Background- Plum Guide
I was traveling with a group of 5 friends and we wanted to stay somewhere together. Hotels were an option, but there wouldn’t be a common area we could hang out in other than just the lobby. So, I decided to look at Malaga vacation rentals and Airbnbs. I stumbled upon a really cute rental that I saw on Airbnb. Then, I also learned about a vacation rental site called Plum Guide. Plum Guide features a curated list of upscale vacation rentals, short-term rentals, and Airbnbs from over 25 different sites around the world. I was happy to see that the listing I found on Airbnb was also on Plum Guide, and that kind of helped with its credibility because I have stayed at a few Airbnbs where the quality was just not the best.
So, I decided to give this one a try. Overall, I liked this Plum Guide Malaga vacation rental we ended up with, and I definitely would use Plum Guide again because the rental was a more upscale environment, and it was great for our group of five.
Booking the Malaga Vacation Rental
Interestingly enough, it was cheaper to book our Malaga Vacation Rental via Plum Guide than via Airbnb. The total was about $50 cheaper per night, and the nightly rate at this particular rental was approximately $400 a night. For a four-bedroom apartment, I thought it was a great deal, and it definitely was perfect for a group like us.
If you’re interested in booking a Plum Guide, feel free to reach out to me, as I am an advisor with Fora Travel, and I can help you find the best vacation rental for your next trip. Feel free to email me at takeofftotravel@fora.travel and I would be happy to help you plan your trip.
Check-In
A few days before our arrival, the property manager reached out to us to schedule a check-in time, which was pretty seamless. Of course, it’s not as convenient as a hotel, and if you arrive after 9 pm, there is a late fee. Thankfully, our first set of friends arrived around the standard check-in time of 3 PM, and when they arrived a bit early, housekeeping was still cleaning the place, but they did eventually get the keys at the standard check-in time.
The property management was very easy to reach via WhatsApp, which I appreciated. This was a unit that was a permanent vacation rental hosted by a property management company.
Location
The location of the apartment was amazing, located in the central historical District of Malaga. Everything was within walking distance. The only thing to take note of is that it’s on a really cute pedestrian alley filled with restaurants, but car access isn’t super close by, so you will need to walk a few blocks if you get dropped off by the Uber since there’s no cars in this in front of this apartment.
We were steps away from Calle Larios, which is the shopping street of Malaga and is considered one of the most elegant in Spain. It’s a pedestrian street lined with shops and restaurants. It was so great to be so close to it.
The Apartment
Our apartment had four bedrooms and four bathrooms, and it was 1,938 square feet.
As you enter the apartment, there is a spare bedroom to the right with two single beds and then to the left was a full bath.
Then you would enter into the main dining space, family room with sofa and kitchen area. This was like the highlight of the apartment to me as it was just gorgeous, and the high ceilings looked great. The dining table was quite large and had seats for eight people. Note: this apartment had very strict rules on loud noises and throwing any party, so we tried to be very mindful of that. The building itself had a lot of residents with families and older people as well.
The kitchen was fully stocked, and there even was a washing machine just no dryer.
Passing the dining area, you’ll enter a long corridor. Here, you’ll pass a bedroom with a double bed. Then you’ll essentially pass the primary bedroom, which has a double bed and en suite bathroom.
Across from the primary bedroom is another bathroom that’s a full bath. It’s the smallest one with a stand-up shower.
Towards the back, you’ll make a turn to the right, and there’s a small little outdoor space with some chair set up, and there is a bedroom in the back with a double bed as well as a bathroom not attached to it but right next door.
The bedding was pretty decent, especially for a vacation rental situation. The Airbnb’s I’ve stayed in the past always had some subpar bedding, but this was probably one of the better ones. Though I’m not sure it was the best quality, like a 4-star hotel. Additionally, the bath towels were a bit rough.
Complementary toiletries, like hand soap, were available. But a quirk I had was that the only other toiletry provided was an all-in-one shampoo and body wash. So I would definitely bring my own toiletries if I were staying here again. Another issue faced by the whole apartment was that the hot water was sometimes too hot, and it sometimes took a while to find a happy balance.
Obviously for the price, I think this was a great deal and was a lot more economical than us getting three rooms at a hotel, and it was nice to have a homestyle feel with a huge living space where we could all gather.
The Verdict
Overall, the first Plum Guide I’ve ever stayed in turned out to be a great experience. I am so happy we decided on this option for our friends’ trip to Malaga. The price of the apartment was great, and the big space allowed for a very comfortable visit. Plus, the amazing location was great for first-timers in Malaga.
Have you used Plum Guide before? Or have you stayed at a Malaga Vacation Rental before? What were your thoughts? Comment below!
Cheers,
Ty
Have any questions? I’ve also started working with a travel agency, Fora Travel, and can assist in booking hotel stays or planning trips. Comment below or email me at takeofftotravel@gmail.com. You can also view all my other posts here! Thanks for stopping by!
