Hotel Las Doñas

Although accommodations in Villafranca del Bierzo tend to be occupied by peregrinos, I was there just visiting the village, sans trekking pole, meaning that I was not an exhausted hiker that would welcome a cot and threadbare blanket as god-sent gifts, and even then all I can say is Wow! This little hotel was top notch. Spacious rooms (we got three, and nosy me I checked them all) and excellent bathrooms, quite large for Spanish standards, and they looked new. Breakfast was very nice and the reception service was courteous and warm, not the uniformed polite-but-detached hotel desk that is the norm nowadays. It seemed to be run as a family business, even when I doubt all employees were family I got that cohesive feeling, that there was communication between the various 'hotel divisions' so to speak (I used the stairs instead of the elevator and caught some convos between employees). At first I thought about staying in the Parador, always a good choice when travelling Spain, but 'settle' for Las Donas because the Parador didn't accept dogs, and I had my little one with me. Well, the 'settle' ended being from good to best, and I can't recommend Las Donas enough. I'll be going back to this area, sans doggy, and I'll stay again in this jewel.

A very well-located hotel. We booked 2 rooms for our family. Both were clean and spacious. Had to pay upfront for the rooms and breakfast the following morning which seemed odd, but it seems there is no staff at the hotel after 10 pm and before 8 am. Breakfast was wonderful.