Villa de Abalos
, Plaza Fermin Gurbindo, 2, Abalos.
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Description
This 17th century ancestral home was opened as a country hotel in 2002 following a major renovation which was carefully planned to make the most of the notable architectural detailing of the building. The stone, the wood and the ironwork preserve the original style, yet the building also has a feel that is modern and comfortable.
Owner Jose Luis is dedicated to the local culture and will be more than pleased to prepare a programme of activities covering wine culture, wine-growing, wine-tasting and visits to bodegas.
Ábalos is a small village in the Rioja Alta where life revolves around wine, the principal resource of the area. A stroll around the streets will reveal numerous historic family houses emblazoned with their heraldic arms and the impressive altarpiece in the Church of San Esteban. Just outside the village, Romanesque hermitages, ancient catacombs and massive rock formations give a special charm to the area.
Meals
La Cocina de Merche offers traditional fare that is also innovative, with a truly expert touch in the preparation of such top-quality local delicacies as vegetables in season, asparagus, pimientos, artichokes and so on. The carnivores will also be in their element with meat stewed in wine, grilled chops and game, all accompanied by the fine wines of La Rioja, carefully selected to delight the gourmet palate.
Out and About
Visits to wine-making bodegas.
Rambling. Walking.
Mountain-Biking.
Golf.
Historic sites: monasteries, castles, walled towns.
Guggenheim Museum, in Bilbao (approx 120km).
Rooms
Each bedroom is individually decorated with its own special ambience and has a small balcony.
All rooms have an en-suite bath/shower room, television, telephone, internet connection, writing desk, hairdryer and a selection of courtesy items.
Single Room
Each bedroom is individually decorated with its own special ambience.
All rooms have an en-suite bath/shower room, television, telephone, internet connection, writing desk, hairdryer and a selection of courtesy items.
Reviews
Reviews from Little Hotels Travellers:
| I have had an extraordinary experience through Little Hotels. We have remained at Hotel Villa de Ábalos, La Rioja, Spain. It is a small, and a very cute place to stay. I loved to be attended by marvelous people, they make you feel at home with a great attention, I have had feel as if I would be at home. The owners make you feel very special, they are very welcoming, polite, attentive, whatever you need, they are sure you are going to get it. I recommend that lovely place, to be comfortable, to be very well served, and to know you are not a number, between their clients. You are important, and you deserve the best, and you get it there. I congratulate all its staff. Well done. Bravo. |
| We've just returned from our trip to Spain, flying into Barcelona and returning from Bilbao, also taking in along the way Sitges, Zaragoza, Abalos, Pamplona and San Sebastian. The highlight for me was our two night stay at the Hotel Villa de Abalos in the heart of Rioja country. The hotel itself was a delight - lovely bedrooms with loads of personal touches and splashes of colour. The food was delicious - we had breakfast and dinners there and staff and owners were friendly and helpful. A special bonus was the Empatia wine made by Jose Luis. The village was lovely, reminiscent of the best of the Cotswolds, with honey-coloured stone. You're surrounded by mountains and wonderful views and we were lucky to have sun-filled days (and then there are those starry, starry nights). Abalos was a great base for drives out into the wine growing area. Jose Luis arranged a visit for us to the Marques de Riscal winery, which we enjoyed, especially as it had the Frank Gehry hotel on its grounds (and I'm still kicking myself for not walking into it). |
| Liked it and would recommend. Food was excellent, bedrooms clean, functional & warm. Reception friendly. Village was pleasant & pretty, if not much to do in, but close to other amenities. Good stop for return ferry from Santander. I very much appreciated your personal touch to the booking service and would certainly use this again, if convenient for our arrangements and you will probably be first on my list of sites for the next visit to Spain. Thanks for your assistance. |
| A little difficult to find but worth the effort. What a lovely hotel. Again, very tastefully decorated with a very nice room overlooking the mountains in the distance to the rear with very comfortable. Had a meal in the evening in the hotel as it's out of the way and nobody wanted to drive and it was delicious. Another super breakfast in the morning with homemade natural yoghurt, fresh fruit and the usual cheeses and plenty of Iberico ham (better than Parma in my opinion). In the evening, after filling up on too much lunch we telephoned and asked if we could just eat in and have meat, cheese and bread - what a feast! Sat outside 'till gone midnight. They were even more than happy to chill the rose wine we had bought as they didn't serve it. |
| We had the most enjoyable stay our only regret was that we were only there for one night. Not nearly long enough to appreciate the excellent staff and surroundings. Would definitely recommend. We would love to go back and stay again. |
| Delightful. Thoroughly enjoyed staying here with family. Lovely food and made to feel very welcome. Highly recommend. |
| We had a fantastic time at the above Hotel, The staff were so friendly and helpful, the food was superb, everything spotlessly clean. The surrounding scenery was stunning. Would definately reccomend to all. |
| We had a very good break at the Villa de Abalos and compliments to the chef for the excellent food, particularly on New Years Eve. |
| Hotel (like staying in someone's home) at Abalos just fantastic. Understated in all the right ways, allowing visitors to simply get on with exploring the area. Simple but first class food and service - none of that pretentiousness top restaurants can have. Wonderful, just wonderful. |
| The hotel was excellent, both in accommodations and the food. Very relaxing and wonderful hosts. |
Rates and Availability
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Double rooms from €105
Guest rating 9.2, based on 341 reviews
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We Say
Rioja wine is the best in the world (well, we think so anyway). What better way to spend a holiday than wandering the area, viewing the views and sampling the product? Life here really does revolve around wine. If you ever doubted the reason, José Luis and Merche will show you why.
A Word from the Owner
If you are seeking peace and tranquility in one of the most enchanting locations in Spain, please come and visit us at the Villa De Ábalos. We will be delighted to welcome you here. Our speciality? Warmth and humanity.
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Bar
Restaurant
Terrace
Gardens
Games
Book library
Wine Exhibition
Lounge
Car park
Telephone
TV
Central heating in winter
En‑suite bathroom
Hairdryer
Welcome Pack