El Palacete Soñado

The next morning the mountains were covered in snow, absolutely spectacular. Breakfast was very complete and came to the door in a really original wicker basket. We had already stayed in the same room once before, and spending New Year’s Eve there again was so relaxing. We’d booked a room, but at the last minute they offered us a superior one, and it was amazing. There was a jacuzzi and sauna in the room, plus a welcome treat with mini bottles, a chocolate, and a little bag of sweets. Total relaxation and beautiful scenery.

It’s a great place for couples who want to enjoy the views, with rooms that have a jacuzzi and sauna. We’d booked a jacuzzi room with breakfast, then they upgraded us to a larger room with a sauna through WhatsApp. When we arrived nobody was there, but the key was inside and everything seemed fine. Then we tried filling the jacuzzi and found the water cold and the bubbles weren’t working. They said they would have changed our room if we’d called, so check everything before settling in. Breakfast was good, and we could each choose whatever we wanted. I’d still go back, but I’d check the room first 😂

When we got to the hotel, our first assigned room had a dead bird in the jacuzzi. We told reception and were moved to another room, thinking it was a one-off. But the second jacuzzi was in a similarly awful hygienic state. The filters were full of built-up dirt, and turning on the jets made the water go cloudy straight away, with visible debris coming out. The water was cold too, so it couldn’t be used. We couldn’t enjoy the service we’d booked, and the dirt and debris in the filters seemed like a clear health risk, with the possibility of bacteria or other harmful agents. In our view, the jacuzzi didn’t meet the basic hygiene and sanitation standards a hotel should meet. It was one of the main reasons we booked, especially for such a special date as New Year’s Eve, so the experience was particularly disappointing.

The service from everyone was excellent, and breakfast was incredible. It’s a magical place, close enough to visit Oviedo and Gijón. We’d booked a different room, but on a whim the receptionist changed it to the Margarita room, which was a huge favor. The issue was its very high humidity. I have asthma, so those couple of nights were difficult, though that was really my own fault for choosing it. Just so people know, the humidity is very, very high, and the dehumidifier is weak, which makes the room uncomfortable.