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Summary of reviewsHotel Rural El Refugio appears to be a highly praised establishment, particularly for its exceptional location and commendable service.
Nestled amidst beautiful, tranquil surroundings in the heart of Gran Canaria, the hotel offers guests access to breathtaking landscapes and various mountain trails, including natural landmarks like Roque Nublo and Pico de las Nieves. Its vintage, old-style building exudes a romantic and authentic mountain refuge ambiance, ideal for nature enthusiasts and avid walkers.
In the dining category, many guests commend the quality and value of the food. Breakfast is typically well-received with fresh, delicious items served in a charming dining room. However, some guests note a lack of variety and minor issues such as weak coffee. Dinner at the hotel receives consistent acclaim with the on-site restaurant, Tajinaste, offering superb dishes that blend French cuisine with Canarian flavors. The half-board options also come highly recommended, though some guests mention limited dining alternatives in the surrounding area.
The rooms at Hotel Rural El Refugio garner mixed reactions. Many appreciate their cleanliness, coziness and artistic touches. The decent size and functionality of the rooms are highlighted, as well as the quality of the bedding. However, some guests find the rooms to be dark with limited natural light and outdated decor. Opinions on mattress comfort vary significantly with some finding them super comfortable and others too soft, too hard or worn out. The general ambiance remains welcoming, supported by friendly and helpful staff that enhance the overall experience.
The hotel's high standards of cleanliness are consistently noted with well-maintained rooms and common areas contributing to a comfortable stay. Minor issues such as outdated facilities and occasional maintenance lapses are mentioned but do not significantly detract from the overall positive perception of cleanliness.
The staff at Hotel Rural El Refugio receive widespread praise for their friendliness and competence. Their warm welcome, exceptional service and effective communication skills, particularly in English, make guests feel at home. Individual staff members are frequently highlighted for their helpful and accommodating nature, significantly contributing to the hotel's endearing quality.
In summary, Hotel Rural El Refugio offers a serene and picturesque retreat with excellent service, great dining experiences and a welcoming atmosphere. Despite some criticisms regarding room decor and bed comfort, the positive aspects of cleanliness, location and staff hospitality make it a commendable choice for travelers seeking adventure and tranquility in the scenic heart of Gran Canaria. Show more
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Categories
Dog Friendly Hotel
This hotel is pet-friendly and offers amenities such as a restaurant, bar, seasonal pool, and garden, making it suitable for guests traveling with dogs. It is located near Nublo Rock offering a tranquil retreat.
Historic Hotel
Hotel Taking Steps Towards Sustainability
Hotel for Honeymoon
Family Friendly Hotel
Romantic Hotel
Small Hotel
Room Types
Double RoomFeaturing handmade furnishings, this double room has classic decor with chic touches. It comes with a flat-screen TV with cable channels and a private bathroom.
Twin RoomFeaturing handmade furnishings, this double room has classic decor with chic touches. It comes with a flat-screen TV with cable channels and a private bathroom.
Superior Double RoomFeaturing handmade furnishings, this rustic suite comes with 2 single beds. It has refrigerator, coffee maker, heating, a TV and a private bathroom.
SuiteBoasting a private entrance, this suite includes 1 living room, 1 separate bedroom and 1 bathroom with a shower and a hairdryer. In the well-fitted kitchen, guests will find a stovetop, a refrigerator, kitchenware and a microwave. The suite offers a coffee machine, a wardrobe, parquet floors, a flat-screen TV with streaming services, as well as an inner courtyard view. The unit has 2 beds.
Guest Reviews
7.7
Good
Location
Hotel Rural El Refugio boasts an exceptional location, highly praised for its proximity to various mountain trails and hiking routes. Nestled in a scenic and tranquil setting, the hotel offers breathtaking landscapes and beautiful surroundings. Its central position in Gran Canaria makes it an ideal base for exploring the mountainous heart of the island, including natural landmarks like Roque Nublo and Pico de las Nieves.
Guests appreciate the serene, quiet environment, ideal for disconnecting and recharging amidst nature. The vintage, old-style building adds a romantic and authentic mountain refuge vibe, complemented by friendly and pleasant staff. The hotel's setting at Cruz de Tejeda offers stunning views and access to spectacular hikes, making it perfect for avid walkers and nature enthusiasts. The convenient and picturesque location, along with the excellent service and ambiance, ensure a memorable stay for those seeking both adventure and tranquility.
Breakfast
The breakfast at Hotel Rural El Refugio has generated a variety of responses with many guests praising its quality and value. Numerous reviews highlight the breakfast as excellent, very good and delicious, often mentioning a worthwhile price-quality ratio. Freshly made items and a varied breakfast menu are frequently appreciated with one fondly referred to as a king's breakfast. The dining experience takes place in a charming and beautiful dining room, adding to the appeal.
However, perspectives on breakfast are not universally positive. Some guests found it to be simple but sufficient, while others felt it was basic or lacking in variety. There are mentions of breakfast being quite scarce, meager for the price and even described as disastrous in a few instances. Additionally, elements like no fresh bread, weak coffee and a late start time were noted as areas for improvement.
Overall, while many guests enjoyed a wonderful and satisfying breakfast experience, there are mixed reviews that suggest some areas could benefit from enhancement to meet a wider range of expectations.
Dinner
Nestled in a picturesque setting, Hotel Rural El Refugio offers a culinary experience that consistently garners praise from its guests. The standout feature is the Tajinaste restaurant, which provides an array of delicious dishes combining simple French cuisine with traditional Canarian flavors. Guests found the food to be superb, highly recommending the nut cake and commending the generous, carefully crafted French family-style meals. The service at the restaurant matches the quality of the food, making for a pleasant dining experience.
Dinners at the hotel are exceptional, varied and offer excellent value for money. The diverse dinner menu ensures there is something for everyone, including vegetarians and the inclusion of breakfast delights many guests as well. Half-board options are noted for their quality with both breakfast and dinner receiving acclaim for their taste and presentation.
Some guests noted the limited dining options in the surrounding area, often needing to travel to nearby Tejeda or dine at the adjacent Parador. However, when choosing to stay in, the evening meals at the hotel consistently impress, making dinner at Tajinaste highly recommended. Despite a few logistical inconveniences, the overall dining experience at Hotel Rural El Refugio is one of high quality and memorable culinary satisfaction.
Rooms
Hotel Rural El Refugio appears to offer a mixed experience for its guests, especially regarding the rooms. Many travelers found the rooms to be clean, cozy and in good condition, often highlighting their decent size and functional interior. The bedding quality and large rooms have been positively noted with some guests appreciating the artistic touches and the practicality of the room’s furnishings.
However, there are recurring mentions of the rooms being quite dark with limited natural light and many lacking adequate views. Part of the charm is their simplicity, but this can sometimes translate to an outdated feel. Guests also mentioned varied comfort levels with the mattresses—while some found them super comfortable, others found them either too soft or too hard or generally worn out.
The cleanliness and warmth of the rooms were consistent positives with the heating often praised, although a few guests noted the heating wasn't on upon arrival. Noise was a downside mentioned by several guests with thin walls leading to disturbances from neighboring rooms.
Despite some criticism of outdated bathrooms and occasional maintenance issues like non-functional showers, the general ambiance of this family-run hotel feels welcoming and satisfactory for a quiet stay in a unique setting. The overall experience seems balanced with friendly, helpful staff adding to the positive aspects of the rooms.
Beds
'Hotel Rural El Refugio' receives mixed reviews when it comes to bed comfort. Many guests find the beds to be very comfortable with some highlighting the super comfortable mattresses and good bedding. However, there are a significant number of comments that point to issues with bed comfort. Some guests mention that the mattresses are too hard or too soft, while others note that the mattresses seem worn and in need of replacement. Additionally, several reviews mention that pillows are either too high or uncomfortably low and that the beds lack proper support by using just slats instead of box springs. Despite these criticisms, some guests still managed to sleep well despite the initial appearance of the mattresses. Overall, 'Hotel Rural El Refugio' seems to provide a mixed experience in terms of bed comfort with room for improvement in mattress and pillow quality.
Cleanliness
Hotel Rural El Refugio stands out for its high standards of cleanliness, consistently noted for its very clean rooms and well-maintained common areas. The attentive staff contributes to the spotless condition of the rooms and the hotel environment, ensuring a comfortable and clean stay for guests. The modern and clean bathrooms, although occasionally needing a fan for ventilation, are generally well-regarded. Despite some minor signs of wear and a few reports of maintenance needs, such as outdated facilities and occasional lapses like damp towels or leftover hair, the general consensus highlights the hotel's commitment to cleanliness and neatness. The cozy and tidy rooms, coupled with the friendly hospitality, make it a commendable choice for travelers seeking a clean and quiet retreat in lovely surroundings.
Staff
Hotel Rural El Refugio stands out for its exceptionally friendly and competent staff, creating a welcoming and warm atmosphere for guests. Inès warmly welcomes diners with her simple, yet delightful French cuisine and both dinner and breakfast are enhanced by the kindness and pleasant demeanor of the hosting staff. The reception is particularly commendable with staff members like Iván delivering outstanding service, even allowing early check-ins. Their ability to communicate effectively, particularly in English, adds to the positive guest experience.
Guests frequently highlight the impeccable service with special mentions for individual staff members like Iván and Mari, who are consistently described as friendly, helpful and accommodating. The team's attentiveness and great kindness contribute significantly to the endearing quality of the hotel. The staff is noted for their smiles and their ability to provide good advice, making the stay comfortable and enjoyable.
Overall, the staff's friendliness and helpfulness are a recurring theme in guest reviews, indicating that the service at Hotel Rural El Refugio is both personal and professional. The beautiful and tranquil location of the hotel, although somewhat isolated, is ideal for activities like hiking, further complemented by the excellent staff attention and service quality.
No, Hotel Rural El Refugio doesn't have any pool.
No, a spa isn't available at Hotel Rural El Refugio.
Yes, Hotel Rural El Refugio welcomes dogs.
No, parking facilities aren't available at Hotel Rural El Refugio.