Alda San Bieito

The staff made us feel very welcome, and they treated my son fantastically when we stayed for a night recently. Our room was spotless, a good size for a city centre hotel, and the beds were really comfortable. The location in Santiago is second to none, and it was great value. I’ll definitely come back next time I’m in Santiago.

It was a horrible stay. You could hear everything from the lobby in the room, and the walls were so thin we heard the neighbors too. My TV didn’t work either. I booked directly with the hotel, but still got a low-floor room with no view. The WiFi didn’t work in my second-floor room. They said they’d look into it, but never got back to me. They blamed the slow connection on too many people using it and suggested I sit in the lobby if I needed WiFi. There are much better real hotels in the area for the same price. I’ve stayed in nicer Albergues on my Camino.

Having someone available at the front whenever I had a question or needed something was a real plus. The staff were all friendly, and the airport shuttle bus stop was only three minutes away. I was there for three nights on the last part of my trip, and got room 403, one of just two rooms on the top floor. Its huge window gave a 360° view of the city, and in the mornings you could smell the pastries being made. It was such a treat, and got me outside early. The room had loads of space, a comfortable bed bigger than the ones I’d slept in in Barcelona and Madrid, a safe, a small fridge near the entrance, and plenty of closet space. The location was perfect for food, with lots of choices just steps away. Each dinner reservation was only 4-5 minutes away on foot, and the city is small enough to walk everywhere.

The people here really make the stay. When we had a small issue with our room, they sorted it out quickly. After we left, we had trouble catching the airport bus, so they called a taxi and had it waiting almost by the time we’d walked back to the hotel. They were kind, welcoming, and accommodating. Many thanks, I’ll be back! This was my second stay, and both visits were great. The rooms are fairly simple but beautiful and comfortable. Even with the Cathedral and several bars and restaurants close by, the rooms were almost silent with the windows and sealed interior blackout shutters closed. The air conditioning worked great when we needed it. Breakfast costs extra, is fairly priced, and has enough variety to be worthwhile.