Cortijo El Carligto, the private Andalucian hideaway, bridges the gap between privately owned rental properties and exclusive hotels and resorts by offering boutique service packages and personal concierge service to rival the 5 star hotels.

The choice between a 5 star hotel and a private villa is often a dilemma for discerning travellers who value privacy and personality of a rental property, but depend on the first rate services and attention usually attributed to the upscale hotel or resort. Cortijo El Carligto offers an all-in-one alternative, a new concept in the industry providing guests with all the luxury, attention and pampering they could want without sacrificing privacy and seclusion.

The service portfolio includes on-site spa and beauty treatments, a personal trainer and yoga instructor, private tour guides for cities and monuments or trekking in the mountain nature reserve, private Flamenco performances and even a Spanish language tutor. The culinary services lie at the heart of these offerings and include private in-house chef service as well as hands-on harvest activities, and guided gastronomic tours of wineries, food markets and tapas routes. Two top local chefs provide these services; one of them has a Michelin rating.

The traditional Andalucian character of the authentic cortijo (an old gentleman’s farm) and the tailor-made approach of the independent owners create a personality in the property that dramatically contrasts with the formulaic feel of most hotels and villa resorts. Its location amidst the historic white-washed Moorish villages and the guidance of the owners guarantees an easy connection with the local culture that even the best hotels will struggle to provide.

Alan Hazel, one of the two food and culture loving owners, delivers the concierge service to guests personally. Pre-arrival concierge is standard for all direct bookings, but Mr Hazel also offers a 24 hour concierge service during client visits to help coordinate services, facilities and guides, for example; as well as for general assistance with reservations, translations and whatever other needs arise.