Hotel Antumalal

The rustic, elegant feel and picture perfect view made Hotel Antumalal such a beautiful place to stay. The hotel and grounds are lovely, and Pucón center is just five minutes away by car. We slept well too, the bed and pillows were comfortable. Gloria at the front desk was amazing, as was Nicolas, who helped with our bags and brought us a mini fridge and hot water kettle. Everyone was super nice and attentive. I left completely relaxed.

The lake views from the rooms are beautiful, and the grounds have lots of different spots to sit. You can walk down to the water for sunbathing or a quick swim, though the beach is rocky. The spa has a nice pool, two hot tubs, and a pool you can use indoors or outdoors. We had dinner there one night and enjoyed it. Breakfast was very good, with eggs available alongside an international continental spread. The hotel is on the main road into Pucón, handy for town and activities nearby, and there are two parking lots, so having a car is easy. Daily room service is required, which was a little annoying, though also fine, I guess. A few suggestions: let guests know to bring water shoes for the rocky lake entry. The little pier isn't deep enough for jumping, so don't suggest that. Moving the bigger rocks toward the edges of the shoreline would make the beach easier to access. Also, clearer signs pointing down to the spa from both directions would help.

The view is outstanding, but it doesn't make up for how frustratingly bad the dining service was. The hotel is conveniently located, but felt like a big disappointment, dated and in need of a lot of repair and touch ups. The rooms are spacious, though outlets are hard to reach and the closets don't have nearly enough hangers. There's no air conditioning, so on the first floor expect to leave the windows open all night. For the high price and expectations, this feels more like a 3 star property.

A transmission problem with our rental car could have wrecked our plans, but Beatriz took charge with so much care and professionalism. She contacted Europecar for us and arranged a hotel car rental so we wouldn't lose a day of activities. While we were out, a replacement car was delivered to the hotel. Her follow-through, kindness, and efficiency turned a stressful mess into a reason to be grateful. I've rarely seen service like that. The whole team at Hotel Antumalal was wonderful, and Beatriz really showed how much the staff care about guests. If you want people who go the extra mile, this is the place. I can't recommend it highly enough.