Hospedería Santa Cruz

Location, Location, Location!! The location was fabulous. The monastery with giant cross, surrounded by a lovely wooded forest! Picture perfect! The grounds were wonderful for walking around, taking photos, and just enjoying the peaceful, quiet, setting. The next morning, we went over to the underground church. Lovely view. It was Sunday morning and we could hear the boys choir singing praises to The Lord (though we don’t speak Spanish or know Latin, so didn’t understand a word, their voices were SO beautiful). Even though we’re not Catholic (we’re church-going Christians), we enjoyed soaking in the giant cross, the church, the worship, and beauty. I know the place has a controversial past, but I prefer to focus on the here and now (no one can’t change the past). Seeing all those lovely people going into that lovely underground cathedral for Sunday worship service (mass) to worship our Lord and all the people that take time to remember the Lord’s sacrifice when they gaze upon that MASSIVE cross, the monks and choir boys that stay there and devote themselves … was uplifting. And… the price of the room was fairly cheap.

Even though it was May, we were there during a cold snap. The knob was broken on the radiator so we couldn’t turn it on. We were a bit cold but not unbearable. Still it needs to be fixed before next Fall. My husband’s twin bed was not terrible, but mine was all messed up. It made popping noises every time I rolled over and keep trying to roll away, when I got in or out of bed. I can’t explain, you’d just have to “been there”. I’m not a picky person… don’t really care that the bathroom was SO tiny or the room SO plain… but I don’t like my bed rolling out from under me! Also, again not to be super picky …but the room wasn’t very clean. I understand housekeeping missing a spot or two, I used to be a cleaner at a B&B. Impossible to get everything nook and cranny spotless…but I just kept seeing places all over the room and bathroom. Miss a few hairs up against a baseboard behind the trash can…whatever, but there were past guests’ hairs all over the bathroom floor, and the bedroom too. During this 8 week trip around Spain and Portugal… we’ve stayed at like 30 different hotels… and this was worst as far as comfort and cleanliness.

An amazing place to stay. The food was very reasonably priced and good. The room was cozy with a beautiful view of the cross monument.

It’s a huge place, be prepared to carry your luggage a long way. You can’t actually park very close to the entrance, and once inside, it was a long walk. An old fashioned luggage porter would be a good addition. Make sure you settle your bill in the evening, as there is no one on reception until 9am.

Wow, what a place to stay! So much history. Watch YouTube videos of the Valley of the fallen because the hotel is based in the monastery. We went into the Basilica and we were blown away! The hotel had the wow factor! Good parking. Big clean comfortable bed. Fantastic value for money.

Check out took forever! Everyone checks out and pays at the same time. Why do they not make guests pay on arrival then they can just pop their key in a box at reception? Toilet lock was broken and it was not private.

Amazing location. Very friendly staff in restaurant - delicious inexpensive dinner (fixed menu) served rapidly. Comfortable clean bed. Overall an inexpensive place to stay. NB if you arrive in the evening they won’t let you at the gate at the bottom of the hill without documentation showing you have reserved a room.

Room a bit dilapidated (not a big problem for me but some might not like it). Receptionist very slow. Did not offer a secure place to leave my bike. (Genuinely looked like no one had ever asked for this before!) Surely there must be somewhere in a building of this size?? Paid for breakfast, then discovered they only start serving it at 9am (too late for me). Maybe my fault for not checking this first.