Yucatan Living

Casa del Confidente

29 January 2016 Vacation Rentals 6

This two-bedroom colonial vacation rental in Merida's centro takes it's name from the white Yucatecan confidente bench seen in all the city parks, and in the back garden of the house.

This home has been completely renovated in 2014 to include new plumbing and electricity. There are 2 air-conditioned bedrooms and 2 ensuite bathrooms, with an additional half bathroom downstairs. There is a very well-equipped open kitchen that includes new appliances, granite countertops and an additional sink with a flitration system for drinking water. There is also a spacious dining and living area with beamed 20-foot ceilings that serve to keep the home cool during hot Merida days.

The upstairs bedroom has an adjoining bathroom with local stone finishes and a tub and shower. This room has a queen-size bed, plenty of closet space, a chest of drawers and doors that open to a very large terrace which overlooks the garden and swimming pool below.

The lower bedroom also has a queen-size bed, as well as an adjoining bathroom with shower. All the faucets in the home are of high-quality and there is special pump installed to ensure excellent water pressure, as well as a water softener system. The lower bedroom has a candleplace, a romantic feature which provides the feel of a fireplace, without the unneccesary heat. This bedroom and bathroom both have high, beamed ceilings.

The half bath is located on the main floor in a common area with access to the kitchen, stairs, and living area. In this area you'll find a desk which is perfect for planning the day's activities making use of the wireless internet connection provided.

Throughout the living and dining area, common area, stairs and bedrooms, you'll find the beautiful mosaico tile floors, typical of the original flooring found in colonial homes in the historic center. The doors, windows, closets and cabinetry are all made of local cedro wood by local carpenters. The flooring in the kitchen is Saltillo tile. The flooring on the terrace and patio is from artisanal clay tiles. There is extensive stone work in the home and patios, as well as some exposed mamposteria (heavy stone walls) for aestetic purposes.

The home has a new washer and dryer located in the garden area.

The covered patio off the kitchen is the perfect place to enjoy a snack or meal while you enjoy the view of the garden. The pool and garden area provide a lovely outdoor place to have a cup of coffee in the morning, unwind after a long day exploring the city or simply to spend the day lounging by and in your filtered glass-tiled plunge pool. The high walls provide privacy while you enjoy the deck chairs, or relax in the pool. The garden is home to two large fruit trees and many plants which help to create your oasis in the historic center.

Welcome home!

Guests Recommend Us

If you choose to stay here be prepared for a big surprise. You cannot imagine how magnificent it is. The decor, furnishings and amenities are all five star in quality. The kitchen just makes you want to cook and all utensils are provided including a big bonus - a SAFE PURIFIED WATER TAP. The bedrooms are likewise each well done up including an ensuite in each. The plumbing has been upgraded to modern standards i.e. no toilet paper issues. A big benefit for us was a easy to use stacked washer and drier ... we had been on the road for a week. The upstairs bedroom is its own oasis including a large deck over looking the back yard. The piece de la resistance is the back yard. A comfortable outdoor eating area which is great for casual dining, a Confident chair , great landscaping and of course the lovely pool. Everything is so beautiful that you may not want to leave to go touring. The location is very convenient to the Centro of Merida with its many lovely plazas, big Mercado, and lovely churches. A great benefit is wonderful small locally run but delicious restaurants just a few steps away. We ate there often. French Bistro - La Creme , good for breakfast, Mariposa - great Mexican and Resoldus - mediterranean - pizza's with fresh ingredients and more. Others to be discovered but those were our favourites. Your host Steven is your personal Maitre- De. Always ready to insure you have a great time with no problems. He even drove us to the new modern Mayan Museum ( very well done if that interests you) and out to Progresso - nearby beach / boardwalk. He has produced an extensive house manual to cover other questions. A local cell phone is provided for emergencies and general use. A comforting addition. So if you want to be pampered , this is the place. We certainly were.

Brian & Carol Haller from Canada, Feb 2016

I've stayed at a number of excellent VRBO'S and AIRBNB'S but this one exceeds all others in literally every way. Steven and Alejandro are the most gracious of hosts. They go way, way out of their way to assure that every need is taken care of, checking in before, during and after the stay to identify any particular needs, interests, suggestions, etc. They take their role seriously, are lovely human beings, anticipate your every need, and get great satisfaction out of your satisfaction; they are perfectly suited for the role of hosts.

The house is absolutely gorgeous and immaculate--decorated with elegance and perfection but in a manner that feels totally comfortable and welcoming (not a "stand-offish" elegance). We immediately felt at home, but at the same time felt truly indulged upon. The house has classic high, high ceilings with very effective fans (and bedroom air conditioning); lovely soft lighting; incredibly comfortable beds; beautiful, bathrooms with great water pressure, endless hot water, and all the accessories you need (and more!); a very lush and private courtyard with sizable pool, shade and comfortable seating--ideal for Merida weather--we would have been happy to live out there, but the house was so gorgeous we wanted to be inside too! And the KITCHEN...WOW! Our group (of four people) included two who absolutely love to cook. No joke--the kitchen at Casa del Confidente was better equipped than any of ours. It has beautiful cookware, every tool you need, and all in immaculate condition. Truly excellent! And then there's the new clothes washer and dryer--what a treat. The large upstairs balcony is perfect for sitting, cocktails, whatever.

And all this is within a 5 minute walk from two of the greatest sections in town: El Centro (where the hustle and bustle of the downtown central plaza takes place) and the Paseo Montejo (the tree lined boulevard where some of the most lovely eateries and museums are located; and you pass by the art gallery section and Parque Santa Ana on the way).

I can't imagine an improvement on this rental...except owning it myself, although then we would have missed the attention and friendship of Steven and Alejandro--which added so much to our visit. We knew we already had friends in Merida.

-Lynne, Feb 2016

The photos on the website do not do this beautiful home justice. Great care was given to the design and décor. It incorporates both the wonderful Yucatecan style (we are still finding really unique features after a week) and all of the modern conveniences. We have rented several homes in Merida over the past few years and this one has it all. A fantastic kitchen with everything you could possibly need and again, high quality everything. The beds are new and comfortable and both bedrooms have ensuites for privacy. There is also a half bath for guests. Everything was immaculately clean. Our favorite place to relax is the covered patio that overlooks the lush and peaceful back yard with it's lovely pool, unique artwork and a real confidente (the type of seating the casa was named after). The location is also perfect. Only a couple of blocks from the Paseo de Monteo with all of its amazing old colonial buildings, shops, great places to eat and even a Starbucks. The Santa Ana market is just a few blocks away where you can buy fresh produce, juices, meat and fish. You'll also find cocina economicas where you can buy inexpensive local fare. It is tasty and you can experience a little of the local cuisine. The Plaza Grande and many other shops and wonderful restaurants are a short walk and/or taxi ride away. Taxi's are inexpensive and easy to flag down on most streets.
-D and L, Canada

This was our 4th time to Merida and 4th home rental. From our first contact with Steve we had a good feeling about this new rental and we were not disappointed. From the start our every concern, question was addressed promptly. Steve arranged convenient secure parking (which was not a problem- parking available on street too), provided easy payment arrangements and directions to the house. We were late arriving due to airline delays but Steve and Alejandro were waiting for us. The house is beautiful - perfect for 2 couples with separate bath and sleeping areas. They provided a very good overview of the house and other than the TV (which Steve promptly and patiently had to come back and re-explain) everything was straightforward. The kitchen is great for a group to cook in, great restaurants are close by to walk to. Steve was quick to bring us more ice cube trays when he noticed we liked Margaritas on the rocks! We spent most of the time on the covered patio and in the beautiful pool when we weren't out exploring. He was one of the most thoughtful and attentive property managers we have dealt with. Thank you Steve and Alejandro for sharing your beautiful home with us. I hope to see you again.
-Cheryl S.

2016 Rates

• $130 USD per night
• $850 USD per week

Details

Security/Excess Electrical Usage Deposit: A $300 USD deposit payable in cash ON CHECK-IN is held until check-out. During our last season, all of our guests received all of their deposit back on check-out by returning the home in excellent condition and making good use of the electricity. (Using air conditioning only at night in the bedrooms- turning off fans and lights when leaving the property). Any questions please ask!

Guest Cancellation Policy: If Guest wishes to cancel his/her reservation prior to sixty (60) days before the Check-In Date; the Reservation Deposit will be refunded in full, minus a $100 USD service charge, provided that the Homeowner is able to re-rent the property. If, however, Homeowner is unable to re-rent the property, the entire Reservation Deposit is forfeited. No cancellations will be permitted less than sixty (60) days prior to the Check-in Date. We are a small operation and unable to absorb the losses for dates that aren't rented, but blocked on our calendar. If you think there is a chance that you might be cancelling, we recommend guests purchase travelers insurance for protection.

To Reserve or Inquire

Contact Steven Johnson at meridasteven@gmail.com