Leo is a great host and our stay at his casita was outstanding. Highly recommend for easily accessible walks to amenities. Lively neighborhood and tranquil patio for morning coffee.

The house was lovely and comfortable. The people in neighborhood and town warm and friendly .

Leo did a wonderful job greeting and acclimating us to the property. He has thought of everything we could possibly need during our stay. He called to check on us during our stay and make sure we were comfortable. This house is is very nice, clean and safe. I would stay here again and happily recommend it.

The experience of renting this property was smooth and highly favorable. Our host, Leo, is very organized and thoughtful about providing everything we needed for our two-week stay, and he was always available to answer questions and help us manage ourselves in a new and unfamiliar environment.

Casa Jewel is aesthetic, comfy, and well equipped. Walking distance to all Ajijic has to offer. Nice patio for morning coffee. Off-street parking for compact car rental was a bonus! Fast, reliable, WIFI so my sister worked remotely with no fuss. Leo is responsive, and friendly. We enjoyed our stay at Casa Jewel.

Gabby and Leo my hosts were so welcoming and accommodating. The walk to town and the lake is an nice stroll to interesting unique shops. Many choices of wonderful restaurants. In fact you probably won’t bother cooking because it’s inexpensive to eat out.

Well-stocked small casita with two huge bedrooms. Linens and kitchen supplies more than adequate. High ceilings with MX tile/style throughout. Everything you need to settle in and enjoy walking the area. Adjust to altitude, then Hike up to the chapel on the mountain. Authentic Salvia neighborhood with caring, lovely family atmosphere. 4 adults Enjoyed the place so much!

Well-stocked small casita with two huge bedrooms. Linens and kitchen supplies more than adequate. High ceilings with MX tile/style throughout. Everything you need to settle in and enjoy walking the area. Adjust to altitude, then Hike up to the chapel on the mountain.Authentic Salvia neighborhood with caring, lovely family atmosphere. 4 adults Enjoyed the place so much!

Beautiful little home! Extraordinarily clean and charming. Very cvlose to plaza and best restaurants.

This is the second time this year we have stayed at Leo's Jewel House. Leo is a terrific host and very helpful in learning about the Lakeside experience. We had rented a car (S&S car rentals in town) and at Leo's suggestion, we made a day trip to the mountain town of Tapalpa. The drive up and back was one of our very favorite drives during our entire stay. We thoroughly enjoyed our visit to the colonial town and look forward to returning for a few days. And as we said in our earlier review, this wonderful house is close to everything and is so well appointed Try the ribs at Goshas Restaurant on the Carraterra. You will enjoy your stay at this jewel of a house, as we have done twice. Thank you Leo for hosting us one more time... Gary and Charlene

This rental is a very nice and well kept casita. It is located on a street that is right between a working class Mexican neighborhood and an upper middle-class area. This means that you get exposure to the "real Mexican" way of life, with "cajotes" (firecrackers) being fired off at all times of the day or night during times of celebration, trucks driving up and down the street (during the daytime) with loudspeakers blaring, hawking their wares, the local children playing in the street, the local families enjoying a barbecue on Friday evening after work. It is within easy walking distance of the main plaza, the Wednesday market, and many, many fabulous restaurants. If you are willing to do some walking and use the occasional taxi and bus, the location is ideal. No car required. By the way, taking the Chapala-Ajijic bus (9 pesos per person one way, is a must-do to experience the buskers on the bus! The owner, Leo, is a very personable and approachable host. He was very much concerned that we were enjoying our stay and made every effort to ensure that we were made to feel "at home". For us, it was the perfect place. I would recommend this rental to friends.

At our arrival Leo was there to greet us and explained all amenities of the house in detail. Jewel House was super clean and everything in good working condition. We had been in Ajijic several times and use to drive in town a lot. The location of the house is with in walking distance to everything. We did not had to use our car at all. The home is in a quiet area of town. Leo and Gaby his wife are a very nice people, I would say the best people I met so far. They are kind, open minded and educated which make us feel comfortable all the time. Leo has an instructions manual in the house, it explains all the things you need to know in the hose and how to move around town. We had a great time in Ajijic and love our stay in the Jewel House. My son who is six year old ask us to stay in the house to live for ever. There are more good things to say about our stay that would make this review too long. I will rent the Jewel House again in my next visit to Ajijic. I'm grateful for all the help and information Leo provided and that in time will help us in our relocation from the states to Ajijic.

The Jewel house is a charming place. Nicely decorated in Mexican style. Very comfortable. Well furbished and squeaky clean. The pictures & UTube videos don't do it justice. Very well located within easy walking distance to everything you will want or need to do. You would be foolish to rent a car. Located in the traditional village portion of Ajijic - narrow cobble stone streets, small family stores, wonderful bakery, cowboys ride the streets on their horses, roosters crow, fish monger shouts his wares. All the Mexicans were very nice & tolerant of my nonexistent Spanish. I never felt threatened or unsafe, even walking at night. Leo is the perfect host. He meets you on arrival and gives a very good orientation to the property, then butts out. He is never intrusive, but always available and helpful. I think he is just a naturally friendly guy who seems to be well liked by everyone in the neighborhood. The Jewel House immediately feels like home, and makes the perfect base for the perfect vacation.

We recently stayed at the Mexican Jewel House in Ajijic. The host, Leo, was more than accommodating. He met us on arrival and welcomed us to this charming place. We walked in and the house instantly felt like home, from it's amazingly appointed kitchen to the nice beds and wonderful porch where we had breakfast every morning. It's an easy walk to town and the many restaurants that are available. Leo has an amazing book which points to everything and explains everything that you will need for your stay. It was a great help in orienting where we were and where we needed to go. We enjoyed our walks on the Malecon, a welcome break from the rainy Pacific Northwest. The short walk to the bakery each morning for fresh bread was a special treat. In short, this was one of the nicest VRBOs that we have stayed at. We simply can's say enough good things about this stay. Thanks Leo for taking the time to talk with us about life at Lakeside. We will be back, perhaps even to find a place of our own.

We enjoyed our two week stay at the Mexican Jewel House, despite the cooler weather. Leo keeps the property very well maintained, with gardeners and housekeeping staff around on a regular basis. The hillside location in a residential area was a cozy retreat from the busy main street, and only a 10 to 15 minute walk to the malecon. Almost daily we would hear a horse and rider go by on the street, and often a horse or two would be tethered at the corner. The kids playing in the street and the neighbours were friendly, as were all of the people we met. Leo provided detailed information for his guests on places to go and things to do. Ajijic was an interesting town with plenty of shops, churches, restaurants and opportunities for people watching, especially during the weekend on the malecon. I would love to go back.

Recently stayed with Leo and Gabby at their Jewel House. Absolutely perfect in every way. Our host were so kind and helpful. The architecture and interiors are first class. So easy to walk every where and felt perfectly safe. Thanks so much for an excellent vacation stay.

This was our first visit to the Lake Chapala area. We couldn’t have found a better place to call home. Our family group (Mom,dad, 4 adult children) occupied both the Jewel House and the Sunrise House. Perfect for privacy as well as for getting together. The location was perfect— close enough to the center of Ajijic to walk easily for food and shopping and mixing with the locals. Everyone in Ajijic is friendly and more than happy to help with the language barrier— since our command of Spanish is embarrassingly limited. Leo, our fabulous host,was amazing. Whatever we needed was taken care of promptly. Due to my poor planning we arrived too early in Guadalajara to occupy our residence — but Leo did us a huge favor and let us check in early ( 6 am) and even had a bottle of wine on the counter to soothe away our jet lag. We sipped our wine and watched the sunrise. It was the best way to begin our week. The accommodations were perfect— especially for such a reasonable price. I can see why Leo’s properties are so popular. We won’t hesitate to stay here again. Thanks for taking such good care of us Leo.

Fabulous accommodation. Walking distance to everything. Leo and Gaby were great hosts and made us feel very much at home.

If you want to feel safe and comfortable and surrounded by cleanliness and beauty while exploring village life in Ajijic, the Mexican Jewel House with Leo Gutman as your friendly and knowledgeable host is just the place. From the moment we stepped off the plane in Guadalajara after an all-night flight, Leo's detailed instructions (in Spanish and in English for the cab driver) brought us to the front door and inside this lovely, gracious casita. Too tired to go, out we were happy to find breakfast makings in the refrigerator along with a complementary bottle of wine for our 30th anniversary. The kitchen was fully furnished. We went out for dinner each night in the village (I highly recommend the gorgeous Peacock Garden restaurant on Colon Street, along with Leo's very fine suggestions) and brought home our leftovers for breakfast. A small mom-and-pop store just down the street supplied basic cooking essentials. Leo's instructions also guided us to the best ways to exchange money, and when he came to aquaint us with the rental he also filled us in on details of village life, such as the festival for the Patron Saint of Ajijic we encountered all of Thanksgiving week. I would love to return during the Christmas holiday! Leo insisted we must see both the Organic Farmer's Market and the traditional outdoor Mexican market. We loaded up our kitchen with snacks and goodies from each, and met some wonderfully friendly local ex-pats at each. The casita also had free unlimited calls to the United States, something I didn't think I would need, but I did end up having to call both my bank and cellular carrier to straighten out various issues, so this was very handy, indeed! Be sure to look through the pictures of this rental, which barely do it justice with its stained glass, brick ceilings and colorful Mexican tiles and sinks. It was a tremendous bargain for a very reasonable price. We had breakfast on the enclosed patio in the mornings, and at night we would turn on the fountain which, along with the high wall around the courtyard helped block out street noises. I was glad I'd brought good walking shoes at Leo's behest for getting around on the rough cobblestone streets. We're already looking forward to our return to Ajijic and hope to stay at the Mexican Jewel house again.

My husband and I enjoyed our stay at the Jewel House. It is close to the center of town, the shops and the restaurant. It is comfortable, quiet and perfect for a short stay.

Every detail was exactly how other guests have already mentioned in their reviews. We loved the central location and walked to different restaurants, stores, the lake, farmer's market. We used uber to go to a mineral springs spa. If you like hiking, there is a beautiful hike up the mountain and the trail head was about a block and a half from the house. Leo and Gabby are wonderful hosts; they checked on us immediately to see if we had questions and/or needed anything. We all came home weighing more from all the delicious food. 😋 I wish we could have stayed longer.

The Mexican Jewel House was exactly that - a jewel. It is pretty much as described, maybe even better. Beautufully located within walking distance of everything in Ajijic. Beautiful Mexican decor and furnishings with everything you need for a great stay. The kitchen is well equipped although there are so many excellent and diverse restaurants in the area that we rarely used it! The beds are comfortable and both bedrooms are spacious. Leo and Gaby are great hosts with lots of information and suggestions about the area. Leo sends you tons of info before you arrive which is very helpful. All in all a fabulous intro to Ajijic - highly recommended.

Way before our trip down Leo sent us a lot of information that helped us know about Jewel House, how to get from the airport and info in Spanish for the taxi driver to help find the address. We loved the House. The architectural features are appealing and pleasant. The kitchen was fully furnished, tho we did not cook there, we could have, easily. The location was great for walking most anywhere we wanted to go. Leo"s place was a good intro to Ajijic and what we needed.

The Sunrise house is gorgeous. Mexican flavor - but with all the modern appliances. An absolutely stunning site! Leo and Gaby were extremely helpful. They sent us tons of useful information ahead of our arrival, and went out of their way to assist as needed. We really appreciated the welcoming arrival which included all kind of goodies in the refrigerator, plus a bottle of wine waiting for us. We had much rest and relaxation at this beautiful place with drinks on the veranda overlooking the lake at sunset. Outdoor dining in the downstairs covered terrace was another treat, and a great place to stay up to chat and take in Mexico. We also enjoyed exploring nearby villages. A must stay place! So welcoming, great view and so much to do and see around the house! And did I say everything is walking distance! The bakery, restaurants, center of town, beach side walkway, and hiking. Stop looking and just book this place... you won't regret it! Thank you Leo & Gaby for a great stay!

Leo's Mexican Sunset House was even more than we expected! Very classic Mexican flavor and look. Mexican tile floors, sinks, showers, furniture! All beautiful, furniture functional and comfortable. The upstairs terrace was great for cooling off and relaxing, especially on the first few warmer days. The downstairs patio was perfect anytime. Rooms are all spacious and the big beautiful windows brought the tropical feel and cool air in. Leo has provided plenty of info on the house, the area, restaurants and things to do, both before we even arrived, and once we got there. He is a knowledgeable, warm, welcoming and responsive host. He clearly loves his homes and the beautiful area! The location was great, close to the Plaza, the malacon and many excellent restaurants . Be sure to get the terrific rotisserie chicken, and all the sides, at Faby's just down the hill. Better than any similar chicken in US! The Plaza at Chapala was one of our favorite places! Lots to do and see. We definitely plan to return and may ultimately move to this beautiful area permanently! We highly recommend Leo and both his homes, the Mexican Sunset House and the Mexican Jewel House (where my sister and hubby stayed). It was great having them right next door! Perfect set-up for 2 couples!

Leo's Jewel House was the perfect answer to our trip to Ajijic. The anbience of the decor set the tone. and the well-done binder on the coffee table gave us guidance. We got to know Francisco at his corner store, taking advantage of his English-speaking taxi service. Gaby at the corner of Juarez and Carretera provided rotisserie chicken for more than one meal. The bakery across the street from Francisco lured us for hot bread every morning. We'll be back.

We have included the Jewel House into our vacation schedule for the last few years but this is our first time visiting in the rainy season, what a delight! During our stay, it only rained in the evenings, making for green, lush days with that clean, after rain smell. We hiked on the numerous paths that are a short distance from the house that provided amazing views of the city, lake and waterfalls. The casita is always ready upon arrival, clean and well appointed, (even providing Mexican coffee for your first morning). I love the Mexican tile work throughout the house. Our favorite Jewell House activity is sitting outside on the patio, with a book, enjoying the garden and fountain. Leo and Gaby are exceptional hosts, sending you lots of valuable information on the Jewell House, Ajijic and tips before your visit. Once you have arrived, there is detailed information in the guest book and they are happy to answer any questions and recommend current activities in Ajijic. This time, their recommendations included a lecture, concert, and excellent restaurants to try, all within walking distance. We will be back!

My wife, Sharon and I, made our first time visit to "Lakeside", and Leo was our host. Couldn't have wished for better! Leo helped me from the moment I booked our visit. He provided extensive , online information, WAY above and beyond the norm. He made our experiences from the airport to his home a "piece of cake", and that to us, is half the battle-stress free from the onset. The home was beautiful, modern, with all that one would require within , to prepare food, and be totally self sufficient. He has this lovely friendly dog, Cali, who is the there only if you want him there!.....great to have a visit from him!!...all in all, a great place to be, particularly if you are a first time visitor, as there's a ton of great information provided for you to explore...

The Jewel House was an excellent choice for our visit to Lake Chapala. The home is conveniently located within easy walking distance of central Ajijic stores and restaurants. If we weren’t going out to eat, the kitchen had all we needed to prepare our meals. The home itself is nicely decorated and had everything you could want for a comfortable and enjoyable vacation stay. It also has a very front nice porch and garden area which was an especially nice place to eat meals or read. Finally, what really stood out for us was our experience with the owner of the property, Leo. If you have never visited Ajijic, you couldn’t ask for a better host. Leo is very organized and will provide you with all the information you need to feel comfortable about your entire trip. This includes sending you instructions of how to take a taxi from the airport to this vacation home. We have rented a number of homes before, but never have we had a host as informative and welcoming as Leo.

We recently stayed for a week a the Jewel House and would highly recommend it as a "base of operations" when visiting Ajijic. The house is bright and spacious, with a lovely outdoor sitting area, and all of the amenities you could need. Although we only cooked once, there were ample dishes and cookware for anyone who wanted to cook more. The casa was very clean with lovely tiled bathrooms and comfortable beds. Although there were just two of us, this casa would easily accommodate a family or two couples. We didn't have a car and easily walked everywhere from the casa. There is a bakery very close by (try the cinnamon rolls!) and many small grocery stores nearby for staples and fresh fruit and vegetables. The owner, Leo, provides an excellent (and detailed) reference book at the house with information on the area including restaurant recommendations. He was very welcoming and we were pleased, after a long day of traveling, to find a welcome bottle of wine when we entered the house. He even provided breakfast staples (e.g. bread, coffee, milk, butter, jam) to get us through the first morning. As far as sights in Ajijic, we enjoyed the restaurants (try Pasta Trente at Consitution 33, Cucinart, Ajijic Tango, Don Quixote, and Salvadore's for breakfast), the thermal springs in San Juan Cosala, and the hike at the end of Juarez to the chapel. We took the bus to both Chapala and the thermal springs for 9 pesos apiece (55 cents) which was both convenient and inexpensive. Overall a great town and a pleasurable stay at the Jewel House and we would definitely stay here again if we ever go back to Ajijic (which we are already considering!).

Nicely situated, the Jewell makes an ideal place to explore Ajijic. This, our second visit to this charming casa, was as delightful as the last. While we were just a single couple, it would work equally as well for two, as we had difficulty deciding which bedroom to use. The quiet garden and fountain make your outdoor time pleasant (as well as a providing soothing backdrop for your afternoon siesta). Cook in (be sure to take in the nearby organic market on Tuesday, or the general outdoor market on Wednesday) or dine out - Ajijic has myriad dining possibilities, many of which offer exquisite cuisine - and very affordable at the current exchange rates.

The Jewel House was the perfect size in the perfect location for our visit. While there is parking space for a car, we chose to walk everywhere during our visit. Ajijic's plaza is easy walking distance as are a plethora of geat restaurants. Our host went over and above anything we expected. All the information you need is contained in a notebook within the house, but your host is just a phone call away. The house, itself, is tastefully and comfortably furnished with careful thought given to guest comfort. Within days of our arrival, the neighbor across the street said he was available to consult if we needed anything. Noise levels, even during the holiday season, were reasonable and celebration parties seemed to end at a reasonable hour. Our positive experience in Jewel House certainly contributed to our final decision to move permanently into the area. We can recommend this property for a stay of weeks or of months. You will be comfortable.