Fonda Naval, a family guesthouse in Escalona for visiting Ordesa
Fonda Naval is a simple guesthouse in Escalona, in Huesca, with spacious rooms, a family welcome and home cooking. It suits hikers, motorcyclists and practical travellers looking for a base for Ordesa and Aínsa, and who can live with thin walls and some complaints about night heating.
Written by Valeria Romano
Published
Mapiola is a travel blog: this is not the official website of Fonda Naval.
Where Fonda Naval is and how to get there
Fonda Naval is on Calle Mayor in Escalona, a village in Huesca, in the heart of Aragon. Several guests choose it for its location: they say it sits halfway between several valleys, next to Aínsa and with good access to the Ordesa and Monte Perdido National Park.
To get there, the easy option is the car. Several reviews agree that parking is easy, almost in front of the door. If you fly, the nearest airport is Lleida-Alguaire, 139 km away, so there is a good stretch of road after you land.
Escalona is not a postcard destination in itself, and Fonda Naval does not pretend to be one. It is a guesthouse with a bar in a well-placed village, and that is its value: you sleep in the middle of the area and choose a valley each morning from here.
What the rooms at Fonda Naval are like
The rooms are simple but spacious. According to the property description, each has a desk, a flat-screen TV, a private bathroom, a wardrobe, and bed linen and towels included. There is also free wifi. Several reviews add that there is heating and that the wardrobes hold extra blankets and pillows in case you need them.
One guest mentions a spacious, sunny triple room, and another a bathroom with a bathtub. The beds get good marks: several call them comfortable, although someone says the pillows are rather thin. Reviews also mention that the staff look after small details such as gel and shampoo.
On a practical note, there is no lift. If you are travelling with heavy luggage or someone who struggles with stairs, ask before booking which floor you will be on.
What guests say
On Google, Fonda Naval has a 4.4 across more than a hundred reviews, and most of them are very good. This is what comes up most often.
- The welcome. Many guests talk about a friendly, family-style welcome, and people who make sure you have everything you need.
- The cleanliness. Rooms and bathrooms come up again and again as very clean.
- Home cooking. Several reviews praise breakfast with homemade jams and muffins, and dishes made with local produce. Another talks about simple but tasty food and a bar with a pool table.
- The location. It is valued as a starting point for Ordesa, for Aínsa and for motorbike routes through the Pyrenees.
- The price. One guest sees it as average and another highlights the good value for money.
To be honest, several of these reviews are a few years old, and what they say about dinners and the kitchen may not reflect how things work today. Check when you book if the food matters to you.
What to know before booking
Fonda Naval has few low reviews, but they agree on a couple of things, and they are worth reading calmly before you decide.
| What some guests say | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| Thin walls: you can hear the neighbouring rooms quite a lot | If you sleep lightly, bring earplugs |
| Heating is switched off at night, in winter | Ask how it works before going in cold months |
| A recent review mentions the restaurant area was closed | If you want to eat there, confirm it |
| Signs that forbid eating in the room | Plan where to get a snack |
| No lift | Best with light luggage |
One of the harshest reviews talks about difficult service, although most describe the opposite. Another guest, despite complaining about the cold, admits they rested well and that the beds were acceptable.
Who it is for and who it is not for
I would choose Fonda Naval if you want a practical, clean base with a friendly welcome to spend the day in the mountains, or if you are riding a motorbike through the Pyrenees and just need a good bed and a good breakfast.
I would not recommend it if you need total silence, if you are travelling in deep winter and feel the cold, or if you expect hotel services with a lift and a polished reception.
With that rating and so many reviews, the balance in Escalona is good. But it is a place that does the basics well, not one of surprises.
What to do in the area and other options in Aragon
The obvious choice is the Ordesa and Monte Perdido National Park, which several guests reach easily from Escalona. Aínsa, which one review calls an incredible village, is right next door and deserves a quiet afternoon.
If Fonda Naval does not suit you, on Mapiola there are other options in Aragon: Casa Sidora, in Laspuña, Hostal Centro, in Sallent de Gállego or Hotel 176 - El Azafrán, in Teruel. Each has its own page, so compare them at your own pace.
Passionate about travel and about the kind of places that turn a getaway into something unforgettable. I love writing about hotels, country houses and charming hideaways, helping every traveller find the perfect place to rest and feel at home.
