Parador Hotel Santillana Gil Blas

Seafood stew. Good kids menu. Seafood salad outstanding. Quality food. Outside patio extra 15%. Stayed next door.

Santillana del Mar is delightful and architecturally fascinating stone village that is well worth at least a 1 night stay. It was a great choice for Gayle and me as we enjoyed strolling around (day or night) and taking in the charming «time warp» qualities of this place. We also had a great time taking our rental car out and exploring coastal towns (like Comilla and San Vicente de la Barquera), visiting the Altamira Caves, or hiking around Los Picos de Europa. The joke is that Santillana del Mar is a Town of 3 Lies, as it’s neither Holy or Flat, not is it on the Sea. This Village also has a very nice Parador, which is also a National Monument.
The Parador Hotel Santillana Gil Blas, is a modernized Palacio located on a beautifully bare Plaza Mayor (except for the roaming tourists). It is named after a fictional character from Santillana by the French novelist Lesage in the 18^th Century. Our Bedroom and the common areas feature heavy wood beams and marvelous antique furniture. The Dining Room, Bar Area, and outdoor Patio areas were also very nice, and the whole complex exudes a storybook vibe. A really good breakfast is also included.
There were a few things that held Gayle and I back from full 5 Star praise:
— It was October and the Parador was a little quiet and chilly. Hence, it really wasn’t Patio season. Then there was the Lounge off the main hall that threw off a moldy smell, probably from lack of ventilation and disuse.
— Gayle and I enjoyed our room and the bed was very comfortable. However, our door didn’t quite align, the manual key lock system (both sides) was confusing, and the outer wall was pulling slightly away from its molding. In other words, keeping historical buildings up can be a challenge.
— Service was prompt and efficient, albeit a bit too stuffy proper.
If you have the chance, come here. And if you can’t stay overnight, at least stop by for Dinner. Our room reservation also gave us a place to park across the Square at the nearby Parador Santillana.