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HotelShortlist rating
1/5

Not on the HotelShortlist: Cockroaches, mice or other pests mentioned in 1 guest review; Guest score 8.9/10, below our 9.0 standard; Guests report hidden fees.

Not recommended
Guest ratings below our standard
Palanga

Gabija Hotel SPA & Conferences

★★★★
8.9
Booking score
1,524
Total reviews
★★★★
Star rating
≈2011
Built / renovated
4+
Highest floor guests reported
1%
Noise mentions
Engine scores ·Newness ≈2011
Member rate
€—,———
Booking.com shows the public rate for the same room and dates
Members see this rate in full. It is typically lower than the public price on this property — the same room, the same hotel, the same confirmation.
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Verdict

Is Gabija Hotel SPA & Conferences Worth It? The Honest Verdict

8.9/10 Booking.com1,524 reviews read4-star

As of 13 October 2026, 1,524 guest reviews give Gabija Hotel SPA & Conferences 8.9/10 on Booking.com.

Most-repeated praise: Generous, varied Swedish-style breakfast buffet with fresh ingredients, hot and cold options, consistently praised as excellent quality. 83 reviews.

Pest check

Bed Bugs and Pest Reports at Gabija Hotel SPA & Conferences — What 1,524 Reviews Say

1 of the 1,524 guest reviews we read for Gabija Hotel SPA & Conferences mentions cockroaches, mice or other insects. The reviews are dated May 2026. These are guest reports, not inspection results. Members see the verbatim quotes.

Complaints

Noise and Room Complaints at Gabija Hotel SPA & Conferences: Which Rooms to Avoid

  • Poor sound insulation in rooms allows guests to hear neighbors, conversations, television, and footsteps clearly. 13 reviews
  • Spa and bathroom maintenance issues including broken/cracked tiles, leaking fixtures, rust-colored water, inadequate ventilation, and sharp burrs in jacuzzi. 40 reviews
  • Water damage and poor waterproofing with roof leaks into rooms during rain; ceiling water dripping in spa areas with buckets placed for collection. 23 reviews
Rooms to avoid
  • Room 201 (above pool; mechanical noise from spa equipment).
  • Rooms near corridors, main entrance, and common areas reported as noisier due to hallway traffic, events, and facility noise.
What guests praise

Gabija Hotel SPA & Conferences Reviews — What Guests Actually Say vs the Marketing

Gabija Hotel SPA & Conferences sells itself as a 4-star hotel. What guests repeat most:

  • Generous, varied Swedish-style breakfast buffet with fresh ingredients, hot and cold options, consistently praised as excellent quality. 83 reviews
  • Spacious, well-lit rooms with large balconies and excellent views of Birute Park, comfortable beds and modern furnishings. 79 reviews
  • Prime location adjacent to Birute Botanical Garden, within walking distance to sea and main attractions in scenic Palanga beachfront setting. 56 reviews
Method

How HotelShortlist Researched Gabija Hotel SPA & Conferences

We read 1,524 public guest reviews of Gabija Hotel SPA & Conferences, grouped repeated findings and counted how often each one appears. Pest figures are guest reports, not inspection results. Member-only detail is blurred on this page. Research updated 2026-10-13. If you represent Gabija Hotel SPA & Conferences and believe something here is wrong, write to members@hotelshortlist.com and we will review it.

What guests love

Generous, varied Swedish-style breakfast buffet with fresh ingredients, hot and cold options, consistently praised as excellent quality. (83×)
Spacious, well-lit rooms with large balconies and excellent views of Birute Park, comfortable beds and modern furnishings. (79×)
Prime location adjacent to Birute Botanical Garden, within walking distance to sea and main attractions in scenic Palanga beachfront setting. (56×)
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5 more positive findings visible to members.

Watch-outs · 8 recorded

Poor sound insulation in rooms allows guests to hear neighbors, conversations, television, and footsteps clearly. (13×)
Spa and bathroom maintenance issues including broken/cracked tiles, leaking fixtures, rust-colored water, inadequate ventilation, and sharp burrs in jacuzzi. (40×)
Water damage and poor waterproofing with roof leaks into rooms during rain; ceiling water dripping in spa areas with buckets placed for collection. (23×)
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5 more watch-outs are visible to members.
Parking note. Problematic — Parking costs 8-11 EUR per day when free spaces unavailable, with limited alternatives making it effectively mandatory despite the fee.
Guest sentiment — 1,524 rated reviews
87% positive (1,330)6% neutral (98)6% negative (96)

Review history 1,524 dated reviews · 2011-09 → 2026-09

123452011201220132014201520162017201820192020202120222023202420252026
Monthly average (1–5)Pest mentionSmoothed trendReview volume
Review counts: 1,524 Google

What the trend suggests

Possible review removal2014-07 – 2015-1075% confidence
A 16-month gap (2014-07→2015-10) shows a rating decline from 4.67 to 4.0 (delta −0.67), with only a single review in 2015-11 resuming activity. The substantial gap combined with a negative delta suggests reviews may have been suppressed or the property experienced operational issues during this period, rather than a renovation reopening (which would show post-gap recovery). This precedes the gradual rating climb beginning 2016.
Issue resolved2020-Q3 – 2026-Q372% confidence
Pool/spa water temperature complaints are frequent and specific in 2020–2023 reviews ('baseino vanduo šaltas', 'water freezing cold', 'jacuzzi cold'), appearing in ~8 distinct reviews across 2020-Q4, 2021-Q2, 2022-Q2, 2023-Q1, 2023-Q2. However, after 2023-Q3, such complaints are notably absent; recent 2025–2026 reviews instead praise spa ('Spa zona pranoko lūkesčius', 'super'), suggesting a significant infrastructure upgrade or operational fix was implemented circa mid-to-late 2023.
Emerging issue2023-Q1 – 2026-Q170% confidence
Room maintenance and aging infrastructure complaints rise notably from 2023 onward. Specific issues (worn carpets, cracked tiles, poor sound insulation, outdated furnishings, paint peeling) appear with increasing frequency in 2023-Q1, 2023-Q2, 2024-Q2, and especially 2026-Q1, with multiple reviewers noting the hotel 'requires renovation' and 'doesn't match 4-star standard'. This contrasts with earlier periods where such complaints were sparse, suggesting visible decline in room condition maintenance.
Possible recovery2017-01 – 2019-0778% confidence
After stabilizing near 4.0–4.2 in late 2016, ratings climb steadily and consistently through 2017–2019. Monthly averages rise from 4.3 (2017-07) to a peak of 4.86 (2019-09), with review count surging from single-digit to 48 reviews in 2019-07. This sustained 30+ month climb with rising volume and ratings suggests successful operational improvements, management changes, or expanded positive word-of-mouth during the property's pre-COVID peak period.
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What guests report

View
Beautiful park and beachfront views from many rooms, especially balcony rooms overlooking Birute Botanical Garden and Baltic Sea.
Bed & mattress
Generally comfortable and spacious with high-quality mattresses, though some beds formed by merging two singles have uncomfortable gaps; pillows described as worn and thin in some rooms.
Bathroom & water
Large bathrooms in modern rooms, but many with broken/cracked tiles, leaking fixtures, poor water pressure, rust-colored water, and inadequate ventilation; limited hot water in some cases.
Wi-Fi
Free throughout hotel; no complaints noted.
Breakfast
Excellent variety and quality; generous Swedish buffet with both hot and cold options daily, diverse and fresh with multiple dietary options.
AC / heating
Heating/cooling often malfunctioning or unreliable; many rooms reported as cold with no ability to adjust temperature; some air conditioning units fixed at 20°C minimum; inconsistent temperature control with some rooms excessively hot.

Hotel team

Head of Marketing at Gabija
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Local knowledge

Ask for a room away from the pool area (e.g., not room 201) to avoid mechanical noise from spa equipment.
Request a room away from the main entrance, dining areas, and corridors if you prefer a quieter experience.
Request a room away from the roof area; some rooms have poor waterproofing and leak during rain.
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Room intel

Noisy rooms to avoid
  • Room 201 (above pool; mechanical noise from spa equipment).
  • Rooms near corridors, main entrance, and common areas reported as noisier due to hallway traffic, events, and facility noise.
Extra charges guests were surprised by
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Character & facilities

Gym & fitness Basic
  • Small facility with basic equipment but well-stocked with cardio machines and free weights.
  • Adequate for general fitness but limited space and missing equipment such as pull-up bars and parallel bars.
  • Full assortment of machines available despite compact footprint.
Family facilities
  • Children's playroom with toys on-site; plush toys and entertainment in lobby for young children.
  • Children's pool area with family-oriented dining.
  • Kids' menu available in restaurant.
  • High chairs and changing facilities mentioned.
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Questions about Gabija Hotel SPA & Conferences

How is Gabija Hotel SPA & Conferences rated?
Gabija Hotel SPA & Conferences scores 8.9/10 on Booking.com.
How many guest reviews were analysed for Gabija Hotel SPA & Conferences?
HotelShortlist analysed 1,524 guest reviews for Gabija Hotel SPA & Conferences to build this verified profile.
Is Gabija Hotel SPA & Conferences a 4-star hotel?
Yes — Gabija Hotel SPA & Conferences is a 4-star property in Palanga.
What do guests love about Gabija Hotel SPA & Conferences?
The most-mentioned positive in guest reviews: Generous, varied Swedish-style breakfast buffet with fresh ingredients, hot and cold options, consistently praised as excellent quality.
How do I get the member rate?
HotelShortlist is a private members’ club. Ask for an introduction and, once admitted, member rates are unlocked on every verified hotel.

How Gabija Hotel SPA & Conferences Compares to Other Palanga Hotels

Gabija Hotel SPA & Conferences: Booking.com 8.9/10, 4-star. Other researched hotels in Palanga:

See all verified hotels in Palanga →

Review data verified & refreshed 2026-10-13.