| Chilean Special Journeys : Coastal Condo Rentals |
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CONDO RENTAL DETAILSUpon ArrivalMarbella is best reached by private vehicle, the precise address is: Lacking private vehicle, it is possible to reach by public transport, in two ways. 1. From Santiago take a bus to Vina del Mar. Ask the locals in order to find and take a local, small, bus along the coastal route, in the direction of Papudo. Simply get off the bus in the town of Maitencillo at the entrance of the resort Marbella. You will need to walk nearly a mile to reach the condo. Ask the guards for directions. 2. Take a major bus line (www.turbus.com) to the neighboring coastal village of Zapallar , approximatly 15 kilometers to the north. From here hire a taxi to take you to Marbella By private vehicle Exit the freeway on the right side, the exit immediately turns left and crosses over the freeway, heading west. After a short distance you will cross a railroad. After slightly longer you must pay a small toll. The road now winds over a small mountain range, largely uninhabited. You continue for 20 to 30 minutes, until you reach the coastal road where you will turn right, north. By this point Marbella appears on the road signs, so you can merely follow them. This place where you turn right on the coastal road, is also just before an overpass that crosses the same coastal road. Thus if you go over a bridge, crossing a road, you have gone slightly too far. Continue north, keeping to the coastal road for approximatly 20 minutes. You will pass through small towns, including Upchuck. You will see a sign for a left hand exit for Mitten, access sure, (the southern entrance). This is your warning that the entrance of Martello resort is the next turn ahead on the left (about 1 kilometer, half a mile or so). There is a guard both. If you stop, and if they question you, explain you are renting in Olas. If don't share a language, well then, smile and use the words (arriendo, departmento, Olas). And they will smile back and let you in! Inside the, maze-like, resort follow signs to the hotel. Once you see the hotel on your left, continue and follow signs to Olas. Essentially Olas are the big white apartment buildings on the ocean side of the resort, however the access road weaves around through the golf course, and housing lots. Eventually you will find the Olas complex on your left, with another gate and gate house. Here they usually let you go in immediately, although sometimes they actually stop incoming cars. Either way the concierges have been alerted to your arrival. They will ask your name and want to know which apartment you are staying in, which is Edificio Oviedo, 420 (cuatro viente). They are very helpful, and will have been alerted and awaiting your arrival. Entering The CondoParking lots are assigned, your parking lot is on the right, about 3/4 of the way along.It is the first one in a row of parking spots. D. 420 is painted on it in yellow. The Olas guards / concierge have a spare key, if you are not traveling with one. Again the fellows are very helpful, but speak only Spanish. Each building has a name, painted over the entrance hallway. Yours is Oviedo. Departmento 420 is of course on the 4th floor, the top floor.No elevators!The lit switches in the stairway are for the hall lights.They are on a timer, just press the lit button once and forget it. Once you open the apartment door, the light switch is on the right. Welcome! Standard Operating ProceduresGas, Water and Electricity Gas is probably on, if not: turn on gas just before entering building.On ground by your left foot, housed inside a white concrete bench are gas meters for all the apartments, turn on 420, so that the yellow valve handle is inline with the piping. Inside the apartment, you must also turn on gas to right, upper of stovetop and underneath each hot water heater, which are located in the laundry room, just off the kitchen. Water is probably on, if not:turn on water in closet in entrance stairs, on floor 3.5, a tall closet on the right, open it, see the blue top valve, labeled 420 Electricity is probably on, if not:in apartment, behind entrance door, to left, see the fuse box, turn on the big one, top left corner. Hot water Hot water heaters are typical South American, they heat water instantly as needed. There is no hot water tank, they turn on as you turn on hot water.The instructions on written on each in english. Essentially the big one on the left is electronic, and heats kitchen and master bedroom.It can also can provide the hot water for the heating system. The smaller one on the right, heats the 2 secondary bathrooms and also the utility sink / laundry machine. Other Things You'll Need Person in charge of Reception: Carmen, olasmarbella@tie.cl, 09 818 9303.She can also help arrange maid service or anything else you need. Sheets, towels, toilet paper- everything is there. Everything is in the room that corresponds to it. Beach towels, beach toys and tennis racquets are in hall closet. Extra paper goods and soaps are also there. The kitchen is completely equipped. On the side of the fridge you will find instructions to a local general store, which sells everything you will need. Both the poolside lounge and the nearby hotel have wireless internet, in case you brought a laptop. The hotel’s online environment is a pleasant bar, with fireplace and fresh pisco sours... Garbage, find a trash chute, located in the stairway, door on the left hand side as you descend the first half a story. Heating This is heated by the primary hot water heater located in laundry room, and is controlled by thermostat in living room
Laundry Both clothes washer and clothes dryer are located in the utility room near the kitchen sink. Both machines should be unplugged when not in use.
Local DiningThere are a variety of good and fun local eateries, ranging from very locally authentic, to refined and all featuring seafood. Maitencillo Maitencillo is what is below the window, a cute town, with several a vast lovely beaches and a small fishing bay.Best restaurant here is Bric Brac, near the northern end of the beach, (32 77 12 66).You will be attended by the owner, Rafael.Say hello from Scott Jones, and be prepared for a surprise: fresh local fish, Easter Island tuna, boar, ostrich, accompanied by polenta, quinoas and delectable sauces.Off season enjoy the roaring fireplaces, mid-summer the rear beach-view terrace.And always Rafeal's mellow company, eclectic collection of art and eccentricities from around the planet and Eric Clapton in the background. Another alternative is La Caleta, up a small alley directly across from the fishing bay and fishing market. Sometimes seats in the alley way are less noisy and smoke filled.The 2nd floor provides a better view of the bay. Expect copious, excellent, fresh local seafood, lots of loud, happy families, kids, pleasant chaos, huge portions and no English, for a tasty fun local experience. Ritoque Here is an end-of-the-road very informal, very relaxed restaurant, located on a deserted beach with endless views, excellent fish (the only thing they serve is the days catch), kind of lost in time, I am not even aware that they have a name or phone number, but the beach is stunning, usually deserted, clients arrive by car, or by beach on horse, the fish is delicious and you feel a bit like you're in a commune in the Florida Keys. There is also great beach to walk. To get there, drive south along coast.Turn right to Quintero. Just as you come into town, the road curves to right, there is a dirt road on the left, looks like it just goes to a downtrodden part of town. Turn Left on this first road and keep heading through the small houses, the road turns back to pavement and continues another 4km and simply ends in front of the restaurant. Zapallar This is old money central, lots of houses here have their own helipads, also lovely bay, with great walking paths along the coast, and a classic waterside extremely high quality restaurant, Chiringuito, which is likely to be packed and not cheap, but worth it. Zapallar has lovely scenery and old world charm, it is also a maze so just ask a local which driveway leads to Chirinquito (33 741 024.) To get there, head north along coast, it is about 15 km. Follow signs to enter town (basically you DON'T take the first entrance on the left you take the second.) Expect to get lost a bit in the maze, but enjoy looking at the big houses! Chiringuito is on the south side of the bay, no signs just poke around and ask until you find it. Cachagua This is Zapallar's poor neighbor, but still a pretty nice place!A summer community of dirt roads, large trees and ramshackle houses. A delightful place here is best accessible here from the beach.Walk north (facing the water turn right) in the direction of the visible island (which is a national CONAF reserve, packed with penguins, pelicans, cormorants, gulls and the occasional sea otter). About 100 yards / meters before reaching the island there is a small restaurant café on the beach.You can sit at log crafted table in the sand, inside or on a shady terrace .Good portions and fresh, not necessarily refined but fresh tasty and unbeatable ambience. To get there, Cachagua is the next village to the north, one village before Zapallar. Agai there are no precise directions to the restaurant, just find the beach and walk up it. |