L'Escala Hideaway, L'Escala, Catalonia, Spain - Explore & Book

"It was love at first sight for Anglo-French owner Trudi: one glimpse of this charming little townhouse and she knew it was meant to be. And who can blame her? The place exudes charm from the very entrance, where a butterfly bush tree elegantly sweeps above pastel-blue wooden doors. It looks like the set of a romantic arthouse film. Trudi’s not the only French resident who’s been lured by the beaches and bays of L’Escala. This Catalan fishing port 65km from the French border is a well-kept secret among Toulousians, she tells us. No wonder – it’s got it all: a picturesque old town, Greco-Roman ruins, pine tree-lined trails and beaches with turquoise waters – all without the crowds you’d expect. L'Escala Hideaway is centrally positioned to take advantage of it all, only 100m from the town beach. Inside its cinnamon-scented interiors there’s a distinct Ile-de-Rê vibe – think beachy-chic décor made up of rattan, wicker, swirly wood, soft linens and exotic shells, all in a seaside-inspired palette of neutrals, bright white and blues. It’s effortlessly cool across all three floors with the bedrooms below and an open-plan light-filled kitchen with breakfast bar and squashy sofas above. And just when you think it can’t possibly get any better, the al fresco dining terrace leads up onto a rooftop splash-pool surrounded by yucca plants, featuring views of the Bay of Roses and Caningó mountains beyond. Perfect for couples and friends to share together. Highs L’Escala itself: the pretty old town hums with cute cafes, trendy al fresco restaurants, boutique patisseries and a glittering bay; all a short stroll away Owner Trudi has perfected the hard-to-get-right beachy-chic vibe: it’s fresh, fun and stylish without even a hint of twee Supremely comfortable beds in all three bedrooms that make lie-ins a must The rooftop plunge pool with underwater lighting for night-time swims – plus mountain, sea and church-top views Access to the Costa Brava’s beautiful beaches Lows You’ll need a car to get here from Barcelona. Otherwise, it's a train to Girona, where you can catch a bus to L'Escala The kitchen features top-of-the-range Smeg appliances and hob, but no oven Steep staircases might be problematic for anyone with mobility issues Each room has an en-suite shower and sink, but two of the three rooms share a toilet No twin beds" - Clemmy Manzo