Sierra Nevada - Spain

Debs who has been on 8 In The Saddle rides. Everything I had hoped for and more | It was abundantly obvious that the horses were very loved and well cared for by the way they approached you of their own free-will (for a fuss) and their calm demeanor around people and each other. Mine (Apollo) was a true grent and I felt at ease with him as soon as I mounted up in the saddle. I could not have asked for a better, kinder, gentle horse.
I know it was hot, but a couple more canters would have been nice - perhaps as the ride drew to a close each day. The canters were so well balanced and you felt so "as one" with your beautiful horse that to experience it a few more times would have been lovely. There were enough "flat" areas to do this.
It was good to see that the horses got a chance to rest after an exertive stretch and had their saddles and bridles off at lunchtime and they got our left over bread after lunchtime too - you could tell this is the "norm" because they all looked expectantly" at us as we cleared our picnic away!

Do you have any comments about the accommodation and food?

Bubion accommodation was comfortable with a good hearty breakfast choice. My room (6) was next to the kitchen and so I was awakened at 5.30am by the lady who came to prepare breakfast. The smell of perculating coffee drifting under my door was nice but the sounds of movement, plates and crockery was a disturbance.
Ideas to improve accommodation in Bubion:
Hairdryer in room.
Honesty fridge in dining area, where you can grab a cold drink (cola, fanta, beer) after a ride and before eating at 8pm. There is nothing open (bar-wise) in Bubion before 8pm. If there was an honesty fridge (or a fridge you can put your own cold drinks in) then riders could sit on the patio, admire the view, reflect on their day's ride and have a cold drink until it was time to go to eat at 8pm.

[In The Saddle note - Dallas has told us that the two afternoons you were in Bubion was during the 10 days that the restaurant/ bar next to the guest house was closed for holidays. There is normally one bar that stays open during the afternoon, and she is not sure why this was also closed.
She tells us that hairdryers have been in the rooms in the past but over time quite a few went walkabout. There are a couple at the desk in the reception area.
She will see if it would be possible to put a "honesty fridge" in the sitting room.

Accommodation in La Fragua
Exceeded all my expectations. I was thrilled with my room and view.
However, even though brand new, my kettle did not work and the only other drink available was cold water from the bathroom (which was not very cold).
Breakfast was brilliant - everything you could want (along with some sweet biscuits in wrappers, which we stole for after our "provided" packed lunch.
Evening meals/eateries were very good and a good variety of places to eat; each offering something different to try.

How could we improve the quality of pre-holiday information that we send?

No suggestions. Always very good and attentive.

How could we improve the way we handled your booking and payment?

Its perfect the way it is - as always.

Do you have any other feedback for us?

I know that ITS provde info that includes advice about taking a snack in case you get peckish, but it would have been nice for Dallas' team to provide either some fruit or something sweet after our packed lunches of salad, french bread, meat, humous.
I provided everyone with hand-wipes (much needed as very dusty) at lunchtimes but it would have been nice for our hosts to wash/clean their hands (which were as filthy as ours) before handling our food.
[In The Saddle note - Each day Dallas provides a different salad, dips, cold meats, cheeses, etc.. They do not provide fruit or dessert at the picnics. All the picnics are transported on the horses so space is limited. The picnic is packed every morning so at the lunch spot it is a case of opening the containers and, in the case of the salad, mixing in the dressing using cutlery provided. Cheese, cold cuts etc are all sliced, so no need to touch the food.]