Hotel Boutique La Serena

Julie was wonderful to work with while we planned everything, and Aranzazu made our stay and dinner especially memorable with her care, love and eye for detail. The food at L’Etiquette was excellent, and they handled allergies phenomenally, which isn't always easy in Spain. The location is beautiful and the staff are truly incredible. We spent two nights at La Serena and celebrated our wedding dinner at its L’Etiquette restaurant. From our first visit to ask for information through all the planning communication, our stay and the dinner itself, the whole experience was amazing. Thank you to everyone at La Serena. We'll definitely be back!

The location is excellent, just 5 minutes from the old town and 5 minutes from the beach. Staff were friendly, and the pool area was relaxing, with usually enough loungers. We booked at the last minute for five days in September and got a discount by booking directly with the hotel. Our urban deluxe room was the cheapest option: clean and nicely decorated, but very small and without an outdoor area. It did have a private enclosed bathroom, which the other rooms may not. We enjoyed our stay, but despite the chic decor, it's a three-star hotel and felt a bit overpriced for that. Breakfast was cold options only: cereal, a little fruit, cheese and meat, small croissants, yoghurt, baguettes, pre-cooked boiled eggs and tortilla. Fresh cooked eggs would have been nice. The bed was small, and the mattress too soft and cushiony for us. It rained on two or three days, and water leaked quite badly down the main stairwell. No staff acknowledged it. We also realised there wasn't really a comfortable dry place to sit and read, so we had to go out. There were hardly any vegetarian options on the lunch or dinner menu, so we ate out twice a day. If you're into food and looking for a restaurant, try Xef Pirata. The tapas are exceptional.

The spa felt unique and unlike any other around here, and we found it really relaxing and beautiful. They had water and orange juice, plenty of fruit, slippers and bathrobes ready for us. The one small snag was having to leave exactly two hours after our booking, including time to get changed and head out, so we were considered late. We had a couple of hours before dinner, and the receptionist kindly let us wait on the poolside loungers. Dinner was delicious, and the waiter and waitress were super friendly and helpful. We'll definitely come back!

The location and hotel itself are lovely, but the service really let it down. Renovation noise went on each day, and a fire alarm woke us at 7am. Nobody acknowledged either or apologized. Outdoor furniture stayed covered for two of our three days, even though it was dry; we ate outside at nearby restaurants each evening, so it seemed possible to uncover it. Parking beneath the hotel is extremely tight and, for the price, I’d skip it. Some rooms are on the lower ground floor, so check before booking. Given the service and cost, I wouldn’t return.