Hi all,

Need advice re. a good area to stay in granada. Going to be in spain in OCt. Please help!!

thank you

We were there a long time ago, but I seem to remember staying in a parador. Maybe it was part of the Alhambra??

I don't know that I can recommend an area, but we stayed in the Hotel Inglaterra, which was quite near the Plaza Nueva and the cathedral. We liked the Inglaterra and would recommend it.

I think October is a good month for Spain. Not too warm.

Yes, I believe I am recalling correctly.

At www.paradorsofspain.com, it says:

"Spending a night in the gardens of the Alhambra, among fountains, trees and large arched windows is the exclusive opportunity offered by this Parador, a former convent built by decision of the Catholic Monarchs. This monumental ensemble proposes placid walks around the city for the guest, although the building itself invites you to discover a dreamlike interior, where Arabic and Christian styles mix. Its bedrooms offer exceptional views of the Generalife, the Secano gardens and the Albaicín, while the classical furniture and numerous portraits mark the decoration of the interior rooms."

Link should be: www.paradoresofspain.com

The parador is very expensive. The Hotel America is also in the grounds of the Alhambra but much less expensive.

The ALbayzin area is lovely too.

I would stay downtown and not at the Hotel America. I would say the only bad part of town, is a place far away from it.

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=35092028

ekscrunchy - did you end up staying at the parador?

Travelgirl: We have not yet taken that trip. It is on my list for a possible next year and if we do go, I will write a report!

Great. I love your reports. Are you planning to stay at the parador or did you decide on another hotel in the Alhambra or a hotel down in the city?

I'm not sure yet...I guess I would stay at the parador if I can get rooms and if the price is not too crazy for me.. but nothing decided yet. I am leaving tomorrow for Italy so will defer planning a Spain trip until I get back... It seems as if there are good reasons for staying near the Alhambra and good reasons for staying closer to the center.... I do like to wander around for tapas at night, but as Maribel wrote on another post, there is a bus from the parador area....

Yes, it seemed as if opinions were kind of 50/50. And the parador is expensive. I think we stayed just one night and we really liked the atmosphere.

The Granada Parador is a very difficult reservation to make, as it's the most highly coveted of all the 90+ paradors in the network. To secure a standard double room usually requires booking many months in advance. Current prices are €310-standard double; €347, superior double; €599 for a double with sitting room.

Senior discounts through the Parador's Golden Age Plan (for those 60 and over) are occasionally available from Nov.-Feb. but with only a few rooms set aside to that plan each night.

Red minibuses #30 and #32 run every 10 min. or so from downtown up to the Alhambra hill for those staying in the hotels near the complex. Fare is 1 euro.

For anyone interested in booking the Parador de San Francisco in Granada, it's bookable online at
www.parador.es

The online booking function of the newly designed Parador site works very well. I use it all the time.