Relaxed hotel featuring low-key rooms, as well as a bar, a restaurant & complimentary Wi-Fi.
Address: Av. el Castillo, 115, Ponferrada
Phone: 987 45 62 27
Website: https://www.hotel-elcastillo.com/
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Rock hard beds with a rock hard service from reception and cafeteria staff who take an instant dislike to you if you are young and/or foreign. Slowest check-in experience I’ve ever had, waiting at least 30 minutes for two motorcyclists to get checked in after I’d just walked 32 km. The unsmiling receptionist then treated me like an idiot when I couldn’t get into my room because their key cards work like no others I’ve ever used. There was certainly no welcome or useful information offered and the next day at breakfast was treated like an inconvenience by the cafeteria, when all I wanted was a coffee and toast…yet they smile at the Spanish people staying there. I am learning Spanish and have felt very welcome in a lot of places in Spain for trying to understand and speak it, but am by no means fluent. There are no English-speaking staff here, however, and it felt like I was trespassing. I would’ve assumed a hotel on the Camino would be more welcoming and catering to foreign customers as I am sure we are a big part of their clientele and the reason for their business! The younger girl who served me dinner was nice and she gets the star for service.
A good hotel at great prices. The staff are absolutely excellent. They're always friendly and helpful. The location is good by the Castle. The sprawling town centre is a bit of a walk.
Hotel El Castillo enjoys a very nice location in Ponferrada, very close to the famous Templars Castle. The room was quite dated but fairly spacious and with a comfortable bed. The bathroom was again quite big and fairly well equipped. The service at check in was kind even though a bit slow. Unfortunately, what lowers materially the rating of the hotel is the breakfast: it is what is offered in a low-level hostal, not in an establishment that sells itself as a 3-star hotel. Recommended for the room and location but not for any kind of food.
I booked this room because it said there is air conditioning. They shut it off on October 1. My room has a sweltering and she said the temperature comes from the wall. If you are looking for air conditioning after October 1, don’t stay here. Edit: I just called the front desk to let them know how hot it is. She said her boss allowed them to turn the air conditioning on. So I’m trying to cool the room now.
Simple hotel, but quite OK. We discovered some very tiny ants in a corner of the room. The hotel has a nice hotel bar. Breakfast is simple but OK. It was easy and free to park on the street. Very good location, close to the old town.
