We stayed @ the Parador Gil Blas for three nights @ the end of October. Everything was perfect, the staff polite, helpful and very friendly. Our room overlooked the terrace and was clean, comfortable and spacious, the bathroom large and quite luxurious. Breakfast was generous with plenty of variety.The Parador has an excellent location and Santillana is just the right size for a gentle stroll of an evening. We ate @ the restaurant next door which was very good value for money. This is our second stay @ a Parador and will not be our last.

This Parador was our first overnight stop having arrived in Santander earlier in the day. We selected it because of favourable reviews and also because it’s relative proximity to Santander. We weren’t disappointed as it’s a beautiful building with lovely communal areas. Our bedroom was huge, beautifully furnished with a large bathroom.

Finding the hotel isn’t that straightforward – you need to drive into the old part of the town ignoring signs that appear to prohibit cars. We enjoyed walking around the attractive old town and visiting the Colegiata (church).

We ate in the hotel restaurant but were not very impressed. Even though we elected to have fish for our main course, we thought the meal too heavy and lacking in fresh vegetables etc. Excluding wine the meal cost €70.

Breakfast was far better with an excellent selection of fresh fruit, cold meats, cheeses, juices and sweet pastries. The breakfast coffee however wasn’t particularly nice.

Everything was excellent, reception, the room, the environment, really recommendable

This first clas charming parador is located in a delightful, although somewhat touristy, village in nortern Spain. If travelling in this part of the country, a stay here is a must. The food and service was wonderful.