couple of hours on a mild often sunny day is all that is needed and a dry house is warmer than a damp one.   

We provide heating in all our properties rentals for the months of December to March only (the Spanish energy-saving decree for public buildings/spaces is 19’ for heating in Winter and 27’ for air con in Summer) – so please note that it will not be tee-shirt temperatures inside, or out! If you require heating at other times of year, please contact El Sueno as there wlll be an additional charge - particularly for the Cortijo (or a charge will be made if found to be used regardless.)

Casitas:   The Casitas are heated by electric wall panel heaters in each room, while bathrooms have sensor hot air heaters, electric wall heaters and towel rails - please do not cover them or dry laundry on or close to them them, as this is a serious fire risk.  A mobile gas heater can be provided for the cooler Winter months of Nov to March – always turn off at night and whenever you leave the property, as well as air the room regularly. Please read our Winter Hints for more tips on keeping the house warm & dry!

Cortijo:    The Cortijo has electric underfloor heating in all the bedrooms and main living areas with individual thermostats,  electric wall panel heaters in the open halls/rooms and sensor hot air heaters, electric wall heaters and towel rails in the bathrooms. 

Casita Woodburning Stoves & Cortijo Snug Fireplace:      Internal fires in the properties are only permitted for use during the months of December to March inclusive.  

All fires and woodburners are closed for the rest of the year between April to November inclusive, due to birds in our Parque Natural which roost and occasionally nest in or beside the chimneys - many of which are highly protected.

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Please note:      Additional heaters provided by guests are not permitted under our Terms & Conditions, eg oil radiators, fan heaters, electric blankets etc - so not covered by our insurance, as well as potentially reduce power for other properties during key periods.  

As we install smart meters, over average/additional electrical useage will be charged for, along with any damage or costs caused – while heaters will be removed (and returned on day of departure) if used in an unsafe manner.

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We appreciate our guests have different expectations and equipment in their own homes, so we have provided some key information & useful tips below under 'Winter Warm!'   on what we provide and how to safely use it for a comfortable stay - so please take a moment to read this.       Gracias!

Although some of this information has already been provided in other sections, we have put together the key points for quick & easy reference:

Note:    the equestrian Sunshine & Autumn Tour events   take a considerable amount of power to run for limited periods during the year, resulting in the occasional power fluctuation and overall a lower voltage available for the local area - especially at peak times of useage in mornings and evenings  Therefore, we ask guests to kindly moderate and conserve the power they use to ensure there is a comfortable amount for everyone in Winter - especially heating and hot water, cooking and washing appliances.  Gracias!

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Heating:  

 * Casitas:   the wall panel heaters in the Casitas and Cortijo are set for both times and temperatures (normally 20-21'), but any minor fluctuation in the power level can reset them.  Therefore, please check daily and always turn off when out and on warmer days.  Please do not leave heaters on all day when you are out, or place any clothing etc on or beside these heaters to dry, as this is a serious fire hazard. 

 * Cortijo:  with thick stone floors which hold the heat for a long period, any electric underfloor heating is therefore set at 16’ in all bedrooms and living areas to ensure a constant warmth over long periods – higher settings will not increase the temperature, but will continue to draw power which in turn could burn out the heating elements and affect other electrical appliances in the property.

* Bathrooms:  all types of fan/electric heaters provided in all bathrooms, must only be turned on when the bathroom is in active use and be turned off immediately afterwards - some have sensors and timers, but not all  Electric towel rails are provided for drying and airing towels after use only – they are not to be used to dry personal clothing etc.

 * Fire:   All forms of fire/open flame including the Cortijo snug fireplace, Casitas woodburners and mobile gas heaters (by arrangement) are only available during the Winter months of December to March inclusive and always must be used with caution.  Guests are asked:

   • never leave any form of fire unattended especially with children or animals.  Matches, lighters etc need to be kept away from children.

   • all fires produce gases and water vapor, so it is essentail to regularly air out properties including during and after use for both safety and to prevent condensation and damp

   • use seasoned wood only in Cortijo snug fireplace and Casitas woodburner - = please do not take any wood from the finca grounds

 • rubbish or other items cannot be burnt at any time

   • do not overfill Cortijo snug fireplace or Casitas woodburners - set a smaller fire at the back which can be added to, do not let them burn them too close to the front/stove door as this will cause smoke and damage

• do not use any form of chemica or liquid firestarters - solid suitable firestarters may be used in moderation but always stored safely and separately, away from children and pets

• always extinguish/turn off aany form of open flame including a fire or heater  at night or out of the property even just for a short time, as they can send of a spark which is a serious fire hazard.  This includes candles/tealights, which must always be in used within the suitable holders provided - including sand if used.

  •  ashes from woodburning stoves, Cortijo snug fireplace and all barbecues must be regularly swept out when cold  and put into metal bucket for a caretaker to safely dispose of

 • exterior barbecues are to be used with base ash tray, shelves and charcoal only - no wood use as an open fire is permitted at any time of year, as fines are substantial

 •  exterior barbecues are not to be used as 'open' fires including for cooking at any time of year

Please note:   our insurance does not cover us for any damage to finca property including subsequent lost rental income,  or third party buildings and land caused by the incorrect/misuse  of any type of heating or equipment involving fire provided by El Sueno (barbecue, woodburner, Cortijo snug, candles or gas), or the guest even if accidental – so guests are fully liable for all costs.  

Such incidents will likely also incur heavy fines by the Junta, for which the guest is also fully responsible.

This includes laundry left on or near such items, gas heaters or fires not extinguished at night or during absence – as well as the use of additional items provided by guests. 

If you have any questions on how to use an item provided in the property, please just ask!

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 * Curtain & window shutters  need to be closed at dusk for warmth, even though it gets very dark here so there is no light pollution.  The external metal green shutters in the Cortijo (bedroom patio doors and top hallway landing) also need to be securely closed during heavier rain and wind to prevent water ingress.

Condensation: the traditional-style renovated properties all need to be aired out daily, as natural water vapour particularly from kitchens, bathrooms and fire/gas heaters will cause condensation, moulld etc and also make it feel damper and colder.  The properties are designed to feel cool in Summer with ceramic floors and higher ceilings in the Casitas, so on sunny Winter days the warmer exterior air will also help heat the house so heaters can be switched off.

Tumble dryers:  please note that the tumble driers (in the Cortijo and Casitas laundry room) are only made available for use in extended rainy periods during the Winter months of December-March only  - which our staff will connect, so guests are asked not to switch them.  With mild sunny weather on most days during Winter, laundry will usually dry outside in a few hours almost year-round.

Personal

* Casitas Laundry Room - Almendra, Mimosa & Pimienta:  Located beside the Casitas parking area beside Mimosa, this houses a rinsing sink, washing machine, iron & ironing boards, extra drying racks & pegs for personal laundry only   - as well as mops and buckets available..   

 * The Cortijo and Alcornoque  each have their own washing machines, so guests are asked not to use the shared Casitas laundry room unless requested by El Sueno in particular circumstances - eg waiting for repair of their own washing machine.

To conserve our limited water supply & electricity,  we also ask guests to use the washing machine considerately during their stay - particularly not overloading or underloading the machine.  In consideration of other guests and the machines, please first also rinse dirty or sandy items off outside or in the sink provided before washing - as well as check and empty all machine filters after each use too. 

Drying:  With warm sunny weather throughout the year, laundry can easily be dried on the drying racks provided with pegs on each patio almost year-round - each rack takes a standard load of laundry.

As we are an ecological finca, please note that the tumble driers (in the Cortijo and Casitas laundry room) are only made available for use in extended rainy periods during the Winter months of December-March only - which our staff will connect, so guests are asked not to switch them.    However, if they are used when the weather is dry regardless of the time of year an additional charge will be made.  

Please note that heated towel rails, electric bathroom heaters and wall panel heaters in any property are not to be used for drying items including clothes etc either on or under at any time as it is a fire risk, while any damage caused by such inappropriate use either to the heater or the property will be charged in full.

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Bedlinen & Bathroom Towels: To ensure all bedinen and bathroom towels provided by El Sueño is correctly laundered for health reasons & also conserve our limited water supply, these items must not washed on site by guests.  However, if you need replacement items (eg for a child after an accident), please fully rinse out and ask the office for replacements - the soiled items will be removed by our cleaning company on the next clean/changeover of your property, along with the other linen.  (However, smaller travel cot items for younger children can be washed by guests during a booking if needed).  

If you require an additional change of linen and/or bathroom towels during your stay, please request these in advance or at the beginning of your booking - these can be provided for a small additional charge per twin/double bedroom to cover laundry costs, but are subject to availability and with a maximum of one additional set per room per week.

                                        Gracias!

FINCA CATS   There are a number of  friendly farm cats who live on the finca as part of our family & are fed daily by our staff.  They are all neutered, vaccinated and checked regularly by our vet, so please enjoy their company during your holiday & treat them kindly.   

In addition, visiting cats and dogs (and even a pet deer) from the neighbouring fincas appear from time to time who are family pets or farmcats and an accepted part of rural Spanish life - but if you have any concerns regarding their behaviour or health, please do contact us immediately.

We also ask that you check the house to ensure that the cats are not accidentally shut inside whenever you go out - or shut inside your car at any time,  including on both arrival & departure, or just even getting something from your car.  Heat can quickly kill them when trapped inside a car, or they can escape in a strange area far from home!  

NOTE:  We appreciate that not everyone loves our cats as much as we and most of our guests do, so to prevent habits that might upset following guests after you leave, we ask that you do not feed them inside the houses or directly from any table – including NO milk or food with bones, especially fish & chicken.  (Please also make sure all bones are safely disposed of too!)   

EmergenciesIf you find a cat is injured or ill, please immediately     speak to the caretaker if he is on site, or contact the Office by Whatsapp or email - so we can arrange for urgent veterinary care.  (This also applies to any stray dog in the village who is noticeable uncared for, particularly galgos/greyhounds.)   

Animal Welfare We also encourage our guests to report any concerns regarding animal welfare & ecological issues to the local Tourist Offices - as raising awareness & giving feedback makes a real difference in gaining extra protection and creating stronger laws in future.  There are a few rescue centres in the area, but these are poorly funded and very overcrowded - so please donate any spare change if you can.

RESCUE & ADOPTION   We neuter and feed as many local village cats as we can afford, as well as rescue and adopt many local cats and dogs both on the finca and local area over the years too.  However, there are always many more needing help - so if you find a stray cat or do and want to give it a good home, please get in touch and we will do all we can to help you with this.  We can recommend a wonderful local veterinary team, fosterer and transport company that can take pets and rescues all over Europe and UK too, often door to door.

                           Gracias!

Access:  Codes are provided by email or Whatsapp to the main Booking Contact before arrival, for both the (Cortijo or Casitas) front gates, as well as the property key lock box.  Please keep these in a secure place and do not share with others outside the booking at any time.

Please always take sensible measures both on the finca and also when out and about, to protect your personal items.  Lock all doors of the property, as well close and lock the front gates using the code number on departure in consideration of other guests. 

Keys: An unmarked front door key is provided on booking, with further keys for patio doors left inside the property.  We ask that the key is always left in the lock box when away from the finca, both as a secure place* to prevent accidental loss and to allow our staff access in an emergency if you are out.  Please do not mark the key tag, change keys around or take any other keys away from the property.  

* If you do lose your main key or are locked out of the property, please contact the Office immediately by Whatsapp or email - although please note that we do not have staff on site 24/7, so it may take some time for a new key to be provided.  If the key has been lost (offsite) and we believe that security may have been compromised, please note that the cost of any locks to be changed will be charged to the guest.

Safe & Alarm codes are provided for both the safe and alarm in each property, should you wish to use them during your stay - but not written down for security reasons.  Please do not change any codes  – if you get locked out of your safe, please contact the Office .

Satellite to Smart:  Due to a wide range of international guests, we offer a basic satellite system rather than Spanish television which provides a range of channels, programmes and/or languages, although please note that these are limited due to satellite position, weather etc.  Therefore, when replacing existing televisions they will be Smart TVs, to also allow guests  access their own Netflix, Amazon Prime etc account - please ntoe that El Sueno do not provide these subscription services including Sky.  

Passwords: guests are responsible for correctly logging out access to their personal accounts eg Amazon and Netflix before departure on the television.  If any guest find another person's account already logged into a television or device in their rental property, they are asked to immediately logout/delete the information and not access it, otherwise it will be considered a breach of privacy and they will be charged for any services used.

Note: We kindly ask guests not to re-set any existing channels or languages, as these are set in advance by a third party provider to offer the widest range of channels and languages to our range of guests depending on the satellite availability - so any such changes may then require the engineer to return and reprogramme the system for a substantial call-out charge, which will be passed onto the guest/main booking contact in addition to the security deposit.

* Swimming Pools:   El Sueño provides two swimming pools for its guests: a shared Casitas swimming pool fo rthe four Casitas and a private swimming pool for the Cortijo (which can be shared with Casitas guests when part of a group booking).  Both swimming pools are fenced, each with a bathroom/changing area.  

In respect of others using the pool as well as in properties nearby, as well as to keep the pools as clean and safe as possible, all guests are asked to follow some basic pool rules at all times: including showering before every use (including after applying suntun lotion to rinse off the excess otherwise certain products will cause green/yellow/orange staining to swimwear, clothing, hair and around the water edge); babies and young children must wear swimnappies; no jumping, running or ball games; tie back long hair and wear appropriate clothing; no food, alcohol or any glass/crockery in the pool area; no loud music or late night noise; remove and dispose of all rubbish carefully and leave bathroom clean and tidy.  Gracias!

* Children Play Areas: El Sueño provides two shared play areas for children: a younger play area near the main driveway is for children aged 1-6 years and an older play area near Alcornoque is for children aged 6-12 years.   No teens or adults are to use either play area please, as the equipment is not suitable, so will likely break - for which the person responsible will be asked to pay for repair or replacement as required.
 

* Table Tennis & Board Games:

There is a separate area for older kids, teens and families with table tennis and rustic  giant board games. We ask that all equipment including paddles and balls, chess and draughts /backgammon pieces are put away in the chest each time.  The Cortijo also has a separate area behind the property for boules/petanque which is for their private use, with items provided in the property.

Kites:  please note that we do have an overhead electrical cable (not a telephone wire) across the finca to our neighbours' property, so kites are not to be flown anywhere.

NOTE: Adults and children are asked to use the swimming pools and any play/games equipment respectfully, appropriately and not overcrowd.  For both swimming pools and play areas, all children must be supervised by a responsible adult at all times and El Sueño cannot be held responsible for any injury to children or adults however incurred.  

However, if you have any questions or concerns, please let the Office of El Sueño know immediately so the matter or item can be checked and other guests informed promptly.  (Some play area items will be put into storage over the Winter months of November to March inclusive.)

El Sueño is an ecological finca, with an emphasis on attracting wildlife & insects - so we ask guests to kindly not pick or sample any ornamental herbs, flowers, plants or fruit themselves.  This can not only cause long term damage to the tree or plant, but some are poisonous such as oleandars which are to be found by the driveways. and septic tank hatches  

Fruit & Herbs:  Many plants and areas of the gardens are also directly watered with ‘grey water’ and so are unsuitable for human consumption – particularly the ornamental herbs in the central Bees & Butterflies Herb Gardens, so they are not suitable or provided for culinary use even when cooked.  

Our Caretaker will pick and offer extra seasonal fresh fruit from the grounds, when available.  Please note that there are no limes growing on the finca, as these are young unripe lemons - so picking them at this stage will remove our crop for later!

Patio & Wall Pot Plants   Our caretaker usually waters the outside pot plants daily, but during the hotter months we ask that guests also kindly water them once a day too to keep them healthy - particularly those on patios and walls, as well as inside the Cortijo and on the first floor bedroom balcony.   If you see any garden areas very dry or plants looking a little thirsty, please let us know too so we can check the irrigation!   Gracias!

EASY GUIDE & NATURAL DETERRENTS

TO PREVENT ANTS & OTHER INSECTS

We are an ecological finca, so there will be a range of insects living in the gardens during your stay - from popular ladybirds, stick insects and butterflies, to the less popular like ants and wasps.  However, both ants and wasps are just as essential to a balanced ecosystem and help us by eating up other pests both in gardens and houses like fleas and bed bugs - so for this reason, destroying an ants nest is the last option particularly on our organic finca.

However, where a wasps or ants nest is directly causing risk or damage to either guests or a property, our caretaker or gardener will remove it - so please inform us immediately so we can organise it.  

We appreciate that guests do not like insects inside however, so we have learnt that there are many ways to easily prevent them entering the house and becoming a nuisance in addition to the screens provided on doors and windows - using common sense and natural ingredients in a warmer climate, without using chemicals that cause harm to the environment, wildlife and children.  We have included some of the most popular and practical tips below:

1. Clear away food immediately

* Store all food securely away in the fridge or airtight containers as soon as you finish eating (or after shopping) – including bread, ripe fruit, jams etc.  Securely seal open containers or packages on counters or inside cupboards.

* Always wipe away any food and drink spillages immediately, especially with children - not forgetting to clean bottles, jars etc as well as the inside of cupboards if anything leaks or spills too.

* Rinse all dirty dishes and stack into the dishwasher after every snack or meal – wash any other items immediately that cannot go into the dishwasher, eg knives, wooden spoons etc.  

* Take out rubbish regularly to the village communal collection bins (every day in Summer), keeping bin lids tightly shut at all times.

* Sweep floors after every meal, both inside and out on the patio to remove smaller crumbs and sticky marks – regular mopping helps too. 

2. Use natural deterrents

* Rather than chemical sprays or traps, there are a number of effective natural alternatives found in every house - which can be used every day as well as at key entry points or generally throughout the house.

They are also safe for children and animals as well as fragrant too, so we have listed some favourites below.

3. Spot entry points

Note any unusual entry points eg around a window frame and inform the office or caretaker, so it can be checked and sealed for you.  Ensure patio door screens are always kept in place and report any damage so it can be repaired.

NATURAL DETERRENTS

As well as using sprays, you can also line key entry points such as doors and windows with other natural deterrents - such as drawing a line of with a stick of chalk), salt, and pepper.  

However, if you chose to do this, please always be careful where you put it - as you don’t want any getting in the eyes, mouth or nose of children or pets (finca cats)!   

Cinnamon & Cloves - effective household ant repellents. The smell of cinnamon in particular discourages ants from entering your house and scrounging in your kitchen.

• Add ¼ to ½ teaspoon of cinnamon essential oil in a cup of water. Soak a cotton ball in this solution and wipe down the areas where ants may enter and dwell. Repeat once daily until all the ants are gone.

• You can also put ground cinnamon and whole cloves near entry points.

Note: Use the cinnamon oil spray strategically in places of ant infestation; do not put it all over the place.

White Vinegar- ants cannot bear its strong smell. In addition, the smell masks their scent trails, making them lose their direction.

1. Mix equal parts of white vinegar and water.

2. Pour the solution into a spray bottle.

3. Add a few drops of any essential oil and shake the bottle thoroughly.

4. Spray this solution around baseboards and other entry points.

5. After an hour, wipe up the ants using a damp paper towel and discard them.

6. Repeat once daily until the ants are completely gone.

You can also use this vinegar solution to clean floors, windowsills and countertops to prevent ants from crawling over these surfaces.

Lemon- the smell deters ants and its acidic property masks their scent trails.

•  Rub some lemon juice on door thresholds, windowsills and other possible areas where ants are getting in.

•  Another option is to put a few drops of lemon essential oil on cotton balls and leave them in cabinets and other areas as needed.

•  Scatter small slices of lemon peel around outdoor entrances.

Peppermint- a natural insect repellent that can effectively keep ants away. Ants hate its strong smell, which also disrupts their smelling capabilities so they cannot detect food sources.  

•  Add 10 drops of peppermint essential oil to 1 cup of water. Spray the solution on all areas where ants are present. Repeat twice daily, until the ants are gone completely.

•  Sprinkle some dried peppermint around your doors, entryways and garbage areas to repel ants.