Plaza Sámara

Known as The Loft for its huge lofted ceilings, the house stands 100ft from the beach in the center of Sámara. Three bedrooms sleep seven, with three queen beds and one twin; a crib is available. The kitchen is full, with an oven, fridge and washer/dryer, and there is cable and reliable WiFi.

Both the master bathroom and the full bathroom have walk-in tiled showers with proper hot water, fed by the house's own private water filtration system — the tap water here can be drunk straight.

The pool is sloped, so you can sit in the shallow end with a book or fully submerge in the deep end, which works as well for families as it does for older groups. The outside barbecue and bodega make eating alfresco simple, and the large green space leaves room for lawn games.

Everything is a two-minute walk: swimming, fishing, surfing, hiking, yoga, markets, grocery, gym, spas, nightlife, bike, ATV and car rentals, zip lining, Intercultura School, the Massage School and TEFL. Around the corner you will find the carnicería, MaMa Lechuga and stands of fresh fruit and vegetables.