Parador de La Palma

We just had 4 days in theParador . It is in a good location although off the beaten track and not easy to find in the dark ! The hotel looks lovely from the outside but the rooms are shabby, broken switches , sockets that did not work , air con that was broken and generally very tired . We had to change rooms , the first had curtains that were hanging off the rail , broken air con switch which didn’t work properly . Room was tiny and the bathroom very small . After a fuss they changed us to a larger room which although was much better was just as shabby . The switches and lamp did not work , the terrace which was wooden slats needed replacing as they were all warped and one could trip up . The bathroom was tiny , tiles cracked and generally in need of an update . Because if Covid it was a nightmare . We had to book everything in advance . The staff were surly and officious . We are not kids we know we have to wear masks and sanitize our hands . It felt like we were in school . Breakfast was a shambles . Not enough staff , disorganised , impossible to get anything hot and when you did it was wrong . I asked for scrambled eggs with a tomato . I was told it was impossible ! My husband ordered scrambled eggs , got an omelette after 20 mins , one of the days I didn’t get mine at all and just left . Selection of food etc poor , no milk , poor fruit selection , The evening dinner was poor , very poor food selections , my husband was sick after the meal ! Would not recommend !

I'm a regular visitor to this Parador and although it's not perfect, I keep coming back to enjoy the relaxing, quiet air of a bygone elegance. Above all, there are two members of staff that are always there to welcome me at breakfast or dinner with a friendly greeting and make me feel at home in what would otherwise be a sightly detached and formal experience. I am always glad to see them, one with long, curly hair who is often at the bar or in the restaurant, whose name I have not yet come to know, and a newcomer, Ariana, who is everything that Parador means to me. I hope she stays! The prices are often reduced with frequent 3 nights for 2 offers and this Parador is the easiest to reach from the airport of all of the Canary Islands Paradors. My chosen bolthole for working online or disconnection from the new normal.