Salinas It's a surfing paradise but not only: it is also for those of us who love slow life, the sea and colonial architecture. Alamar Surf House, located in this Asturian town, is a old Indian mansion that Idoia Núñez and Ramón Cuervo Arango, a couple of friends, turned in 2013 into charming hotel and surf school.
This architectural jewel next to the Cantabrian dates from 1880, so it needed investment, effort and a restoration to adapt it to its new use, always respecting its essence.
Alamar Surf House, Salinas.
“We recovered the brick wall, as well as the white wooden floors and windows, but we gave it a touch with the decoration: the headboards, a lamp, the crockery of breakfast, the wallpaper and the curtains are by Laura Ashley. They have a store in Avilés and Pilar, its owner, advises us”.
Your inspiration? The trips that both have made around the world: from Hawaii to South Africa passing through Byron Bay or Indonesia. “We love to travel and that's why we really enjoy receiving travelers in Alamar. Guests come from all over the world!”
Alamar Surf House, Salinas.
Every year things get better and incorporating other new ones: the last ones have been the garden or the chickens. “When families come, we give them lettuce or eggs to the children and they leave happy. They are details, but they leave a fingerprint special".
Another of his bets is his own clothing store: in one of the rooms of the house they sell sweatshirts, t-shirts, socks or caps that they will soon be available online. They also collaborate with a brand of Gijon who designs them surfboards.
Alamar Surf House, Salinas.
Ramon began with the project: he is from Salinas, very dreamer and a great lover of surfing, puts the soul to the house. I joined a year later. We make a good tandem: he now lives in Madrid but he comes whenever he can”.
Idoia, who was born and lives in Oviedo, she is the one who is in the day to day of this unique accommodation that she has 7 double rooms (in all it is possible to request an extra bed or cot), a family with a double bed (and bathtub!) which has an adjoining room with 4 bunk beds and, on the ground floor, they have one more with 9 bunks, hostel type, perfect for groups of friends. During the month of July, in addition, they children's camps.
Alamar Surf House, Salinas.
At Alamar Surf House they offer daily surf lessons throughout the year for all levels, also for beginners: “the complete package It is accommodation, breakfast and a 2-hour surf class, in which we provide the board and the wetsuit”. Alamar is so close to the sea that you can go barefoot on the beach 300 meters separate it from the Cantabrian.
It is precisely at breakfast, when it sounds Idoia's favorite music (from Edith Piaf to The Rolling Stones, passing through Elvis or The Cure) the moment in which connect more with the guests, who almost always repeat. Alamar is one of those places with magic where hospitality is perceived in every gesture.
Shop at Alamar Surf House, Salinas.
I ask Idoia for her previous life before hosting this magical house. "We no longer remember than what we did before, it would be difficult for us to return to the office, ”she confesses. Here it is very easy to forget everything, because you get used to it soon to the waves and the smell of the sea.