Habitaciones Estrella del Norte

The warmth of the house is what stayed with us. Some guests who live there long term made us feel welcome right away, and the owner was so kind and did everything she could to help us feel at home. We chose it as a base for visiting Santander without staying downtown, and it worked perfectly. It isn't a place with fancy facilities or luxury, but we'd love to come back.

For €170 for three nights in the second half of July, it was acceptable as a place to sleep. The house is in a Santander neighborhood, fairly near the center. My single room had a TV with internet, a microwave, and a shower and sink in the room, with the toilet separate. Wi-Fi was mediocre, and service felt poor: one guy showed me the room, then I didn't see anyone else. There was a slight sewage smell that might clear with some airing. I would've liked an air freshener and cotton sheets instead of synthetic ones. For that price, I couldn't expect more.

The housekeeper was lovely and attentive, and the radiators kept the temperature just right. Breakfast was coffee and toast. But the photos made the place look better than it was, and the housekeeping was poor enough that I could walk barefoot in the room. You hear everything in the house, too. It's far from the center, though close to the sea, with the beach about a half-hour walk away. Covid, better not go.

It feels like a second home to me now. Marivi is so kind and helpful, and the welcome is warm enough that you feel at ease and part of the family. Staying in this house has been a unique experience.