L'Era De Cal Bastida - Guest House

Once you arrive, the views and the stay itself are stunning. Estamariu is a tiny mountain village near Andorra, without Andorra prices, and it’s full of history. The hotel is sparkling clean and the host is fantastic. The drive up is the tough part. The road is narrow and steep, with medieval stone walls along it, and I wouldn’t try to find the hotel in the dark. You need to pay close attention, have a good cellular connection for your map app, and be comfortable with heights, dropoffs, and tight passages. That’s why I’m giving it four stars instead of five, so adventurous anglophones will read this.

The views of the mountains from the rooms alone make the visit worthwhile. The host was lovely, and the hotel was very clean with good facilities. We enjoyed the breakfast and evening meals. Getting there is an adventure: the drive from the main road keeps climbing and climbing, and the road through the village is interesting too.

Pilar and her mom were so warm and welcoming, even with the rainy weather. Pilar is incredibly generous and hardworking, managing the smallest details mostly on her own. I can’t wait to return. The spacious rooms are excellent value, with different price ranges. The upstairs ones have balconies and gorgeous valley views, and breakfast is included. There’s no restaurant on site, but the village restaurant is only a few steps away. The large villa sits in the heart of Estamariu, is beautifully maintained, and has spotless rooms, a big terrace overlooking the valley, a garage for several cars, and extra parking in the courtyard. Estamariu is a charming little village a few miles from La Seu d'Urgell, though its hilltop position makes it feel much more remote. The road there is lovely but narrow and winding, so daylight is best, and the village lanes are very tight too. In my opinion, L'Era de Cal Bastida has more quality and charm than the expensive parador in La Seu d'Urgell.

The best stay I’ve ever had at any accommodation. Thank you, Pilar. I’ll always remember my time here. The drive in and around the village was easy. People who complain that the roads are narrow are clearly just bad drivers, so don’t worry.