Hotel Alfonso XIII

I stayed at the Alfonso XIII in August of 2006.

One of the best hotels of our vacation to Spain, unfortunately we only stayed one night. The swimming pool was a main reason for staying here, and it's in a large garden area with plenty of sun lounge chairs. The hotel itself is gorgeous, with lots of wood and tile. There's an inner yet outdoor courtyard where you can have dinner, plus two bars on the property. Location is excellent, right near the Cathedral and the Alcazar, with plenty of outdoor cafes nearby. We were able to easily walk to the bus station, but did take a taxi from the RENFE station. We used a Starwood Instant Award upon checkin, where for 1500 points, we were upgraded two room categories. Well worth the points! The room was HUGE and gorgeous. Enormous bathroom, connecting hallway where the closets and front door were located, and a huge bedroom. Very attractively decorated, with king-size bed, desk, chair and ottoman. We had a tiny balcony overlooking the courtyard (restaurant) mentioned above, just enough space for two people to stand on (no room for chairs). We didn't eat at the hotel, so I can't comment.
Don't forget the horse-and-carriage ride (for about 35 Euros)--it gives you a great view of Maria Luisa Park, which we wouldn't have had the time or energy to see otherwise. The horses were treated well, otherwise, I wouldn't have gone (the weather was cool, and they made the horse stop to drink halfway through the trip).

We enjoyed the Alfonso. Unlike the other posters, our room was small, but it was very nice. Other people in our group had larger rooms, so I guess it's sometimes the luck of the draw. The location, right near the major tourist attractions, was great.