Frequently Asked Questions

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This is what the Met Office says:

Spring  By late spring, all of Southern Spain is experiencing settled warm weather, but nights can still be quite cool. Average maximum temperatures will have risen to about 20 °C in the high mountain villages, 25 degrees at lower altitudes. Average dry days will have increased to 26 per month, and average sunshine hours to about 11 per day.

Summer  In the summer, the Spanish coastline enjoys sea breezes, keeping the temperatures bearable. Daytime maximum average temperatures reach 30 - 32 °C, a good 11 or 12 hours of sunshine can be expected each day and there are, on average, 28 dry days each month. It's a typically Mediterranean climate, with a very dry summer, some months having no rain at all. From time to time it can get hotter still, sometimes rising to 40 - 45 °C, particularly inland (Sevilla is the hottest city in Europe, with Córdoba and Granada not so far behind). In the higher mountains it is usually a very pleasant few degrees cooler.

Autumn  The early part of Autumn is normally a very agreeable extension of Summer, daytime maxima still well up at about 28 °C on the coast and at low altitutes (a few degrees cooler higher up in the sierras) and the sea is still very warm. By November, the daytime maxima have fallen back to about 20 °C, daily sunshine values will be about 6 hours, coupled with about 24 dry days each month.

Winter  In general, Andalucía has a warm dry winter, although higher up in the mountains it can be cold, especially at night. Average maximum temperatures vary from 10 °C in the higher mountain villages to 17 °C along the Mediterranean coast. About 23 days per month are dry and typically, six hours of sunshine can be expected each day. Snow falls in the high mountains, where it can be very cold, but is extremely rare or even unheard of at lower altitudes. Winters in the Sierras of Grazalema and Aracena and around Gibraltar are usually considerably wetter than the rest of Southern Spain due to exposure from Atlantic storms.

Local weather conditions are never entirely predictable and there are no hard and fast rules. The following are general guidelines which you may wish to consider:

In the late Spring you will find the countryside lush, green and colourful, a myriad of wild flowers carpeting the meadows and the roadsides. It's possible that the weather might be cold, you may see some rain, but it's much more likely to be perfect travelling weather, a warm sun on your back in the daytime, perhaps a sweater needed when the sun goes down. It's an ideal time for walking and horse riding. There are relatively few other tourists around so you will probably get a more authentic experience of what life is all about here.

High Season brings the warmest weather, the sun shining from blue, cloudless skies. It's most unlikely to rain, and if you just want to relax by the pool and around the barbecue, nowhere could be better. It can be very warm indeed, especially at low altitudes, and the countryside gradually loses its spring lusture. Our tip is to live as the Spanish do because they know how to deal with summer: they take long siestas during the day and come out only after sundown to enjoy the balmy evening air (and probably a cold beer or two) with friends. Nobody ever seems to go to bed, even less so when the village fiestas start up in ernest! It may not be the most beautiful time of year but it's a very agreeable lifestyle and lots of fun.

The late season has another atmosphere all its own. The mellow sunshine of Autumn creates wonderful light and colours. Again it's a fabulous time for walking or riding in the hills. It might rain, there may be a chilly snap but warm pleasant days are usually the order of the day.

Many who live here all year round will tell you that their favourite time of all is the winter. It's certainly the most dramatic, with snow falling on the high mountains, occasional rains and amazing cloud 'dragons' swirling up the valleys. The sunsets are a joy. Late January sees the first swathes of blossom: pink and white almonds heralding in the spring. A log fire at night is a must, so, make sure you are staying somewhere that is properly equipped for winter living.

One other thing you should be aware of is the village fiestas. For most people these are occasions of great enjoyment and festivity, dancing the night away in the village plaza, a great holiday experience. But some don't care for the noise, and there's plenty of it! The music can be eardrum shattering and often goes on throughout the night, so if you are booking a holiday with us in, or close to, a village and you are looking for peace and quiet, please check with us first about the fiesta dates.

Most of our holiday homes and villas have Saturday as their "change-over day". There are one or two exceptions, usually with Friday starting and finishing dates.

Property owners are usually more flexible about arrival and departure days in off-peak months, so please ask us if you wish to start and finish your booking on a different day of the week.

Our group activity holidays (for example our Walk on the Wild Side holidays) have specific start and finish dates which are clearly explained on the appropriate page. Hotels are usually completely flexible about arrivals and departures.

The quick answer is yes, but it does depend on the time of year and on the particular property. Generally, bookings in our holiday homes and villas are for one, or more, full weeks. In off-peak times of the year it may be possible to book just four nights but we will need to arrange this with the property owner.

Unfortunately Rustic Blue cannot accept any bookings which are less than four days in total. Our hotels have a minimum booking of just two nights, so you could, if you wish, book two nights in one hotel and two nights in another and we will be able to make your reservations for you.

This is explained on our page How to Book. There is a link to it on the top of every page on this web site.

Most of our overseas clients fly to Málaga or one of the closer, local airports in Andalucía and then drive to their holiday destination by hire car. We do, of course, send you detailed directions (and maps) from the relevant airport to your destination when you book.

For more information, see our page Travel Information. There is a link to it at the bottom of every page on this web site. For links to flight websites click here.

We offer competitive rates for car hire from Málaga and other airports in Southern Spain.

Full details are on our page Car Hire which you will find at the bottom of every page on this web site.

On the "change over day", following the departure of the previous guests in the morning, the accommodation will be properly cleaned and prepared prior to your arrival.

It will not, generally, be ready for you before 5 pm. If you are arriving earlier, it may sometimes be possible for you to, for example, leave your luggage at the property whilst the cleaning is being finished. Please check with us and we will do our best to help.

The latest reasonable arrival time is 10 pm unless special arrangements have been made beforehand.

In the week prior to the start of your holiday, it is very helpful if you can let us know your estimated time of arrival, so that we can pass this information on to the house owner or keyholder. This will help them to organise their day properly and to ensure that they are there to meet you at the agreed time.

If your arrival is significantly delayed for any reason (for example, there is a flight delay), please contact us so that we can advise the house owner or keyholder of the change. We are always contactable, either at the office, or on our mobile phone at weekends when the office is closed. These telephone numbers are shown on your directions to the property.

On your day of departure, unless prior agreement has been made, you should vacate the property by 10 am. Owners, and their cleaning staff, appreciate it if you can leave the house reasonably tidy.

Many of our holiday homes in the countryside (and a few of our rural hotels) are accessed via tracks. Most are well maintained but some are rutted or steep or have unprotected drops to their side. Their condition also depends on the recent weather conditions and on how well organised the local community are at maintaining the track. This is rural Andalucía!

Where there is a track it is mentioned in the property description and wherever possible we give our opinion of its condition.

We consider all of them to be passable in an ordinary car (albeit sometimes slowly, with care and in low gear). Anyone who considers that this type of access could seriously effect the enjoyment of their holiday should enquire about the current state of the track before making their booking with us.

Some properties have access which may be difficult for disabled or elderly people. Please check the suitability of the property with us if your party includes anyone who may be inconvenienced.

Parking is rarely a problem in rural Andalucía. In the cities, as elsewhere in the world, it's more problematic, although there are usually plenty of attended underground car parks.

In the smaller towns and villages there is usually no problem finding somewhere to park, either in a car park or just in the street. There are very few restrictions and, as far as we are aware, no traffic wardens!

Thefts of, and from, cars in the countryside are rare but, obviously, if you do leave your car in a public place, it is always advisable not to leave anything valuable in it, and certainly not where it's clearly visable. You should be especially careful of this in the cities. Hire cars are considered easy pickings.

Our properties which are on their own private estates almost always have somewhere where you can park, either alongside the house or nearby.

The maximum number of people accepted at a rental property at any one time is stipulated in the description heading of each property and it is a condition of booking that this must be respected.

Where the property description indicates two numbers eg. 4 / 6 this means that we consider that four people can be accommodated comfortably but that an additional two can also be accommodated, either on sofa-beds or supplementary beds, in bedrooms which sleep more than two people, or where the extra sleeping accommodation consists of bunk beds.

The facilities which are available at each property are listed on its property description. The following are a few general points:

Gas, electricity and water  Gas, electricity and water for normal domestic consumption are included in the rental price. In some parts of Andalucía the water is not considered suitable for drinking and you will need to purchase bottled water.

A few of our more remote properties do not have mains electricity and use solar power or batteries to provide lighting. This is always indicated in the property description. Where this is the case, there is always 24-hour lighting and (gas) refrigeration, but unless it is a sophisticated system or there is generator back-up, appliances such as washing machines, irons, food processors, hairdryers, cannot usually be operated in these properties.

Heating  Firewood is not normally included in the rental price and you will have to purchase it locally. The owner or keyholder will be able to advise you where. Properties that include a reasonable amount of firewood in the price have this fact indicated in the property description (trees being a valuable resource, this will not necessarily be an unlimited supply).

When central heating is indicated in the property description, it is included in the rental price unless stated otherwise. If it is not included, you will be charged for your consumption by the house owner at the end of your stay.

Bed linen and towels  Bed linen and bathroom towels are included at all properties. Beach and pool towels (for outdoor use) and cot linen are not normally provided and you are asked to bring these with you.

Telephones  Only a few of our properties have telephones. If a phone, fax or email connection is a requirement, please check with us at the time of booking.

Swimming Pools  Almost all of the swimming pools at our properties are filtered. Very few of them are heated.

Swimming pools which are not filtered are indicated in the property description. "Spring-fed" pools, known locally as albercas, are water deposits, used to irrigate the land, but which can sometimes be used for swimming in the summer months. They do not have pumps or filtration systems. They are filled with natural mountain water and contain all of the natural life that inhabits mountain streams and irrigation channels.

Ovens  It was not customary in Spain for houses to be equipped with an oven as cooking was traditionally done on the open fire. Even today, probably the majority of the local people never cook in an oven. Roasting is not part of Andalusian cusine and most dishes are prepared either on the hob or on an electric griddle.

Most of our properties have either an oven or a microwave, but if an oven is important to you, please double check with us when you are making your booking.

If you would like more detailed information about facilities at individual properties please ask us.

Some owners allow pets, some do not. Prior arrangements must be made with us, as we will need to seek permission from the owner. Sometimes an additional charge or deposit will apply.

Not all of our holiday homes have cots available. Some do, some don't; some property owners charge a supplement for them, others do not. Cot linen is not usually supplied and you will need to bring this with you.

We strongly recommend that all members of the holiday party obtain appropriate travel and personal insurance cover. For our horse riding holidays, it is a condition of booking that all participants must take out holiday and accident insurance prior to commencing the ride.

There are links to holiday insurance company websites on our "Links" page which you will find at the bottom of every page on this website.

Spain has a National Health Service and it is important that participants from European Union countries obtain a European Health Card (this replaces the form E111 in the UK) from their local post office which will entitle them to free medical service while in Spain. Without this clients may be requested to pay in full for any medical treatment received in Spain.

Whilst every care is taken to ensure the safety of participants and their effects, Rustic Blue cannot accept responsibility for loss of personal belongings or injury.

Some of our properties require a security deposit. Those that do (and the amount) are clearly shown below the price details on the relevant property description.

Where applicable, the appropriate amount will be charged shortly before your holiday is due to start. It will be refunded to you (provided there are no breakages or outstanding payments) three weeks after your departure, normally by re-crediting your credit card.

In some cases, the deposit is collected from you by the property owner when you arrive (in cash, of course!) and returned to you before you leave (provided there are no outstanding payments).