Parador de Cardona

I loved the place apart from the first encounter at check-in. When the older man at the front desk saw my passport and realized I wasn’t from Spain, his tone changed and he became curt and matter-of-fact. I didn’t feel welcome, though it didn’t upset me. After that I avoided him, choosing the other line to speak with his desk partner when I had a question or was checking out. I simply didn’t feel like dealing with his attitude. The rest was all 10/10 for me: clean and elegant, with amazing food and excellent dining room staff. They were the sweetest and most attentive. We stayed two nights and did both the Salt cave tour and hotel tour, and both were worth it. The man at the front desk gets 5/10 from me.

The suite was very spacious and well equipped, and dinner and breakfast were both excellent. The service and cuisine suited this completely different place to stay. The parador and its setting are breathtaking. My only criticism is that the shower, bath, and bathroom floor get treacherously slippery when wet. They need mats.

The staff are very friendly, and the place itself is quite unique, though the hotel feels a bit outdated. Breakfast was rather poor, with very few options. Worth a visit, as long as you don’t expect too much.

It’s a medieval castle on a hill, so what’s not to love? The food is amazing and the staff are friendly, while the rooms are the usual Parador quality. With some walls over 3m thick, there isn’t much noise in the rooms.