2024, IT WAS A GREAT YEAR!
It’s been a while since we’ve let you hear from us, but certainly not without reason! Wow, what a fantastic season we have had in our beautiful Posada in Ojén. Lots of new faces and ‘old acquaintances’ who wanted to spend a few days or a week at the ‘Posada’ again. We enjoyed it again. Hardly imaginable for others: long days in the hotel, although tiring, are still experienced as non-work. It’s all far too much fun. All our guests went out again full of enthusiasm to discover beautiful places, take nice walks but above all enjoy the beautiful spots and terraces of our picturesque Ojén.
Season ’24
From the moment we reopened in February until November, we had full house, with a short breather here and there of a day or two. It was so incredibly nice to be busy with everything in and around the hotel. We were again able to welcome guests from all over Europe, from Australia to Canada, Scandinavia to South Africa and everything in between.
Marbella is also a popular coastal resort for holidays at home, so we were also able to welcome many Spaniards during the summer months. Everyone comes to southern Spain, of course, partly for the wonderful temperatures, and Costa del Sol certainly lived up to its name. With a record summer in terms of temperatures, with the mercury not dropping below 35 degrees in the months of July, August and even September it still hovered around 30 degrees daily. Consequently, good use was made of our lovely refreshing swimming pool, perfect for cooling off after a hot day.
Travellers Choice Award
We have been there since 2019 but after 1 year, of course, we got the Corona, a major setback. After all the tough years, we are now doing very well, we were able to keep our team intact for the second year. And you notice that, this gives a lot of peace and satisfaction in a full and incredibly busy season, because sometimes it was really hard work. We would never have managed this without our hard-working staff. We have had a great team together for some time now and in 2025 everyone will be there again. Partly thanks to them, we have been known for years with a 9.3 at Booking.com and for the 2nd year we have even been selected by Tripadvisor as ´Best of the Best´ at the Travellers Choice Awards worldwide, which means we are among the best of the top 1% hotels worldwide. Of course, as a whole team, we are super proud of this!
Our Team
Our regular ladies Saida, Aicha and Claudia were again working at full speed in the blood heat, making sure our rooms were fresh day after day. And then there are Ana, Elske and Maria Carmen, who wrapped up the guests with their Spanish charm, picked everyone up with the buggy from the car park, showed them around Andalusia and, in quiet periods, baked the most delicious cakes and prepared the homemade marmalade. Hospitality and hospitality is our number one priority.
And for the 2nd year there was Fran, Mata for intimates, our regular from Ojén. Always helping with breakfast and dinner with his beautiful raspy voice but he is mainly used with his maintenance skills and his painting abilities, so the hotel stays ´Ojén´ white all year round.
And finally, our daughter Roosmarijn who helped with breakfast and dinner, still proud to see our daughter with the guests, asking in various languages how you want your egg fried. These days she also tries to take administration from us, this will be a great prospect as she wants to do Hotel School in the Netherlands. The twins are also already eager and have already helped our team a few times, cooperating very nicely until the final washing and cleaning needs to be done, but that’s part of the job too.
Sometimes Alex puts on his chef’s jacket again and creates the most beautiful creations, our chef with 25 years of restaurant experience. Often a Paella was made LIVE for 30 people with the sounds of Spanish music in the background, other days there were the Spanish tapas evenings, where the tapas were served slightly differently and very culinary, this year this will happen again, with enough enthusiasm, exclusively for hotel guests and the residents of our holiday homes.
Nowadays accompanied by the finest wines from Benito, our local wine supplier, with fine wines at finally a nice price again.
Fiesta
Almost every weekend there was a festivity. From Ojeando (pop festival) to a Gay pride and from a chess tournament to Halloween, the Spanish know how to party. 2024 the year Spain became European football champion, watching the final in the square with all the guests, big party, but we also just celebrate Chestnut Day here. Semana Santa (literally: Holy Week) is the name used in Spanish-speaking countries for Holy Week. This year in the week of 17 April, the week before Easter, which is lavishly marked. Lots of processions, some in Ojén, slightly more and bigger in Marbella and huge numbers (even at night) in Malaga and Seville. And then there is the annual Feria in October, which takes place here in all its glory every year. Six days of partying from noon until late (or early, 7am…) in the night/morning. We decided to close the hotel during these days, as we do want to give our guests some sleep, as well as ourselves.
Staying in a holiday home, Casa in Ojén
This year we had many returning hotel guests who chose to stay for once in one of our houses, in the middle of the village, among Spanish neighbours. Especially if you plan to stay a bit longer, this gives a lot of freedom. You can always make use of the hotel’s facilities, such as the restaurant, swimming pool and all information.
From the end of December, all agencies and booking sites will have the agenda available again. If you are interested, look at our site and ask for a quote. The most popular weeks are still available now. Booking direct is always cheaper!
Casa Fuente (suitable for 2 adults), Casa Charcas (2 adults and 2 children or 4 adults) and Casa Amaya (2 adults and 2 children or 4 adults) are in the middle of the village. Casa Charcas and Amaya both have several bedrooms with private bathrooms.
Not only in the hotel, but also in the houses we rent out, many epicureans could be found.
The double house Casa Fuente, with a perfect location in the middle of the village and a lovely roof terrace with sea views, was a fine home base for many couples to explore the area.
Casa Charcas, suitable for 4 people, was enjoyed by young and old alike. With 2 ensuite bathrooms and a spacious roof terrace, equipped with all amenities, this is the ideal house for both families and, for example, two couples, with plenty of privacy and space.
Casa Amaya, located around the corner from the hotel is also available for rent for holidays this year. Here up to 4/5 people can enjoy an authentic Spanish house, again with a fantastic roof terrace.
The Family
After more than 6 years in Ojén, our children speak almost better Spanish than Dutch and feel completely at home. We are super proud of our three children, hope study but they all come home with wonderful grades.
Rose is now 14 and started her third year of ‘high school’ in September, only this time in Marbella. The first two years of secondary school are at the same primary school in Ojén, unfortunately so now no longer within walking distance from home, but at 07:15 with the school bus to Marbella. She still plays volleyball fanatically and plays matches and/or tournaments every weekend. Last year, her team even came second in the silver league for the first time in Ojén’s existence, wow!
The twins, now 12 years old, are also doing great at school, one better at maths, the other better at language. Every day after school, friends pick them up to play outside, something that is so great about living in this small village. Vajèn has traded basketball for volleyball like her sister and is getting better every week. Presumably she wakes up half the village during their siesta when she is once again practising in the street. Joel remains a real footballer (who will he get that interest from), currently as a right-back in a team that has been together for six years. He is just short of sleeping with his football clothes in bed. Occasionally he also cools off at home with his mobile or PlayStation, but more often he can be found outside for a game.
We are super proud of all three, how they have found their way here and are so independent!
Winter
For the second year, we closed our doors from mid-December to early February and enjoyed a well-earned holiday. This year a beautiful tour of northern Morocco with the family. Several nights in beautiful houses in the middle of the Medina, what lovely and helpful people we met. We made beautiful experiences, our range of pottery from Fez expanded again and there was a lot of inspiration, did a Moroccan cooking workshop but most of all we enjoyed each other. The month of January will be used again to get the hotel Tip Top, as you expect from us. After that, we are of course eager to get back to work, because that is what we like doing best. Welcoming guests, pampering them and showing them all the beauty this region has to offer!
Bookings
Bookings for rooms and holiday homes are most easily made through us. You can always call, e-mail or WhatsApp us. On our website, you can book rooms directly and you will also receive immediate confirmation via our own booking engine. Requests for cottages etc., we really try to answer as quickly as possible. Direct bookings are always cheaper than booking sites like booking.com, expedia etc., with also advantages like you don’t have to pay for the first night and also non-refundable is possible with even more discount.
Hope to see you next year; Hasta Pronto!
La Posada del Angel
Esther and Alex Leenen, Calle Mesones 21; 29610, Ojén (Málaga)
Tel: +34 602 297 247 (ALSO WHAT´S APP)
info@laposadadelangel.net, www.laposadadelangel.net
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