Villa Augusta Spa & Garden

The restaurant food was good, but neither of the two desserts on the menu was available, since it was their first day of service. Our four-day spa package was another disappointment: we could only use it on the last day, and the water was freezing. We waited over an hour for a bathrobe, and the shower cap they gave us had to be returned so it could be reused without washing. The bathroom had holes everywhere, and the slippery bathtub felt dangerous. They said there was a safe in the closet, but we couldn't find it. The water temperature in the shower swung between boiling and freezing, apparently down to luck, and there wasn't a handheld shower. When we asked for a shower cap, the manager suggested moving to a hotel 400 meters away that cost three times as much. The reception staff otherwise were friendly and very patient. At least we had a room WITH A SHOWER. I'm giving one star only because the review form won't let me give less. We don't recommend this place and won't be back.

The place is clean, well looked after, and really nice, though they probably need a bit more time to get things running smoothly since it only opened recently. I had an issue with the room heating, and no maintenance staff were available then, so they lent me a space heater. It kept us comfortable for the night. Making tea was a hassle because there was no hot water machine, so I had to keep heating water in the microwave. The shower had no intercom, which seemed odd, and regulating the hot water wasn't easy.

We were a bit unsure what to expect after reading the earlier reviews, but our weekend stay turned out to be a pleasant surprise. The staff really made it for us. Miryam and Estela at reception were so kind and patiently answered all our questions, and Ali made the visit enjoyable enough that we left wanting to return. Our room was clean, the heating worked, and the shower had hot water. The spa was nice too, with working jets and pleasantly warm water, though only one of the two saunas was operating. The buffet choices were limited, but the food they did have was good.

The opening weekend coincided with Valentine's Day, and there were technical problems, especially in the spa, along with a few small issues in the room. Still, the hotel acknowledged them right away and tried to fix things professionally, including offering compensation for the inconvenience. It was an isolated run of bad luck at an important time. When I was there today, everything worked perfectly and the atmosphere felt like a peaceful oasis. The hotel itself is spectacular: exquisite decor, inviting rooms, everything new, and a spa that feels like a dream. The staff across the hotel are charming, attentive, and very professional. I don't think the hotel deserves such disproportionate ratings. Mistakes happen, and here they were technical issues during an opening weekend. People who criticize so harshly might consider whether they'd show the same professionalism and willingness to compensate a customer if something unexpected happened in their own businesses, assuming they have one. Criticism is fair, but it should be respectful and proportionate. Aggressive, unconstructive attitudes don't help tourism or relationships between people. Keep your spirits up, Villa Augusta. I'll return with my voucher, and I doubt those critics have stopped to consider the harm their comments do to a Spanish company creating jobs, after it had the same bad luck as they did.