Iberik Gran Balneario de Guitiriz

The grounds were one of the main reasons we booked, and they were beautiful, with a lovely area for walks. We stayed seven nights, which gave us a good sense of the place. The room was spacious, clean, and nicely designed, though using the TV was frustrating because Netflix wasn’t set up properly. Reception was the highlight. Sara checked us in, suggested a great room upgrade, and deserves real recognition. Diego was extremely friendly and always made an effort to chat and help us feel welcome. The balneários were relaxing, and the staff there were polite and professional. It could use some maintenance. We knew it cost extra, but it still felt cheap for a 4* hotel. The restaurant was the major disappointment. We ate there every evening. The fresh ingredients seemed good, though many items were clearly frozen. For most of our stay, the cooking was poor: meat was overcooked, and potatoes were either raw or mushy from being reheated from the night before. The recipes felt weak and improvised. On our last night the food was much better prepared and presented, so we wondered if a more capable chef was working. Good food seems possible, but the quality was frustratingly inconsistent. The prepaid meal plan came with a separate, limited menu, as expected. But we were also told we couldn’t sit outside because those tables were reserved for à la carte guests. Along with the poor food, that made us feel like second-class guests, despite having paid for all our meals in advance. I strongly recommend against choosing that option. Breakfast was standard and forgettable. The general service staff were nice and polite, but often seemed to lack the training you’d expect. That’s on management, not the employees. Together with the food problems, it left us with the impression that the hotel was cutting corners and not investing enough in the kitchen or staff training.

The grounds and forest behind the hotel are beautiful, and we enjoyed the peaceful setting. It’s a great place for a longer stay, with a good SPA and related services. If you want some movida, Coruña, Santiago, and Lugo are nearby. Sara at reception kindly showed us the rooms and let us choose. She suggested a larger, more comfortable room for three adults, which cost an extra €10 per night. We really appreciated her excellent service. The website should show the room choices more clearly, especially the option of rooms with three or four adult beds for senior couples, groups of friends, families, and younger groups. My family and I are grateful to Sara, Diego at reception, and all the Balneario staff. The Balneario team were also very helpful and flexible. Booking access to the Balneario was awkward: Booking.com didn’t offer it, and the hotel website wasn’t very user-friendly. I booked six entries but we used 13. There’s room to improve the half-board service too. Offering cafeteria food such as hamburgers could lower costs and keep people happy. Half-board and full-board guests shouldn’t feel disadvantaged, for example by being denied outdoor tables, especially when they tend to stay longer and have paid upfront. If they’re happy, they may buy more services and return; if they aren’t, they may not come back. Engaged customers should be prioritised. The main corridors were often overlooked, and the carpets weren’t fully clean. The stair handrails, which we often used for exercise, and several high landing windows needed cleaning too. Housekeeping should also avoid changing bed linen the day before departure. Changing it every 3-4 nights is fine, but doing it right before guests leave seems inefficient. Skipping that change would save water and be more ecological. Super, thank you!

We didn’t eat at the hotel, so I can’t say anything about the food. The balneario was fun and relaxing, though the water started to feel cold after about an hour of the 90-minute session. The little forest behind the hotel is charming. I’d come back just to hear the birds singing. I’ve included a recording below, though it doesn’t do them justice.

I couldn’t make the booked date because of a personal situation. I managed to cancel 32 hours ahead, although the policy asks for 48, and they’re charging me for one night. Are they within their rights? Yes. Were they considerate? No. The staff showed very little sensitivity. I’ll never recommend this place.