Mirador de Gornazo

The bathroom was clean and the receptionist was friendly. That was the only good part of what was the worst hotel I’ve stayed in, and I’ve stayed in plenty. The room smelled incredibly strong and unpleasant. They said the odor came from the carpet cleaning product, then tried reed diffusers, which made it even harder to bear. The carpet was old and covered in stains. The mattresses were old and uncomfortable, with springs digging into you. There’s no air conditioning, and the garden tables were being used to hang clothes and shoes. The hotel also serves as a reception center for immigrants. The young men were friendly, but they spent all afternoon playing soccer under my window, so I couldn’t sleep. At night there was constant music and chatting until 1 a.m. I travel with my cat, who’s stayed in countless hotels, but this was the first time he hid under the bed for hours and wouldn’t eat, drink, or pee. I left as soon as I could the next morning. At the next hotel, he went to the litter box, ate, and drank. It’s expensive for the rooms they offer and overrated. I’ve stayed in hostels a million times better. Edit: Replying to the hotel’s response. The photos I took are from my stay on that date. Maybe they did the cleaning they claim, but the stains are clearly visible. I’m adding a photo showing when it was taken. Removing the air fresheners would be sensible, since they make it hard to breathe. And the mosquito repellent should be removed from rooms where pets are allowed, because it’s dangerous for cats. My cat didn’t pee on the chair. He’s a million times cleaner than that hotel. Water spilled from a bottle in one of the bags I’d put on the chairs because I was disgusted to leave them on the floor. As for the immigrants, you can’t claim they don’t live there when the photos show them using the facilities to hang their clothes to dry, and the receptionist knows the boys’ names. Either they live there or they’ve been vacationing at the hotel for a while.

This was my second visit this week, and it’s far too expensive for what they offer. I booked a stay with breakfast included this time, but breakfast was just coffee and packaged pastries. The coffee tastes like water, and so does the juice. During my first visit, they accused me of taking their sheets. The blonde woman serving me was rude, impolite, and disrespectful. I DO NOT RECOMMEND COMING HERE, AND I WILL NOT BE BACK.

The room was comfortable and quiet, just right for resting, and the staff made me feel very welcome. I stayed a night at the three-star Hotel Mirador de Gornazo while walking the Camino de Santiago, and had a very pleasant experience. Dinner at the restaurant was delicious and homemade. The €12 set menu includes a starter, main, dessert, and even wine. I’d recommend it to anyone on the Camino or anyone looking for a good place to rest.

It’s easy to reach and park beside the gas station, and there’s an elevator. The hotel has its own restaurant, while the gas station has another, plus a small shop and lottery outlet. A commuter train stop is within walking distance, and it takes 20 minutes to reach central Santander. For getting in and out by car or taking the train, the location works. Otherwise, it’s all cars, roundabouts, and merging. The main problem is the carpet, especially its smell, which seems to linger throughout the hotel. There’s no air conditioning, so opening the windows means dealing with the heavy highway traffic, including trucks. A roadside hotel with plenty of potential, but the carpet smell and setting let it down.