Hotel Laias Caldaria

We left after just one night, on January 1, even though our stay was meant to be three days. Our group of about 30 had booked this place through the Diputacion de Ourense as part of a thermal program around the end of the year. The first hotel, in Melgaço, was wonderful. This experience was the opposite, and we plan to complain to the Diputacion de Ourense and leave the program. The way the group was treated was the worst part. Staff, from reception to the buffet waiters and the New Year's entertainment team, were unfriendly, to put it mildly. The thermal treatment staff were the exception. For the New Year's dinner, our meal was at a level I've never experienced in a hotel, let alone at a four-star hotel. We felt separated from the other guests: they ate in another area and had a different menu, though I don't know whether it was better. The entertainment was degrading, in our opinion, given the ages of the people involved. It's something we'd rather forget, and we don't want to be treated that way when we're older. At the first hotel, people were treated very differently, without any discrimination, and we felt included among the guests. The hotel is in a very good location by the Minho River, but we got a room facing the road. We can imagine the river view was for other, better clients. The room was spacious but very dated. The bathroom could clearly be improved, though it did have a bidet and bathtub, and the AC worked well. The furniture reminded us of our parents' place. Noise from the neighbors chatting next door and doors banging when guests left from 7 AM was very audible and annoying. The spa could use some maintenance and new equipment, but it worked, the water quality was very good, and the staff there were very proper. When we left, they tried to charge us the full amount for both hotels. In the end, they charged the three nights correctly, perhaps, but getting the bill fixed was stressful. The bill for one night, 240 euros, is posted to show this review is real. Our rating is a solid 1 for Laias Caldaria hotel, because zero isn't available.