Hotel El Cortijo de Daimiel

The spacious bed was comfortable, and the rest of the room was fine, with a large terrace. The furniture was quite worn and some things needed maintenance. The air conditioning didn’t work, and its filter was very dirty. The hotel could do with some updating, but it was still very good overall. Alicia and Monste were top-notch staff and did everything they could to make it work.

We were quite disappointed. We’d wanted a rural place to disconnect, and the location and countryside setting had looked promising, but the condition of the accommodation made it a terrible experience. The place itself is beautiful and has a lot of potential, but it felt abandoned, dirty, and very poorly maintained. Paint was peeling, there was dampness and poor insulation, and it was cold inside. I found hair on my sheets and in the bathroom, rat droppings in shared areas, and dust everywhere, including peeling paint on the bedside tables. Our supposed suite had a filthy terrace. Wallpaper was used to cover holes in the doors, and the extra bed, charged at the price of a regular bed, looked like a piece of paper and had an awful mattress. The staff spoke to us with an air of superiority, and the service left much to be desired. Breakfast was terrible, with nothing homemade: even the tomato on the toast, juices, and pastries were store-bought.

We were lucky the sun came out the next morning, because it looked beautiful then. This is a country estate with rooms, and calling it a hotel is misleading. At night, there’s nobody there except the guests. You need to eat beforehand, as they close at 9 pm or possibly earlier, and there’s nothing nearby. In winter it was cold because they don’t turn on the heating. Breakfast was sliced white bread and canned crushed tomatoes. I was surprised to find hand soap marked “Made in China.” They seem intent on making as much money as possible, but shouldn’t be so, ahem, ahem, about the details.

The whole rural complex was wonderful, from the service to the room. A spectacular country hotel, highly recommended! And don’t miss Tablas de Daimiel National Park. Thanks, and see you soon, Hassan S.