Hotel Surfances, simple and pet friendly in Suances
Hotel Surfances is a three-star hotel in Suances, Cantabria, a few minutes' walk from La Concha and Los Locos beaches. It is simple, old-fashioned and reasonably priced, with free parking and pets allowed. It suits anyone who puts location and budget before comfort.
Written by Valeria Romano
Published .
Updated
Mapiola is a travel blog: this is not the official website of Hotel Surfances.
Where Hotel Surfances is and how to get there
Hotel Surfances is on Calle de Ceballos, in Suances, on the Cantabrian coast. Its main draw is the location: it is a few minutes' walk from La Concha and Los Locos beaches, so you can reach the sand without taking the car out.
On the subject of driving, the private car park is another plus, and it is not charged separately. Several guests mention a few spaces at the front and a large car park at the back. In a beach town in high season, that is very welcome. I do not have reliable information about public transport, so check before you decide if you are not travelling by car.
What the rooms and facilities are like
At Hotel Surfances the rooms are classic and functional, spread over three floors. According to the hotel itself they have heating, air conditioning, a desk and traditional furniture, and some have views.
The services that come up most often are the following:
- 24-hour reception and laundry service;
- a lift and step-free access;
- a buffet-style restaurant and a bar with a sofa area;
- a terrace, garden and shared lounge;
- a safe deposit box and free wifi in the common areas.
Keep that last point in mind. One guest says the wifi does not reach the rooms well and that you have to go to reception, so if you need a good connection for work, bear it in mind.
What guests highlight about the hotel
Hotel Surfances has a Google rating of 3.1 from almost eight hundred reviews, so opinion is divided. What repeats in the good reviews is easy to sum up: the location, the staff and the value for money.
Several guests praise attentive, quick-to-help reception staff and a modest but clean hotel that does the job. Others point out that it is one of the few places in the area that takes pets without fuss, for a supplement. One returning guest says they were given an attic room with plenty of space and were very happy there.
Breakfast gets a "correct" rating. It is a continental breakfast without much variety, but enough to start the day, according to several reviews.
What to know before booking
Here are the downsides, because there are some and they matter. Most complaints are about an ageing hotel: outdated furniture, low beds where you can feel the springs, old bathrooms with small showers and few power sockets.
The harshest criticisms go further. Some one-star reviews mention damp, mould, poor mattresses, weak cleaning and a lift that was out of order for a long time. Others, however, say everything was clean, and that difference suggests the experience varies quite a lot depending on the room you get.
- One guest says check-in did not start at the time shown on their booking and that their room was not ready on arrival.
- Another warns that their room's terrace opened straight onto the car park, with a wooden window and door and no bars.
- A third notes that there were groups of children on a school trip, which can change the atmosphere depending on the dates.
- Finally, someone says there is no hairdryer or room phone, and that the dining room is only used for breakfast.
My advice is to read the most recent reviews before paying and, if you can, ask for a refurbished room or one with a good view when you book. I cannot promise you will get one, but asking costs nothing.
Who it is for and who it is not for
I would choose Hotel Surfances if you want to sleep near the beach in Suances on a tight budget and you are bringing your dog. In that case, the location, the free parking and the staff's attitude make up for simple facilities.
I would rule it out if you care about modern bathrooms, comfortable mattresses or a restful sleep. It is not the place if you want a hotel with character or with a higher-category feel either. For that there are other options in Cantabria, though probably pricier. For example, Posada Calera in Valle de Villaverde or, in Asturias, Hotel y Apartamentos Cuevas del Mar in Nueva.
For couples, families or groups of friends who spend the day out and just want a decent bed, it may be enough. For long, restful stays, I have my doubts.
What to do near Suances
From Hotel Surfances, the natural start is La Concha beach, which guests say is a few steps away, and Los Locos, the village's other landmark. The Cantabrian sea sets the plan: walks along the coast, swims when the weather allows, and a relaxed meal without fuss.
If you have a car, the hotel car park lets you leave it be and get about Suances on foot almost all the time. And if you travel with your pet, several reviews say you can leave them in the room while you go to the beach, which is handy if you do not want to give up either.
In short, Hotel Surfances in Suances is a practical, budget-friendly option with a very good location and a general condition that divides opinion. Book knowing what to expect.
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.
