Hostal Rioja Condestable

I rarely write reviews, and when I do, they're usually positive. I don't like posting something negative unless something seriously wrong has happened. I've owned a restaurant and worked in hospitality for over 20 years, so I know how hard it is to make everyone happy. I'm taking time from a very busy schedule to write this because what happened was serious. The place is terribly managed, with no receptionist at all. Be careful if you don't want to get locked outside. I had no idea I was required to have a working phone and internet to get in. I'd been traveling all day and had no connection or battery when I arrived, so I waited outside for ages until another guest leaving opened the door. Inside, another guest was just as frustrated and showed me how to check in over WhatsApp. After I reached someone, I sat in the entrance area for about 20 minutes while they remotely let me into my room. The hotel smelled strongly of cheap perfume, apparently sprayed to cover a terrible smell of sweat and age. It made my eyes water and my throat hurt. My room had the same sweaty perfume smell. The bed cover was filthy, with sweat, wet and oily patches, and fresh white stains. I messaged to ask for another room or clean sheets. The sheets seemed clean except for pubic hair right by the pillow. What's the point of washing sheets and then putting a dirty cover on the bed? I took pictures and sent them to the person who checked me in. It took about an hour to hear back with a possible solution. Then I started getting WhatsApps from Maryam, who I found out the next day is the boss. Instead of apologizing and assuring me it would be dealt with, she sent screenshots of other customer reviews as if I were wrong and the room was clean. She also tried to teach me how to choose hotels better, saying that if I wanted hotel quality, I should have chosen another place, because that wasn't what they offer. I'm happy to share screenshots as proof. I never asked for hotel quality, just a clean place. I've stayed in several hostels around Spain and loved them. I paid EXTRA for a room alone so I could rest, and all I wanted was a CLEAN BED! She was so rude that I stopped reading her messages to get some peace. I wrote around 8-9pm and she replied around 11PM, when I was already asleep. I accepted the situation and thought I could get clean sheets the next day. But when I woke up, I saw Booking.com had canceled my reservation for "no-show," as the hotel claimed. I'd already paid in full for 4 nights, and she knew this would leave me without options. She did it out of spite. This was appallingly unprofessional. After decades of flying around the world, including 10 years as international Airline CREW, I've never met with such rudeness. She completely ruined my trip. I'm now out on the street trying to find somewhere to stay, while she still has my money. I also wasted an hour writing this instead of enjoying Logroño. If you want peace and a clean bed, do yourself a favor and DON'T GO to this hostal!

The view and weather were incredible, really the kind of place that restores your soul. The hotel was lovely and very clean, right in the middle of town with shops, bars, and restaurants all an easy walk away. I loved it 😉

The place smelled awful, and the rooms felt cozy in the wrong way. It came across more like a sex club than a hostel. They should change the air freshener and the room colors.

Not good.