Abba Palacio de Soñanes Hotel

We were taking a quiet walk through the gardens on July 13th around 12:00 PM with our two small children, one in our arms and the other holding a hand. We stepped into the hall briefly to see the interior. A receptionist came over within seconds and told us to leave in a rude, dismissive way. We weren't disturbing anyone, and the way we were spoken to made us feel unwelcome. We'd been considering a stay at Palacio de Soñanes, which is quite affordable, but after that experience we wouldn't stay there. It's a beautiful building, but we found the lack of courtesy and hospitality completely unacceptable.

We only stayed one night and wished we'd booked longer, it was so peaceful. The staff were friendly, and most spoke English. Dinner from the set menu was lovely, with three courses, and breakfast was well catered for. Our clean, spacious ABBA room looked out over the beautiful walled garden. The Palace hotel has been renovated beautifully while keeping its authentic feel, and it's a fabulous escape outside Santander.

We ended up going to the lovely local bars for food and a beer after finding the restaurant closed and nobody at the bar when we went to reception at 20.30hrs. We asked for a drink and when breakfast was served, but got an answer only after the receptionist put their phone down. Earlier, I'd been told I had no booking until I showed my email confirmation, then was handed keys and told my room was upstairs. Nobody explained breakfast, where it was, or what to do about dinner. Why have staff who clearly don't want to do their job? We'll see how breakfast goes in the morning.

The building is spectacular, but that's about where the good impressions end. The restaurant was mediocre, the pool was very small and hardly possible to swim in, and there were only two deckchairs and no beach umbrellas. At this price, there are many better places to stay. During the local Porsche fanclub weekend, poorly educated people were allowed to park their cars right in front of the hotel entrance, blocking it. I've sent emails to management, and they confirmed this is a repeating activity at the hotel. Ordinary guests like me have to park across the street, away from the hotel. The pictures show how hard it is to get inside even without luggage. Money seems more important than guests' personal wellness. Great management skills. I instantly felt welcome...