Casa Azul

Casa Azul is a bright, breezy hideaway on a quiet side street in Playa Samara, about a 13-minute walk from the beach and 15 from the shops and the restaurants. The beach is family-friendly and good for swimming, walking, boogie boarding and learning to surf, and the town stays laid back and quiet.

The pool area and outdoor patio are the stars of the show, day or night: flowers along the edge, tall trees overhead where the howler monkeys gather, and the stars after dark. The outdoor dining table seats up to eight; inside, the open living room and kitchen include a breakfast bar with two stools.

There are two large bedrooms with king-size beds and a smaller one with a double-single bunk bed. Both bathrooms have hot water showers and every room has its own AC unit. In the rainy season the automatic gate and fully covered parking earn their keep — you can reach the house without leaving the car — and the large covered patio keeps you outdoors even in hard rain.

The pool is unfenced. A 30 cm (12 inch) edge runs around it, which slows small children but is climbable for active toddlers, so children need supervision at all times.