Rusticae Hotel Casa del Abad

Such a beautiful place.

A quiet, peaceful spot.

The building itself is striking, and the restoration of the old manor house is worth seeing. Don’t miss the chapel on the first floor. But that architecture is about the only thing that matches the hotel’s five-star image. I’ve attached four photos of the room maintenance problems, and there were dozens more. Charging over 250 euros a night for this is completely unjustified. In practice, it feels more like a rural guesthouse short on services, despite being advertised as a well-known five-star hotel in Palencia and part of a prestigious chain. There’s no reception open 24 hours, and the breakfast was average, like one you’d get at a three-star business hotel in an industrial park nearby. The rooms were poorly insulated against both heat and noise. The regular beds were comfortable, but the children’s extra beds were just mattresses on the floor with no frames. We were there as a family group for an event. A party went on until 2 a.m., and it hadn’t been advertised when we booked. I verified that against the booking confirmation on WhatsApp and Booking.com. It was held in an area without soundproofing, so guests who’d booked a supposed five-star hotel couldn’t get any rest. We had dinner at the hotel restaurant. The menu was limited to one set option, priced at 42€, which felt inflated for what would be a 15-20€ meal at a restaurant in any city center. The large beds were comfortable, and the reception staff were friendly. If you’re fine paying a five-star rate for a mid-range hostel or hotel, this may suit you. If you want good value for a comfortable, quality stay, it doesn’t.

The staff made us feel more at home than ever, and that’s why I’m giving this little hotel five stars. We found it after our usual favorites were charging outrageously high prices for the Pilar holiday weekend. It has charm everywhere you look, even though some maintenance is needed. It may not have the glamour it had 20 years ago, but the people were so dedicated and the village was so charming that we felt looked after the whole time. There’s also a fantastic restaurant in the village. I’ll definitely come back.