Sercotel Puerta de la Catedral — Hotel in Salamanca

Worst hotel experience of my life – and I travel frequently.

First of all, when booking online the website added extra taxes even though the checkout price stated they were included. Their own confirmation email said “100% of the stay will be charged 3 days before arrival,” yet the hotel tried to take payment earlier, denying me the chance to update my bank details as I intended. I later paid in full with my new details, but they wrongly kept my old card details and used them to charge me yet again – a clear breach of data protection.

Instead of cancelling the pending payment, they instead processed a refund which dragged on for over 2 weeks, and when the money finally arrived it was £16 short.

Throughout this whole process, the reception staff were dismissive and arrogant. My concerns about delays were ignored, and although the head receptionist initially suggested they might offer some recompense, I was later told they had already done everything they should. No refund of the shortfall, no credit, no goodwill gesture. Even worse, I had to request an hoja de reclamaciones (official complaints form) four times before it was given to me – which I believe is against the guidance of the relevant Spanish consumer law. This was finally given to me late on our last night, giving me no chance to fill it in.

The hotel itself is in desperate need of refurbishment. Despite paying for a “premium” room: Lampshades and chairs were badly stained Fridge top damaged Outdoor furniture dirty and marked Hairdryer faulty Wooden floors scratched Room not properly cleaned (debris under the bed) Room service inconsistent (bottled water left one day, not the next) Wallpaper in corridors peeling Reception often didn’t answer calls from the room

The only positive was the central location – everything else fell far below standard. I will never stay here again and strongly advise others to avoid it. I simply don't recognise the positive reviews I relied upon when initially booking a room at this hotel.

I never need to complain about hotels - I've just left a 9/10 review for the Holiday Inn in Colchester (excellent service). I will update this review once I have heard from senior management at the chain, and if I have to take things further with el Departamento de Turismo de Salamanca and with la Agencia Española de Protección de...

The most uncomfortable experience I have ever had in any hotel in my entire life! The hotel is very well located and clean, but if the basic principle is to have a comfortable sleep, this one fell far short!! The first night it was impossible to sleep because I could feel all the springs in the mattress! The mattress was completely uncomfortable, exactly like other reports I found during the night due to the total lack of comfort of the hotel's mattress. I complained at the reception, and even asked for a refund for the second night so I could change hotels through Hotels.com. Instead, they put duvets between the mattress and the sheets to ease the terrible experience of sleeping at the Sercotel, it was no use... in both beds in the room you can feel all the springs in the mattress just by running your hand over them! 4 stars??? Never! Whoever rated this hotel as anything above two stars forgot the basics... the...

Truly wonderful hotel and the staff was great! We drove to Salamanca from Portugal and booked a parking spot at the hotel (€22) but getting to the parking garage was a bit of an ordeal. Put “Horno 7” in your gps and that should take you right to it. I would call the front desk when you are close so that the gate is open. It’s a small alley on a hill and a sharp right turn. When leaving the garage you’ll make a left again going up a hill out of the garage, make sure you swing right as far as you can before you start making that left. I put a nice long scratch in our new car getting out. 😳|Ok, back to the hotel and location which is right next to the Cathedral. We were celebrating our 14th anniversary, I mentioned that in the reservation and we had a room with a balcony and a view of the Cathedral!EVERYTHING is within EASY walking distance...