Canfranc Estacion, a Royal Hideaway Hotel

This was our 3rd visit and unexpectedly underwhelming. The location and building are unbeatable hence the 2 star rating. The food was too salty and 2 of 4 main course dishes burnt. The service was slow and not very attentive, we had to ask for everything and catch the staffs attention. The waiter bashed onto my dad 3 times. The menus was the same, which is fine, but specials could give options to returning customers. Maybe it was just an off day

An absolutely escellent destination for a special occasion especially if you find the hisitory of the location interesting.

The Canfranc Estación is one of those unique hotels. Super service from very professional and welcoming staff who displayed quiet efficiency in every respect. Food is excellent, great combinations of flavours and ingredients. Beautifully renovated building brought back to life. It's a location for a peaceful stay, surrounded by mountains. Very enjoyable stay.

As a birthday treat, my wife and I spent a night at this hotel on the way home from Spain. It is a converted train station and is now a luxury hotel with an Art Deco interior. Hotel was very clean and we made use of the swimming pool (approx 12m long with three 'massaging water fountains', cocktail bar and restaurant. Staff were friendly and professional throughout our stay. We benefitted from an upgraded room which had a lounge area and tea and coffee making facilities. Bed was comfortable and bathroom area was decorated to a high standard. Being out of season, our only slight moan was that the hotel had very few guests but that is hardly their fault at this time of year. As you would expect from such a hotel, the breakfast choices were impressive.

Superb location in a meticulously restored station. Rooms extremely comfortable and well equipped. Restaurant with innovative menu and good service Let down by the poor check-in, tiny under equipped gym, ridiculous pool use rates and times. and expensive open air parking. At the rates proposed, these items should be improved and included.

This is a stunning hotel that has been beautifully renovated, and really is one of the most unique places I have stayed. The rooms are well furnished, including modern technology throughout. The location is next to none, with beautiful views of the mountains. However this hotel is far from perfect, and there were a few things they got wrong that any decent hotel should really get right. The air conditioning wasn’t working in certain rooms, and there were lots of flies in the bar area. The fact you have to pay €20 in an already expensive hotel to use the pool is quite frankly ridiculous, even more so that you have to use a swimming cap. Also the waiting staff in the restaurant weren’t very friendly, and the service took a very long time. Overall, a really beautiful hotel with (generally) friendly staff. Definitely come for the experience, but there are some things the hotel needs to work on.

Amazing restoration of a grand and historic building, with the quality of the workmanship and surrounding landscaping exceeding any of my prior expectations. This is no Disneyland-esque project, but one which has been completed with immense sympathy to the original design and also in keeping with its setting in a steep sided Pyrenees valley, which is both awe inspiring and despite its scale surprisingly peaceful. We thoroughly enjoyed our two-night stay in the Canfranc Estación Royal Hideaway Hotel and can highly recommend a visit, even if only to have a look. Summary judgements below: Standouts: - The remarkable station building itself and its beautiful valley setting - Great sized bedroom (Deluxe Superior) with window views across the valley and to the peaks above - Friendly staff - “Canfranc Express” experience. Most impressive and delicious multi-course fine dining luncheon in the adjacent restored railway carriages. Must be pre-booked as the “meal event” is coordinated and cooked by a Michelin chef and kitchen staff from nearby one-star Michelin restaurant, Espacio N, whose owner Ana chaperoned the meal and was an amazing sommelier. Could be better: - A new RENFE train station connecting the property (and Canfranc) to the Spanish rail network has been completed but trains were not running at the time of our stay with replacement buses operating twice daily to Huecsa for connecting trains to Zaragoza. This was disappointing as had planned the itinerary to be predominantly a rail trip, with just the still unrenewed section from Bedous to Canfranc in France to be covered by a connecting bus. (Full original itinerary; arrive Lourdes / Tarbes by air then train to Pau (overnight), train from Pau to Bedous with connecting bus to Canfranc (note: both train and bus can be purchased as a single ticket from SNCF Connect with the ticket called “Pass Pau Canfranc” for €12), train from Canfranc to Zaragoza, direct train Zaragoza to San Sebastian for a few nights stay and then departure from San Sebastian by air). Unfortunately, it now appears (September 2023) that the Spanish rail side might be closed for works for a considerable period, so a warning to those like us that were hoping to arrive or depart from Canfranc by train. - As a new luxury property in a fairly remote location, staff training still not perfect and is actively ongoing. Some of the cooked breakfast dishes were disappointing. - English language TV channels were not functioning - In an era of gadgets, there was an insufficient number of in-room electrical sockets.

This is a truly remarkable property steeped in history We travelled 24 hrs by plane from Sydney to experience Canfranc Estacion and its worth it Travelling up by train wasnt easy though the first part was by fast train Drive or get a taxi for the last bits The experience was on a par with the internal hotel at Machu Picchu or the Oeninsular in Hong Kong It’s a gem and when the train line through to France is completed in a year or two WE WILL BE BACK

A wonderful place, but you don't seem to listen! We have now visited four times since you opened, for a coffee/ tea/apéro. Twice we have sampled your truly delicious food in your welcoming and friendly bar. Each time I needed to pay a visit to the ladies' toilets, and was little surprised to find there was no hook on which to hang my coat or handbag. OK, the first time was not long after you opened. The next time, in early summer, I mentioned it to the reception desk, expressing my surprise at this lack in a 5* hotel. Come September, still no hooks! I mentioned it again. Today, 25th November, we were served delicious bar food by a very helpful and attentive member of your staff. But STILL NO HOOKS in the toilets! Am I meant to put it on the floor? Really? Yet again, I went to the reception and expressed my surprise and disappointment. It really is not good enough. Any self-respecting motorway service station, or 2*-5* hotel public toilet has hooks. Come on Royal Hideaway! Or am I meant to ask a member of your very helpful staff to hold my coat and bag for me?!