Hotel Eguren Ugarte

“Excellent Stay”

We booked a premium room that has a balcony with two chairs and a small table to look out to the vineyards and the beautiful surrounding area. The room was very comfortable. The breakfast was included in our rate and it had good options to get your day started. The location of the hotel was per... more

We booked a premium room that has a balcony with two chairs and a small table to look out to the vineyards and the beautiful surrounding area. The room was very comfortable. The breakfast was included in our rate and it had good options to get your day started. The location of the hotel was perfect for us to explore La Rioja for 3 days. The staff was friendly and attentive. You have parking right outside the hotel. Very interesting how you go down to your floor instead of going up. The check in area is the first thing you walk into. As you're going down on the elevator, you can see their bodega and the long lines of barrels. On one of the days we were there, we took a tour of their bodega and was very impressed. We would definitely stay here again when we return to La Rioja.

less

“Beautiful location and views”

We booked a standard room but that is a terrible adjective for an exceptional space. The hotel itself is situated amid rolling vineyards but what isn't apparent from the roadside is that the hotel is multi story with sweeping views to the southwest. You only find this out when you take the glass ... more

We booked a standard room but that is a terrible adjective for an exceptional space. The hotel itself is situated amid rolling vineyards but what isn't apparent from the roadside is that the hotel is multi story with sweeping views to the southwest. You only find this out when you take the glass elevator down (not up) to your room. The glass allows views of the enormous underground winery operations and hundreds (a thousand?) wine barrels arrayed. The doors open into a hallway but then you enter your room and are met by the expansive views over vineyards to the hills beyond. It was truly a wow moment. The room itself is modern, stylish has a great bathroom and shower. We also had dinner there and thought it was quite good. I don't think you can go wrong here.

less

“Excellent”

Excellent hotel in a stunning location, vineyards from one side and Sierra de Cantabria on another. Room and amenities very nice. Breakfast limited, but good enough to start a day. The only negative was dinner, it’s way better to go for dinner in Laguardia. Strategically located for trip in Rioja... more

Excellent hotel in a stunning location, vineyards from one side and Sierra de Cantabria on another. Room and amenities very nice. Breakfast limited, but good enough to start a day. The only negative was dinner, it’s way better to go for dinner in Laguardia. Strategically located for trip in Rioja. Highly recommended.

less

“Beautiful Location and Setting Let Down by some Terrible Customer Service”

We have just finished two nights at this hotel, in the premier rooms on the top floor. The place is beautiful and I would love to give it a higher rating, however we were let down by some pretty average service from some (not all, some were great) staff. First the POSITIVE. The setting and loc... more

We have just finished two nights at this hotel, in the premier rooms on the top floor. The place is beautiful and I would love to give it a higher rating, however we were let down by some pretty average service from some (not all, some were great) staff. First the POSITIVE. The setting and location is stunning, and the grounds are amazing. You have clear fields of vision over the vineyards, Laguardia town, and even a castle. The grounds are really beautiful, with calming music playing and various places to sit and explore. Make sure you walk the grounds and visit the underground chapel, the monuments, the little lake with a boat and a rock table near some beautiful trees. Room. The room was excellent – really lovely, and styled with taste and everything you could want, though the TV is tiny. There is a little fridge, that doesn’t really work well, a desk to work at, and a large balcony. More on the balcony in the negative section. The bathroom was fantastic, with a bath jacuzzi, two electric operated skylights, a lovely shower and so spacious. The bed was large and very comfortable, and the A/C worked very well. Meals. The dining service was excellent. The food was really well presented and delicious, especially dinner. A credit to the chef and to the dining staff. Especially the Romanian lady who worked at dinner (1 staff member for all the tables, she was run off her feet) – she was engaging, professional and made us feel very welcome – an asset to the company. The same for breakfast – there was a tall gentleman who did a fantastic job. Wine tour. More on the negative part later, however we managed to get on a tour and it was wonderful. The bodegas are fantastic, so interesting and our tour guide was engaging and knowledgeable. We really enjoyed it, and the family have created an amazing underground tunnel area. After, we got to taste 3 wines with some pinchos. The bar / restaurant down here are lovely. While we were taking a photo of the statue outside of the owner – he was actually siting nearby and came over to be in the photo. A really charming gentleman, and he even invited us for a wine. Fitness. I went running through the wine fields twice and loved it. Very beautiful, and on the first day I rant the 3.5 km to Laguardia (a must see), and the second day, a run up to the knoll in front of the hotel, and then the little village to the right. I really enjoyed them. The NEGATIVE and why we have marked down this hotel In some instances, the hotel staff are downright rude, unhelpful and condescending (some – there were also some really helpful ones). CHECKIN. When we went to checkin, the lady was on the phone. Understandably, she was alone so we don’t mind waiting. When she eventually finished, all she said was ‘’yes’’ in a questioning manner. It si obvious that with our bags and having arrived in a taxi, we were there to checkin, we don’t normally just hang around check in desks for fun. There was no Welcome to our hotel etc. A cold lady who needs some training in customer service. Incidentally, she is probably the same lady we rang from laguardia to see how we could get to the hotel as there are no buses and we could not find a taxi. 1) we were given the taxi number from another town 2( one suggestion was for us to walk the 3.5 km is 40 degree heat. TOURS. On the morning of our first day, we went to ask about a wine tour. My wife was told there is nothing available until the next day at 130, after we had checked out. She said we should have booked when we checked in. That maybe true, however fo there was trouble with availability, that should have been made know at the time. My wife came back up and told me there was not one tour we could do. I didn’t believe her, so went down to ask. At that time I was told, one is just starting, and we could join that – will, that information would have been handy when we first asked. We were able to join, and loved the tour. BIKES. They advertise bikes available. So we asked for the details, and they said the company who did that no longer operated due to Covid. Ok, I understand, however how difficult would it be for the management to buy a few bikes themselves and rent them out. ROOM BALCONY. Our room balcony was huge, with lovely views to the front, BUT, there was only 1 barrill and 2 cheap chairs with out cushions. After decorating the rooms so lovely inside, they totally ignored the balcony. It was a perfect space for a hammock, some lovely lounge chairs, and even a jacuzzi. Instead nothing. To top it off, the best views for sunset / sunrise are to the left and right, however the roof comes all the way down to the side rail, affectively blocking off the entire view left and right. TOURS. I have already highlighted one issue above. They also advertise a ride amongst the vineyards with a horse drawn cart. We wanted to do that, so asked. We were looked at like we were a nuisance, and told that she would get back to us and advise. We didn’t hold much hope of a response, and true to our suspicions – she didn’t get back to us, nor mention it when we passed. We gave up. ACCESS. For foreigners, note that this hotel is 3.5 km from the nearest town, LaGuardia. There is no bus that can drop you off, no hotel shuttle, and the hotel are not exactly helpful in providing the number for the taxi. We got the correct number ourselves, and for information, the cost from La Guardia is 12.5 Euros, and if you go all the way to Logrona, it is 35 Euros. This hotel is really for people with a car. So, the front desk staff need a lot of training on customer service. Therefore, I would probably not stay at this hotel again, and we have a group of friends visiting the area next week who we have advised to look at other options. It is also not really worth having the large room, as the bonus was the view, however you get the same view from the rooms below, with also spacious balconies, and your views left / right for sunset and sunrise are not blocked off.

less