Casa Rural El Palmar

We had to leave and find somewhere else for the final two nights because we couldn’t sleep. The beds were the main problem: the mattresses in both rooms were old, with wires pressing into our backs, and on the double bed we could feel the wooden frame too. The owner wouldn’t refund those two nights. There are plenty of other issues too, including cold air coming through the ceiling, old outlets that don’t work, a toilet that won’t flush properly, an old shower, and a living room floor that feels like it could give way any day. There’s no nearby parking, so you have to walk about 250 meters along a mountain path. But sleep was what mattered most, and we didn’t get a wink that night.

We stayed only one night out of the four we booked, after our flight from La Palma to La Gomera was canceled because of the weather and we arrived on the second day. The mattresses were so uncomfortable that even at 48 kg, my pelvis touched the metal frame when I lay down. We’re easygoing travelers and don’t expect much, but we couldn’t sleep at all. We tried putting the single mattresses on top of the double bed, but that didn’t help; my partner and I were practically sitting on two mattresses. What should have been an idyllic trip for two across several beautiful islands would have become a bad experience if we hadn’t found somewhere else to rest. I’ve stayed in unusual places for over 20 years and never felt so cheated and let down by the owners. I know it’s a period house, but that doesn’t excuse the neglected quality or the lack of even basic comfort. The photos don’t show how poor the mattresses are. They seem almost disposable, just not fit to sleep on. Mrs. Eli was helpful and understanding when we contacted her, and said she’d pass our concerns to the owner. We packed up the few things we’d used and left the house as we found it. We then contacted the owner, who already knew about the problem through her employee Eli but hadn’t reached out to us. We explained again and asked for a refund for the last two nights. She said the platform hadn’t paid her yet, which wasn’t true. Booking.com confirmed she had been paid and was refusing to refund us. It’s shameful and unprofessional, and the listing also gives misleading details. There’s no private parking, and the public parking is very far away at Plaza del Poble, followed by four long flights of stairs and what feels like an endless walk. Luckily, some children told us where it was. The toilet didn’t work, so we had to use pots, and the tiny shower barely gave any water. Those problems would have been minor if we could have slept on those awful mattresses. We’d wanted to sort it out directly with the owner instead of contacting the platform, but she left us without a refund. I’ve gone on at length because other travelers put a lot of hope into planning trips around the world, and sometimes run into unprofessional people like this owner.

It’s a very quiet place, with everything you need and Wi-Fi if you want it. The house belongs to a family and still has some of its original furniture. There aren’t wide open views, though, and reaching it means walking for a few minutes.

The location is the best part, and it’s a really peaceful spot. The kitchen is great. Getting the amenities there takes some effort, with stairs and then another uphill stretch, so I wouldn’t bring much luggage or a big suitcase.