A few things to know.

Our home — treat it with respect, and leave it as you find it.

This is our family's place and we love sharing it. Make yourself at home: use the kitchen, sit out on the terrace, stay up late on the promenade.

All we ask is that the next person walks in to the same place you did. Used something up? Just top it up.

Everything worth knowing is on this page. If anything's missing or broken, send a message — we'd rather know.

— Jamie

The few things that trip people up. Two minutes now saves a broken aircon later.

Aircon

• Never set it below 22°C. It burns far more power and the room never actually gets colder than that anyway.
• Jamie & Zoe's room: the portable unit drains into a water bottle on the floor. Check it each day — when it's full, empty it into the sink and put the hose back in.

Windows

Layton & Jacob's room — don't open the window

The way the aircon has been fitted, opening that window will break the aircon. So please don't.

• ✅ Fine: open the little wooden shutters to let the light in.
• ❌ Never: turn the gold window handle. Not even a crack.

Blinds

The wooden blinds on the terrace doors work on a cord lock.

To raise:

1. Start with the blind down.
2. Hold both cords together and pull straight down — the blind lifts.
3. At the height you want, swing the cords out to the side and let go. It locks in place.

To lower:

4. Pull the cords gently down and back to the middle to release the lock, then let them slide up through your hand slowly. Don't let it drop.

Roller shutters

Every room has an outside roller shutter, worked from inside by the strap in the black box on the wall beside the window. Ease the strap out of the box to raise it; feed it back in slowly to lower it.

When you leave, every shutter goes all the way down — including the big one over the front terrace doors. It protects the doors from sun damage and keeps the place secure while it's empty.

Water

The water to the apartment is controlled by lever valves — the ones with a red (hot) or blue (cold) dot on the handle. There are several, in the kitchen and the bathrooms, so have a look round and get familiar with them when you arrive.

• Handle pointing down = water on.
• Handle horizontal = water off.

They'll be horizontal when you arrive — turn every one down to get water. Before you leave, turn them all back to horizontal. That turns off all the water to the apartment.

Robot vacuum

There's a robot for downstairs that hoovers and mops. Just WhatsApp Jamie when you'd like it run and we'll start it remotely.

Before you message: clear the floor (bags, shoes, cables) and leave the doors open — then it'll get round the whole ground floor in about an hour.

Bins

The bins are at the end of the street, on the main road. Take rubbish down whenever suits you — please don't let it build up in the apartment, especially in the heat.

If you're recycling: yellow is plastic and cans, blue is paper and card, the green igloo is glass.

Used it up? Top it up

Washing-up liquid, loo roll, dishwasher tablets — if you finish it, just replace it. No lists, no fuss. The next person walks in to a stocked place, same as you did.

Our home — treat it with respect, and leave it as you find it.

• Quiet inside after 11pm — the neighbours are close.
• No pets, please.
• Smoking only on the front terrace, with the doors shut.
• Aircon never below 22°C.
• Layton & Jacob's window stays shut — shutters only.
• Rubbish goes to the bins at the end of the street; don't let it build up inside.
• Used something up? Top it up before you go.
• Broken something? Tell us — it's fine, we'd just rather know.

When the Mar Menor's too warm, too busy or too windy, the town's own pools are cheap and close.

Ola Azul — our favourite for families

A massive outdoor pool with a brilliant, relaxed vibe. Really cheap to get in, really cheap drinks at the bar — and you can bring your own food and snacks. Kids' area, shade, sun loungers and changing rooms.

• Summer season: 1 June – 15 September.
• Every day, 11:30–19:30.
• €3 adults, €2 children.

About 15–20 min walk, or 5 min drive. Gran Vía 63A · phone 968 17 12 52 · Walking route · Driving route · Google Maps

Punta Calera — outdoor Olympic pool

A big 50-metre outdoor pool with lanes, a grassy sunbathing area and a splash pool for little ones.

• Summer only — 1 July to the end of August (the centre's summer season; it can run into September — ring to check).
• Every day, 11:30–19:30.
• €3 per adult, per session (morning or afternoon). Ask at the desk for children's prices.

About 20 min walk, or 6 min drive. Calle Pintor Francisco Bayeu 60 · Walking route · Driving route · Google Maps

Punta Calera — indoor pool, spa & gym

Same site, open all year: heated indoor pool, spa and gym.

• Monday–Friday: 9:00–21:45
• Saturday: 9:00–22:00
• Sunday: 9:00–14:00

Phone 968 583 240 to check prices for a one-off visit.

Times are from the centre's published summer and weekly timetables — they can change on bank holidays, so ring ahead if you're making a special trip.

The leaving routine — so the next person walks in to the same place you did.

• Beds: put fresh bedding on for the next people — or wash what you used and put it back on.
• Empty the fridge of anything that won't keep, and take all the rubbish to the bins at the end of the street, on the main road.
• Washing-up done and put away.
• Windows closed, terrace doors locked.
• All blinds fully down — including the roller shutter over the front terrace.
• Aircon off everywhere, and the bottle in Jamie & Zoe's room emptied.
• Water off — every red/blue valve in the kitchen and bathrooms turned to horizontal.
• Both front-door locks done, top and bottom.

Used something up? Top it up before you go.