The first thing you notice is the spectacular view. During my first visit to Valle de Bravo, the popular weekend vacation destination in Mexico, my best friend Mark and I stayed in a rather unique Airbnb apartment. Here’s what we liked about the experience.
Set on a hill overlooking Lake Avandaro, this quirky, charming Airbnb apartment features two bedrooms, a full kitchen and three living areas, one of which is a covered terrace with a picture-perfect vista of the lake.
After spending plenty of time scouring and comparing Airbnb listings, my friend Mark chose this property as his favorite — which is listed under the headline Cálido Departamento — because of its eye-catching style, superior view and attractive price, and we weren’t disappointed. It’s not a spanking-clean, generically modern apartment. It fact it’s not very modern at all. It has a bit of a storybook quality, with lots of natural wood architectural elements, and water views from every room.
The apartment occupies the top two floors of a three-story house, along a narrow hillside street. We were met by Alan, the manager, who handed us keys in person upon arrival.
LIVING SPACE: Aside from the terrace, which had comfortable seating and a coffee table, all made of handcrafted wood, we also enjoyed the living room, which had a built-in couch and a whimsical round fireplace, as well as a small, wall-mounted television. The living area includes an open-concept kitchen with full-size refrigerator, stove and the usual utensils. The bathroom features an oddly shaped shower (also with a water view) and green toilet and sink.
BEDROOMS: Sleeping spaces include a large master bedroom with a king-size bed, which you must pass through to get to the terrace, and a smaller second-floor room with twin beds, reached by a narrow staircase that wouldn’t be appropriate for very young children, older adults or people with different abilities.
THE LOCATION: The apartment is within a short walking distance of a small convenience store. Valle de Bravo’s Centro (downtown) neighborhood — which has a few restaurants and shops — is about 20 minutes by foot. The waterfront, which has more restaurants, tourist shops and is the departure point for lake cruises — is at least 45 minutes by foot, or much closer by taxi (Uber isn’t available in Valle de Bravo; Alan gave us the number for a taxi driver, which was a big help since there aren’t many taxis on the street, especially where this property is located).
BEST FOR: This Airbnb rental in Mexico is ideal for singles, couples and families with kids who are looking for a peaceful place to stay, a bit removed from the main tourist attractions. Valle de Bravo is a lesser-known Mexico vacation destination, although people who live in Mexico City know it well. And it’s worth exploring, especially if you love abundant natural beauty and lots of outdoor activities.