Unbelievable Santander Secret: La Casa del Pendo Awaits!
Unbelievable Santander Secret: La Casa del Pendo Awaits! – A Review That’s Probably Too Honest
Okay, buckle up, buttercups, because I'm about to spill the (very overpriced) Sangria on La Casa del Pendo. They call it a "Secret" – and honestly, the secret might be how they manage to stay in business. Let's just wade through this chaotic, glorious mess together, shall we?
SEO & Metadata (Because Apparently, That Matters):
- Keywords: La Casa del Pendo, Santander, Spain, Hotel Review, Accessible Hotel, Spa, Swimming Pool, Restaurant, WiFi, Family Friendly, Luxury Hotel, Santander Secret, Cantabria, Spain Hotel, Review, Accessibility, Spa Hotel
- Meta Description: A brutally honest, rollercoaster review of La Casa del Pendo in Santander, Spain. Dive deep into the good, the bad, and the hilariously awkward alongside accessibility, amenities, and overall vibes. Beware the Sangria!
Accessibility: (Let's Start with the Important Stuff)
Look, I'll be brutally honest (because that's my thing now). I'm not using a wheelchair, but I've got mobility issues, so accessibility is ALWAYS on my mind. La Casa del Pendo? Mixed bag, like a fruit salad made by a very enthusiastic toddler.
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yeah, SOME areas feel like they tried. Elevator? YES! Which is a godsend and saved my aching knees. But maneuvering around the grounds? Think cobblestone paths and a healthy dose of "Oops, you're on your own, pal." Definitely not fully accessible. This is a huge mark down, and the primary reason for my mixed emotional review as well.
- Facilities for Disabled Guests: They technically have them, but the implementation feels a bit… slapdash. I'm talking ramps that are nearly vertical, doors that stick, and a general sense of "we put it in because we had to."
- CCTV in common areas: Visible but not prominently positioned. Security seems a little lax, I'm more concerned about the safety of my shoes.
On-site Accessible Restaurants/Lounges:
Hard to say, I couldn't find solid enough information to confirm this.
Internet: (My Digital Lifeblood)
- Internet Access: Okay, here's where things get interesting.
- Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! Yes, and in the public areas… but don't expect a lightning-fast connection. It reminds me of my grandma's dial-up circa 2001.
- Internet [LAN]: There's a LAN option too, but who the hell uses that anymore? Unless you're in a time machine.
- Wi-Fi for special events: Again, slow. Prepare for a digital detox if you're planning a big conference.
Things to Do & Ways to Relax (I'm talking about the Spa, People!)
This is where they think they've got it nailed, though, and in theory, they do.
- Spa/sauna: This is definitely a strong point!
- Body scrub/Body wrap: These are expensive, but I heard great things.
- Fitness Center: I didn't actually use it. Mainly because the thought of more exercise at that point in my life was a hard no.
- Massage: Ah yes. The massage. This is where I'm going to go deep and completely off-topic. I booked myself a "Relaxation Massage", which, in my exhausted state, sounded like a slice of heaven. The masseuse, bless her heart, seemed a little… new. Let's just say she was enthusiastic and perhaps a little too liberal with the pressure. I swear, I walked out feeling like I'd been tenderized, not relaxed. I could barely move. The after-massage tea? Lovely. The memory? Priceless. The pain? Lingering. This single experience summed up so much of the place. Over-eager, well-intentioned, but with a touch of "let's just wing it and hope for the best."
- Pool with view, Swimming pool [outdoor]: The pool is gorgeous, actually. Beautiful views. But it's not heated, so if you're visiting outside of high summer, prepare to shiver.
- Steamroom: Didn't try it, but you know, another "treat."
Cleanliness and Safety (COVID Edition – Ugh, Here We Go)
- Anti-viral cleaning products, Daily disinfection in common areas, Individually-wrapped food options, Physical distancing of at least 1 meter, Professional-grade sanitizing services, Room sanitization opt-out available, Rooms sanitized between stays, Safe dining setup, Sanitized kitchen and tableware items, Shared stationery removed, Staff trained in safety protocol, Sterilizing equipment, Hygiene certification: They try. Everything seemed clean, but I still carried around my own hand sanitizer. The whole thing just felt a tad… clinical. I get it, safety first, but the constant reminders were a bit much.
- Staff trained in safety protocol: They gave the impression of it.
Dining, Drinking & Snacking
- Restaurants, Poolside bar, Snack bar: This is where my bank account wept.
- A la carte in restaurant, Asian cuisine in restaurant, Buffet in restaurant, International cuisine in restaurant, Vegetarian restaurant, Western cuisine in restaurant: The food options were diverse, but the prices… Yikes.
- Coffee/tea in restaurant, Coffee shop, Desserts in restaurant, Happy hour: The coffee was decent, the desserts were tempting, the happy hour? Less so (see: prices).
- Breakfast [buffet]: Ok, the breakfast buffet was pretty good. You got the usual suspects.
- Room service [24-hour]: I didn't try it, I was too scared to look at the prices.
Services and Conveniences
- Concierge, Daily housekeeping, Doorman, Elevator, Invoice provided, Ironing service, Laundry service, Luggage storage, Safety deposit boxes, Valet parking. The service was a bit… inconsistent.
- Food delivery: I'm sure they've ordered food for delivery from someone else, but this is not a service offered.
- Air conditioning in public area: Yes, thank goodness.
- Business facilities: The business center looked a bit deserted; probably because of the slow Wi-Fi.
- Cash withdrawal: Probably.
- Facilities for disabled guests: See above.
- Gift/souvenir shop: Overpriced tourist tat. Avoid.
- Indoor venue for special events, Outdoor venue for special events: Again, the setting is gorgeous.
- Meetings, Meeting/banquet facilities, Seminars: You could have these, if you can get your guests to connect to the Wi-Fi.
- Smoking area: Thankfully.
- Terrace: Lovely.
- Xerox/fax in business center: Again, who even faxes anymore?
For the Kids (Probably Better Off Elsewhere):
- Babysitting service, Family/child friendly, Kids facilities, Kids meal: I didn't see a ton of kids. Seems like a place more for couples or, you know, people with a lot of money to burn.
Access & Security (Basic Stuff)
- Check-in/out [express], Check-in/out [private].
- CCTV in common areas, CCTV outside property, Fire extinguisher, Front desk [24-hour], Smoke alarms, Soundproof rooms, Security [24-hour]. They take security seriously.
Getting Around (Easy Enough)
- Airport transfer: Yes.
- Bicycle parking, Car park [free of charge], Car park [on-site], Car power charging station, Taxi service, Valet parking: Pretty straightforward.
Available in all rooms: The basics:
- Air conditioning: YES (thank god)
- Coffee/tea maker, Complimentary tea: Yes.
- Daily housekeeping: Yep.
- Desk:
- Ironing facilities: Yep.
- Mini bar: Yep.
- Non-smoking, Private bathroom, Shower: The usual.
- Wi-Fi [free]: See above.
The Verdict: Mixed, Like the Review Itself
Would I recommend La Casa del Pendo? Honestly… maybe. The location is spectacular, the spa is decent if you're willing to risk a slightly awkward massage, and some of the staff are lovely. But the accessibility issues, the inconsistent service, and the soul-crushing prices? They give me pause.
La Casa del Pendo aims for luxury, but it feels a little like they're still figuring it out. If you're prepared for some imperfections and have a fat wallet, you might enjoy it. Just don't expect perfection… or super-fast Wi-Fi. And for heaven's sake, tip the masseuse extra. You have been warned.
Unbelievable Opus View Sinaia: Romania's Hidden Gem REVEALED!
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because we're about to dive headfirst into a glorious mess of a trip to La Casa del Pendo in Santander, Spain. Forget your perfectly curated Instagram feeds, this is real life travel, warts and all. Prepare for a rollercoaster of emotions, questionable decisions, and the relentless pursuit of good tapas. Here we go…
La Casa del Pendo: A Chaotic Masterpiece (of a Schedule)
Day 1: Arrival and the Sweet Taste of Jet Lag (and Jamón)
- Morning (or What Passes for Morning After a Flight): Landed in Santander. The air smells of the sea and… freedom! Or maybe it's just the air freshener in the taxi. Took a taxi the Casa del Pendo, thankfully the driver was chatty, and my Spanish is terrible but at least it felt like I was attempting something. I feel a little disoriented, like my internal clock thinks it's 3 AM. The Casa itself? Stunning. Seriously. The photos online don't do it justice. Rustic, charming, and smelling faintly of history (and maybe a little bit of damp. It is near the sea, after all).
- Afternoon: The Tapas Trial by Fire: Immediately, immediately needed food. Google Maps did not disappoint, or perhaps it did, because the first "recommended" tapas bar was PACKED. Like sardines in a tin. I awkwardly navigated through a sea of locals, my Spanish consisting of "Hola" and a frantic pointing at food. Managed to grab a table thanks to some lucky eye contact. Ordered… everything. Everything. Best jamón I've ever tasted, seriously. And the tortilla? Oh. My. God. Worth the jet lag alone.
- Evening: Sunset and a Self-Inflicted Wine Hangover: Found a bar overlooking the bay. Sunset was breathtaking. Drank too much local wine. Mistake number one. Tried to be sophisticated, ended up giggling uncontrollably at the waiter's attempts to understand my broken Spanish. Ended the night stumbling back to Casa del Pendo, feeling like I'd run a marathon and lost.
- Impression: Amazing food, amazing view, slightly less amazing decision-making abilities after the wine. Also, the pillows at La Casa del Pendo are heavenly.
Day 2: Beach Bliss and the Great Seafood Glut
- Morning: Woke up with a headache the size of Santander Bay. Needed coffee. Needed ALL the coffee. Stumbled bleary-eyed to the local cafe, miraculously remembered how to order a café con leche. The sun hit me and I actually felt human again.
- Afternoon: Beach Day! (Attempt 1): Planned a beach day. Packed my bag, put on my swimsuit, marched confidently towards the bus stop. Bus was full. Waited for the next one. It was also full. Walked. It was a bit of a hike to El Sardinero beach, but boy was it worth it. Glorious golden sand, crashing waves… Spent a glorious hour just staring at the ocean. Then, promptly got sunburned despite applying sunscreen. Lesson learned: reapply more often.
- Afternoon: Seafood Overload: Found a family-run seafood restaurant near the beach. The staff were incredibly friendly, even with my broken spanish. Ordered the mixed seafood platter. It was… a mountain. An absolute leviathan of fish, mussels, prawns, you name it. Successfully ate maybe half of it before admitting defeat. Felt both supremely satisfied and slightly like I was going to explode.
- Impression: Beaches are beautiful, but I need to be better at sun protection! Also, I'm pretty sure I gained five pounds just looking at that seafood platter.
Day 3: Culture Cramming and the Search for the Perfect Churro
- Morning: Art Attack: Decided to be cultured. Visited the Centro Botín, a stunning modern art center. The building itself is a work of art. The actual art… well, let's just say it challenged my understanding of, shall we say, things. I tried (and failed) to appear intellectual as I studied it, but really, I just wanted a churro.
- Afternoon: The Churro Quest: The quest for the perfect churro became my mission. Found a tiny hole-in-the-wall place the locals raved about. The first bite? Pure, unadulterated bliss. Crispy, warm, and dusted with cinnamon sugar. I may have eaten, uh, several. Don't judge me.
- Evening: Exploring Santander's Heart: Walked the city, discovering its heart. The Cathedral, The Jardines de Pereda. The evening had a more easy-going rhythm. Perhaps it was the sugar high from the churros, or the city's gentle pace, but it gave santander a special feeling.
- Impression: The Centro Botín is a must-see (whether you understand the art or not!). Finding perfect churros is a life goal, and exploring Santander revealed a city with so much charm.
Day 4: Day Trip Delirium and the Goodbye Blues
- Morning: Cave Exploration: Decided on a day trip to the Cave of El Castillo. The cave itself was incredibly interesting. The paintings were breathtaking, a testament to human history and an amazing experience!
- Afternoon: Beach Day! (Attempt 2) and the Farewell Feast: After the cave, I went back to El Sardinero Beach. This time, I applied sunscreen every hour. Got myself a tan, and enjoyed watching the waves again, then I had one last feast: some more tapas, more jamón, and far too much wine.
- Evening: Goodbye to Paradise: Packed my bags. Walked through the city one last time. It felt like saying goodbye to a dear friend. I am leaving with mixed emotions, on one hand, I'm already planning my return, on the other, the thought of leaving the delicious food is heartbreaking. The end of the trip.
- Impression: An almost perfect trip, the food, wine, and beaches were amazing.
Overall Impressions:
- La Casa del Pendo: Perfect. Serene. Charming. Comfortable. I felt like a king (or queen, as the case may be). The breakfast? Divine. The staff? Incredibly helpful and lovely.
- Santander: Stunning. A city that has it all: history, beauty, beaches, and, most importantly, damn good food.
- Me: Exhausted, slightly sunburnt, a few pounds heavier, and utterly, completely in love with Santander. I'm already dreaming of my return! And hunting for churro recipes. The imperfect memories are the best ones. Adios!
Okay, okay, the "Unbelievable Santander Secret"... La Casa del Pendo. What's the BIG DEAL? Is it *really* worth all the hype?
Ugh, let me tell you! The hype... it's both justified and totally inflated, like a poorly-baked soufflé. Look, La Casa del Pendo *is* incredible. It's perched on this cliff overlooking the bay, like a grumpy old seagull surveying its domain. The views? Jaw-dropping. Literally. I spent the first five minutes just staring, mouth agape, totally oblivious to the tour guide's spiel. I felt like I was in a freaking James Bond movie, waiting for a villain to emerge from the swirling mist. Totally cliché, I know, but it was *that* dramatic. So, yes, the views alone are almost worth the trip. Almost.
But here's the thing NOBODY TELLS YOU: the journey there. It's a winding, narrow road. My rental car - bless its tiny, underpowered engine - almost gave up the ghost. I was convinced at one point we were going to plunge into the Cantabrian Sea. Pure panic. Let's just say I developed a newfound respect for both local drivers and the engineering of Spanish guardrails.
So, is it worth the hype? Depends. If you're a sucker for dramatic landscapes and can stomach a slightly terrifying drive, yeah, absolutely. If you're easily carsick and prefer your vistas pre-packaged in a brochure? Maybe skip it. You might have a panic attack and then have to explain to everyone how you missed out on the “Unbelievable Secret". Awkward. Very, very awkward.
So, what *is* La Casa del Pendo? Is it a castle? A museum? My grandma's house (because, honestly, I wouldn't be surprised)?
It's… complicated. Think of it as a wealthy eccentric's playground built into the side of a cliff. Technically, it's a historical building, part of a former mansion, but it's been beautifully restored. It ISN'T your grandma's house, unless your grandma was a flamboyant millionaire with a penchant for dramatic architecture and a complete disregard for practicality, which I now have to say, that would be awesome.
The inside is like a treasure hunt meets Instagram heaven. Every room is different, filled with antique furniture, quirky artwork, and enough stories to fill a novel. Seriously. The tour guide - bless her, she was probably used to people staring out the windows - rattled off tales of eccentric owners, secret romances, and maybe, just maybe, a ghost or two. (I'm a skeptic, but the flickering candlelight in that one room… creeeeepy.)
But don't go expecting a traditional museum. It's more like stepping into someone's (very stylish) fantasy. Expect more of a lived-in feel, less of a sterile environment. If you like that vibe, you'll probably love it. If you crave order and meticulously labeled artifacts, prepare to be frustrated. I was utterly captivated.
Tell me about this "tour." Is it guided? Because I HATE guided tours.
Yes, it's a guided tour. And yeah, I get it. Guided tours can be soul-crushing. But the one at La Casa del Pendo... actually wasn't terrible. Okay, scratch that. IT WASN'T BAD. The guide wasn't one of those robotic drones, but a real human with interesting stories and a genuine enthusiasm for the place.
I remember one thing vividly. When we were in the main drawing room and the guide had just finished telling us about the original owner’s favorite paintings, the woman next to me – bless her, she’d been silently taking notes the whole time, her notepad clutched at a 45-degree angle – suddenly blurted out, “But what about the curtains? Were the original curtains blue? I MUST know!” And the guide… the guide didn’t roll her eyes or give a canned answer! She spent a good five minutes explaining, based on historical documentation, that yes, the original curtains had indeed been a very specific shade of French navy, sourced from Lyon. I was stunned. And slightly terrified by this lady. Like, how much time had this person spent researching curtains? It was fascinating and weird at the same time.
So, the tour itself is… fine, even good. It's important to actually PAY ATTENTION to the stories if you want to get the full experience. Especially the part about the curtains. Don’t be like the curtain lady. Learn from her.
Okay, I’m intrigued. What’s the best time to visit to avoid the crowds and the nightmare driving?
Ah, the million-dollar question. Avoiding crowds? In a place that's supposedly a "secret"? Good luck. But here's my advice:
1) **Go during the off-season (like, not summer).** I went in October, and it was chilly but gorgeous. Plus, fewer tourists. You still had some people, but it wasn’t the shoulder-to-shoulder chaos I imagine it would be in July/August.
2) **Book your tour in advance.** Seriously. Don't be that person who shows up and is turned away. You'll be grumpy. I saw a couple get turned away, and it was clear they were about to lose their minds and it was hilarious I might add.
3) **Get there EARLY.** This means fighting traffic, which is going to happen regardless. But the earlier you are, the better the odds of fewer people and less stress when navigating the road.
Is La Casa del Pendo suitable for… kids? Because my three-year-old is, shall we say, "energetic."
Hmm. That's a tough one. La Casa del Pendo is beautiful, but it also has a lot of delicate things. I mean, there's antique furniture, fragile artwork, and narrow staircases that feel like they were designed by a sadistic architect.
My gut reaction? Probably not. Not unless your three-year-old is magically capable of remaining perfectly still, silent, and respectful of priceless objects for an extended period. Maybe I'm being cynical, but I saw a couple with a toddler and it did not LOOK FUN. The parents spent the entire tour trailing after the kid, whispering frantic warnings. It was more stressful than enjoyable for them, and honestly, it detracted from the experience for everyone. I felt like I was witnessing a slow-motion nervous breakdown.
However, if your kid is an angel, by all means. Just… maybe pack a tranquilizer gun… because you'll almost certainly need it. And if you have a very active child, I wouldn't recommend it.
Any other tips or things to know before I go, like, say, for photographers like me?
Oh, for photographers? Absolutely. Bring your camera. But be prepared for some frustration. Look, the place is beautiful, and you’ll want to capture every angle; the light is amazing at certain times of day, especially golden hour. But remember:
1. **Respect the rules:** Many places don't allowInfinity Inns
