Valbusenda Hotel Bodega and Spa

The views from our room and bathtub were spectacular. This lovely hotel is set among the vines, with wine tasting on site and an elegant, well-equipped spa. We had a lovely lunch and the food was a high standard. At breakfast, our eggs [sentence incomplete in source]. The staff were friendly and made us feel very welcome.

The reception staff were kind and helpful, and the man there early in the morning when we checked out was especially kind. Since we were leaving so early, they also made us a takeaway breakfast even though they don’t normally do that. There’s room for a lot of improvement, though. I’m sorry to say this, but this doesn’t feel like a five-star hotel. Our room was nice and the hotel was okay, but that was about it. The shower was unbearably hot and hard to adjust, and the water pressure kept changing every few seconds. The bigger problem was feeling that you need to speak Spanish to have a comfortable stay. The woman at reception was very friendly and seemed to be the only one who spoke English. The rest of the staff didn’t speak it and didn’t seem keen to try. The restaurant staff weren’t up for a little conversation in English, which made us uncomfortable, as if we were being difficult. I’m sure they’re nice people, but we didn’t feel very welcome. We tried using a translation app, but they couldn’t be bothered. The food looks amazing in the hotel photos, but it’s pretty basic. Breakfast had very limited choice, with no cereal or English breakfast, for example, though they do offer an egg menu. We chose poached eggs on a blini with bacon and hollandaise, but got a crepe and an omelette with a hard-boiled egg, cooked without its shell in a plastic bag, plus a dot of hard yellow stuff. It was all cold, a big disappointment. Dinner at the restaurant was okay, nothing special. On our last night we both ordered the same hamburger in the hotelbar, which doesn’t have a bar. One came with cheese and bacon and the other didn’t. We didn’t bother trying to explain it to the staff. The outdoor pool has enough beds, and you can get a towel at the spa reception. They serve drinks at the pool, but unfortunately no snacks.

I had a fabulous experience here, with incredible views and a luxurious, modern interior. The wine selection was excellent too. I only wish it were closer to an airport for the drive, though being away from all the busy activity is also part of what makes the place so wonderful.

Warm hospitality, a great view, and a winning price!