La Aldea Soñada

I’m glad we went, though I wouldn’t stay again. The drive up was horrific, and the hotel itself was okay, with a rustic feel. My partner liked it less than I did. What I loved were the spectacular, peaceful views. We had dinner delivered nicely to our room, and the portions were large. Breakfast was okay, and the staff were friendly and helpful. If you’re after somewhere quirky and different, it could be worth a stay.

The staff were excellent, and the breakfast buffet was great. Dinner tasted good too, though we thought it was a bit expensive. We’ll definitely return. The room and views were fantastic, the hot tub was comfortable, and the bed was great, so we slept wonderfully. I’d seen several complaints about cleanliness, but everything was perfect for us. People often mention the access, but it’s only about a five-minute walk uphill. There’s one stretch between some houses where you need to be a little careful. A small car might be better, though we didn’t find it a big problem.

We had dinner there, and the food was quite delicious. The rooms could use a better clean, though: there was hair in our shower, and the previous guest’s conditioner was still open. As for the insects, finding a few in the countryside is normal, but there were no bug infestations in the rooms. The place itself is spectacular, and the experience was wonderful. The steep access makes sense when you consider the location at the top of a mountain. You’re unlikely to get there without slopes or come straight from the highway. The toughest stretch is probably no more than 1 km. All in all, it’s absolutely worth the experience.

I stayed last week and was a little apprehensive because of the cleanliness reviews, but the double room with a mountain-view jacuzzi was fine. I didn’t notice anything unusual, and the jacuzzi was spacious and good. The views were nice too, but there are several reasons I wouldn’t return. The room that was supposed to be soundproof was incredibly noisy: another couple was in the room next door, and we could hear EVERYTHING. Their jacuzzi was deafening when it started up, like a motor. Getting there is also a problem. At one point, the road gets incredibly narrow and steep, and you almost hit a rooftop. It’d be easy to drive into a house if you weren’t careful. Google Maps kept sending us uphill, so at some point you have to stop following it and watch for the signs. They need more signs at the entrance, which are easy to miss, and I think guests should be warned. You need a car that isn’t too big and can cope with some really steep hills. I think it would be impossible to get there in the rain. We were lucky it was warm, but I definitely wouldn’t go if it were raining. I’d only consider the place worthwhile if you got a villa, which I imagine is more secluded. It belongs to the 1907 group, and honestly, there are much better options in Gijón near the city center, with jacuzzis and larger rooms for about the same price.