We stayed at the Hotel Golf Ravacias for two nights on a Brittany Ferries deal combining the trip with two nights in Cosgaya. We wanted to stay in Comillas as a base for exploring the coast and beaches and settled for the hotel as it was the only one available in that area.

The location and look of the building are a bit off putting as the hotel is on the edge of a characterless urban development, especially when there are so many beutiful stone buildings around. But once inside the hotel we found it had good amenieties and the rooms are huge. It is actually a smaller than we expected and did not appear to be full of golfers which is what we had expected. We were originally allocated a downstairs room with terrace but this turned out to be next to the entrance overlooking (and overlooked by) the car park with anyone able to step over a low hedge and into the room if you left the door open. So we upgraded (10 euros a night) to a sea view and had a terrace overlooking the golf course and sea.

The room has air conditioning but you can open a door to the terrace. All the rooms are twin bedded and we found ours a bit hard. Bedlinen and towels were good quality and we had a safe but not tea/coffee making facilities. The bathroom was big and well equiped with a good shower. The terrace had a table and chairs. The area was quiet (dogs and farm noise mainly) although we had one night disturbed with a fire alarm going off twice (nothing more serious than an exploding fridge apparently).

Guests can use a lovely indoor swimming pool and gym - we used the pool and each time had it to ourselves. The hotel's big weakness was breakast which was just about OK. Few staff spoke English and during the fire alarm episode we were dependent on a German guest for translation.

We didn't try the restaurant or bar but it's a short walk into town for dinner and would recommend Fillipinas at the main cross roads. The famous Gaudi restaurant is closed down which was disappointing. It took a while to negotiate Comillas' less than obvious one way system in the car but the hotel is signposted at most of the main junctions. One advantage of the hotel is the parking - which can be a problem in all the town and village centre hotels in this area - and the size and quality of the rooms. There is also free WiFi for guests. It is well located for exploring the Cantabrian coast and very close to the beach in Comillas.