San Ceferino Hotel & Spa

The setting is beautiful, but the service doesn't seem to match it. A more client-focused approach could earn the place a few more stars. The Front Desk also takes far too long. Noise in the early morning woke us up, the bathroom was rather small, and breakfast hours felt too short for somewhere that's meant to be relaxing.

It feels like a relaxing little countryside paradise, and the people were warm and eager to make our stay good. When something didn't work out, they still tried to sort it. The place is really clean, and the food at its restaurant was good, with nice pasta as well as good meat. It's a premium-style hotel and spa built around a former big Ranch, with some traditional touches still there, including horseriding, carriage trips, and cattle. The wine list is nice, though a bit too big. When I visited, the wine wasn't cool enough; they said they planned to buy a wine cooler soon. Service was good, but the staff didn't seem very experienced. I'd gladly return.

The homemade breakfast had plenty of variety and was really good. Dinner was great too, but check that your package includes it, or you'll have to pay separately. There's plenty to do, including horse riding, bikes, carriages, and yoga, with other activities depending on the day. Some may cost extra, so ask ahead. I had a rough time with the spa. On the day I arrived, the pool and Jacuzzi water smelled really bad, and it wasn't as hot as I'd expected. Also, rain came right into my room during a hard storm. Nice place and good food, but those things were disappointing.

The setting and grounds are lovely, and it could be a nice place to spend time with family. But the restaurant was a letdown: the à la carte food was average, and the service was slow and disorganized. Check-in and payment can take a while. Unless you pay for late checkout, you're expected to leave the whole property by 11am on departure day, not just your room. Those management snags can get pretty annoying.