Wow. Just wow. I stayed here as part of an organized hiking tour so I can't attest to how their pre-trip communications or booking process is but this was a great experience.
This hotel-palace is so rich in history. At one point, the Manager (?), Diego, happened upon me and my wife wandering around "oohing and aahing" at things and he proceeded to adopt us for the next half hour and take us on the most informative, charming mini-tour of this meandering hotel. (We must have spent ten minutes just discussing an 1896 German piano that was in one of the larger rooms.)
The list could go on, many of the things on the list not all that impressive on their own...
When landed at our room there was a plate of pastries next to a decanter of port.
The water pressure and bathtub were a thing to behold (though maybe not for really large people.)
The view of the grounds from this corner room were amazing.
Good lighting which was greatly missed in other hotels in this trip.
I know many people poo-poo extravagant digs, saying that the point of traveling is not to stay in your hotel room but, rather, to experience the culture and country and see the sights... well, if austerity and simplicity is your thing, don't stay here. (But this is not a fully "modern" hotel with jacuzzi tub and electric drapes and recessed LED lighting everywhere... definitely not their thing.)
For two days, the place was heavy with police/security as they were apparently preparing to host some potentiaries/VIPs. Between the languages being spoken, the police cars, the secret service ear wigs and exotic uniforms, I have to say it felt like you were walking out of a scene from a Mission Impossible movie. We went down to breakfast early one day and were nicely asked to wait a few minutes while dogs sniffed around and a couple of bg-wigs finished their meal. (OK, it would have been slightly irritating were it not for the fact that we were down there so early.) read more