Shepherd's Rest - Oria, Almería

Alexis Guzman

Excelente servicio y calidad de gente!

Jara Olvido

Curioso lugar! Muy personalizado....

Charlie Howland

We are currently staying at Shepherds rest. We intend to leave a review at the end of our stay but felt we needed to post something early for those thinking about staying in the coming weeks. We have been here for almost 3 weeks. Cori and Joel from the moment we arrived have been incredible hosts. There is nothing to much trouble. They are so welcoming and invite you into their home like family. Oria itself is a very sleepy village but has everything you need, with the town of Albox only a 20 minute drive away. The village is surrounded by almond and olive groves and the occasional orange trees with a backdrop of the mountain and the views are stunning! The apartments at shepherds rest are perfect for long stays and Cori and Joel have communal spaces that families can get together and hang out. It's very relaxed, we've so far enjoyed some lovely shared meals and the children have a safe space to play games, listen to music and just have some extra freedom they do not always get back home in the UK. Cori and Joel have a wealth of knowledge about what's going on locally and really good at signposting us to activities suitable for all the family. We are sad that our month is coming to an end, but fully intend to return. I would highly recommend shepherds rest ❤️

Evrim NUMANOGLU OZGEN

We, as a family of 4 stayed in Shepherd's Rest in February 2024. We have two sons aged 6 and 10. They really enjoyed spending time there. It felt like a home with lovely people. The hosts Cori and Joel are very kind, thoughtful and creative. Oria is a tranquil and remote village with a stunning beauty of mountains and almond blossoms. There are other towns and villages within 20-40 minutes drive that offer many activities such as historical places to visit, bird rescue place, indoor simming pool, bowling, archery, very big playgrounds, indoor climbing centre etc. We did not even get to experience everything Shepherds Rest offers in a month. So, we get to be back next Spring 🙂

Amanda Bench

Our family stayed here for a month in January 2024 and loved our time! Our fantastic hosts, Cori and Joel, have created a peaceful and relaxing community for families educating their children in non-traditional ways. Our children forged lasting friendships (even continuing daily group texts with teens months after our departure!), while my husband and I also formed meaningful connections. It was such a wonderful experience for all of us that we are planning a monthlong return to Shepherd's Rest later this year with many of the families we met!

We stayed in a simple and comfortable 3-bedroom apartment at Shepherd's Rest equipped with a wood stove that lent a cozy, rustic charm. The kitchen allowed us to cook all the meals we wanted. We did take a couple of breaks from cooking, and had good pizza from the local cafe and great tapas at the bar. Watching the gorgeous sunrises with our coffee on the rooftop patio was a wonderful way to start the day. Afternoons were often spent on the patio, capitalizing on the excellent wi-fi for work. (Wifi was excellent in the apartment as well.) The beds were comfortable and it was very quiet at night. In addition to the accommodations, Cori and Joel provided many opportunities for connecting with other families staying there. We really enjoyed the weekly shared meals, cozy nights with new friends around the outdoor fire pit, game nights for the teens, and fun family outings like bowling.

Oria is a remote charming little farming town, tucked in the mountains and surrounded by almond and olive trees. It was so safe we let our teenagers walk around town, meet and practice their Spanish with the locals at the cafe/bar, hike up the hill to the castle ruins, and play in the parks (one next door to SR and one in the main square.) I recommend having a car because there are many cool things to see and do with an easy 30 - 60 minute drive from Oria - beautiful hikes, a castle tour, a trampoline park, the beach, bowling, a bird rescue, archery, and shopping. One of our favorites was the weekly market in Albox, about 25 minutes away.

Our stay at Shepherd's Rest was nothing short of amazing—a harmonious blend of warmth, community, and adventure. It's a testament to Cori and Joel's vision that we left with cherished memories, newfound friendships, and a profound longing to return. If you seek connection and the allure of Spanish countryside living, Shepherd's Rest promises a true home away from home.

Dustin Bench

How do you write a review for a life changing, once in a lifetime event? My family and I spent the month of January 2024 at Shepherd’s Rest with 8 other families and their kids in what was a very memorable experience, where our teens learned skills and about other cultures from around the globe and were immersed in small town Spain. The accommodations were humble, but comfortable, we shared meals, evenings, and laughed with our new friends, while our children cultivated their own lifelong friendships. Some of the moments that impressed me the the most about Cori and Joel, were their abilities to stay calm in the wake of cultural differences and expectations as well as the flexibility to change schedules, classes, social groups, and teachers when necessary. It isn’t easy getting 9 independent thinking families to come together in a community, especially where their children’s education is concerned. At times, as in life, there were changes and challenges, but with each, Cori and Joel were able to navigate each with grace. If you come to Shepherd’s Rest, don’t expect luxury or perfection, but instead, expect a down to earth, real experience that Shepherd’s Rest has to offer. If you want true peace and quiet, stay at Cojito Serendipia (7 minutes from town) but know that Cori and Joel will do everything to make sure your stay and experience is as rich as if you were in the middle of town. Each location has a unique experience, and I hope that you enjoy your time in Oria, Spain. We enjoyed the month so much, that we have decided to go again in October of this year. Thanks to Cori and Joel and their extended family for hosting us for such a wonderful experience.

Faith Dyde

We have been at Sheperds rest for 3 weeks out of our month stay and we don’t want to leave! Cori and Joel have been the perfect hosts. They have been so welcoming we feel like we have been treated like family. They both go above and beyond to make sure that you enjoy your stay. They do their best to create a real sense of community which is great as I am mainly travelling alone with my 14 year old daughter. Oria is a beautiful village with stunning views. It has local shops and a larger supermarket and town about 20 minutes. We have had our car here which has been great to explore the local area. Cori and Joel are extremely knowledgable in the surrounding area and have suggested some great fun days out and learning experiences for my daughter. We will be so sad to leave but know that we will stay in touch and absolutely be back to visit them and their wonderful family again one day. Thank you both for making our time here so special and memorable.

Bogac OZGEN

I stayed with my family at Speherd's Rest for a month in Feb 2024. The stay was great and I really enjoyed our hosts, Cory and Joel. They were helpful and accepted us not only as guests but as friends. We felt at home.

We stayed there with 4 other families and our children built great relatinships.

Oria is a nice small village with a lot to do around. Albox is a nearby town with lots to do. It was a wonderful opportunity for us to experience rural Andalucia.

We will definately go back there again to spend time with other families.