Juan De La Cosa

We stayed here on a Saga (over 50's) package holiday. Our room was spacious, well equipped and clean. A small problem was recified very quickly. There is a large restaurant. The food was tasty and well presented. The location is right on the excellent Playa de Berria beach and naturally a beach view is preferable, though the road on the other side is quiet. The pleasant harbour town of Santona is about 2km away - easily walkable, though there is a bus service too. A well-run hotel, with friendly staff and an excellent owner-manager who takes pains to make sure you enjoy your stay. We met several guests for whom this was a return visit because of they had so enjoyed previous stays. We would happily stay here again too.

Fantastic location on a glorious beach but isolated from other bars and restaurants. Unfortunately we were served 'special' food for Saga guests. This meant no complete fish as apparently we can't be expected to cope with fish heads or bones....Needless to say, in this glorious region of seafood we were not given lobster or crab, despite these being available in tanks in reception. We chose this holiday partly for the excellent food reviews! We had a free standing a/c unit. We asked for this to be removed when rain was coming in by the pipe outlet. It then became apparent that the whole window was leaking. When the weather turned cold and the heating came on, we realised the radiator in the bedroom was not working. We had been sitting out on the patio with another couple one day. A couple of days later, they told us they had seen a slab of concrete fall off the side on the hotel, right onto the spot where we had been sitting. This was cleared up but no warnings put out. So, I can't in all honesty recommend this hotel. I think Spanish people have a better food experience but the hotel desperately needs work done.

The hotel is on a quiet beach and beautifully situated. A ticket to Santona was free (but not much there)and we had a day trip to Santander which was good. The food was very good with tapas lunches and waiter service three courses at dinner. The hotel was a bit tired, the air con was non existent and when the weather turned (as it can in mid September) it was cold in the bedroom. Otherwise the bedroom was spacious and had the usual amenities. We didn't try the indoor pool in the basement