Hotel Villa Arce

Beautiful styling first drew me in, but the reality was a suite with no attention to basic function. It looked great, yet there were no outlets by the bed unless I unplugged the lamp. At the desk, I had to pull it out and overload the adapter shared by the fridge and a broken lamp to get a plug. The fridge didn’t cool, though its light came on when opened, so I could charge my phone while using it to read my book. There were four coat hangers, so pack light, and not even a hook for the hand towel. We booked this as a treat for the last night of our holiday, and it was a real disappointment. There was no staff on site, no way to make drinks, no in-room facilities, and no open restaurants within walking distance. When I went into the kitchen area, the owner told me off, shouting “Privada!!!!” even though the staff member at check-in had said we could use it. In the morning I desperately wanted coffee, which we’d brought ourselves because none was provided. I was watched while reluctantly allowed to microwave hot water in a glass. Is this a hotel or a detention facility? At over £120 a night, is a kettle really too much to ask? It barely met my idea of a hotel, an establishment providing accommodation, meals, and other services for travellers and tourists. If all you want is a bed that’s been on the cover of a Sunday newspaper supplement, you might like it. For basic customer needs, this place has no idea what it’s doing.

This is my third time staying at this standout rural hotel. It's right in the woods, with cows and sheep nearby, and the surroundings are lovely. The staff are very friendly, and both the room and the beds are really comfortable.

Really nice place. Check-in happens in person, so don’t worry about the Booking.com one. The breakfast is a little sad, but otherwise it’s great.

10/10.