Parador De Gijon

We booked the wrong date through an OTA while walking the Camino and noticed straight away. We called the hotel immediately and were told to rebook the right night directly with them, with assurance that we wouldn't be charged twice. We relied on that and booked directly at a higher rate. The Parador then kept payment for both bookings and later said they couldn't help. We only asked for a refund of the smaller amount, even allowing for OTA commissions. The unused room could have been resold, so they could have avoided any loss. We acted right away and followed what the hotel told us, but their position changed after payment was taken. We've made several requests and got different answers after the fact. Both payments went to the Parador. The note on the OTA booking clearly says, “Any changes to this booking can only be made by the hotel”. It also says, “Partner Offer. Your booking is with LOH… Requests can be made directly with the property but are not guaranteed.” We did contact the property directly and relied on what they assured us, but they didn't honor it. It's ridiculous that you don't read or look at what it says. This is bait and switch. Would not recommend, would not stay again.

We booked the wrong date by mistake while walking the Camino, and realized it immediately. The receipt says this was a Partner Offer and that the booking was with LOH. It also says, “Any changes to your personal and booking details are not possible. Requests can be made directly with the property but are not guaranteed. Booking.com's customer service support is available to you for this booking.” We called the hotel right away and were told that if we booked the correct night directly, at a much higher rate, we wouldn't be charged for both stays. Even so, they kept payment for both the incorrect OTA booking and the direct booking. After repeated correspondence with the hotel and corporate office, they're now claiming they can't help. We asked only to get back the smaller amount, less any OTA commission. The hotel could also have cancelled and resold the unused night, but chose not to. Be cautious. Honest mistakes aren't forgiven here, and staff assurances may not be honored once they've taken payment.

The old town is a little walk, about 25 mins away. The staff are lovely, and although the rooms are a bit dated, they're clean and comfortable. I love sitting in the courtyard with a coffee or a glass of wine.

This parador felt underwhelming next to the others we visited. It needs a bit of a refresh, and the residential neighborhood around it is rather dull and lacking in charm. It's also about a 30-minute walk from the city centre. Parking is a real problem: the car park is tiny, and there's hardly any parking nearby.