Hostal Rural Can Enric

The house is near St. Julia de Vilatorta, a lovely little village for food, drinks, and its old architecture. We had a great weekend there, and we’re already planning to return. Madame Celia was very friendly and treated us well, so I don’t agree with the negative comments about her. She’s getting on in years and handles the place on her own, while trying to renovate it little by little. Given how large the property is, that’s no small job. It’s an old place with a bit of a time-capsule feel, which we liked. The pool had a 1970s vibe and was almost all ours. My partner and I enjoy old-school, back-to-basics stays, and this was just that. Our baby had a great time too, judging by all the laughs and no crying. If you want luxury and everything perfectly arranged, this probably isn’t for you. You have to appreciate the little things here.

The hot shower was a plus, and Alexandria, one of the women there, was kind and spoke very good English. There was Wi-Fi too, though it kept crashing when I tried to watch YouTube, so I eventually gave up. The welcome was rough from the start. The reception smelled strongly of damp, and the walk through the building to our room felt very strange, with a 'hotel paradiso' kind of vibe. The handle on my room door was broken, so I could only get in with the key, which became a nuisance. At first the room seemed fine, but looking closer, I found cobwebs in nearly every corner and beds that felt like camping beds. The bathroom floor was wet and covered in footprints, and there were pubic hairs on the toilet. I tried drying the floor with a towel and ended up with unknown stains all over my white towel. The walls were so thin I could hear the people next door as though they were on the other side of the room. Until 4am, there were moans and groans that left little to the imagination. And if horror films aren’t your thing, this place probably isn’t for you. Don’t be fooled by the pool photo. Arriving here was a huge disappointment, and it’s an experience I won’t forget.

It was so quiet and calming, and I could hear the river from my room. The new owners were incredibly kind and helpful. I’d give their service 10 stars.

It’s very peaceful here, but the place badly needs refurbishing. The cups and dishes were dirty, and most of the kitchen felt very run-down. We also had several misunderstandings with the woman running the place, which turned into serious arguments. She told us how to cook our food and treated us as if we knew nothing about looking after the house.