Granada Spain hotels
 

What is the best hotel in Granada. Heard good things about Alhambra Palace and the Prador Nacional San Francisco.

The Parador is incredible! It's not in the city center, rather up next to the Alhambra. Try to get a room in the old section--ours was very peaceful as it faced towards the gardens of the Generalife. But do book well in advance!

thanks for the info. Did you book on line?

We stqayed in the Alhambra Palace - also next to the Alhambra and above most of the city (we reserved only 4 months in advance and the parador was already full). It was large and pleasant - rooms were large and comfy - not a 5* hotel by any means - but perfectly pleasant and convenient.

If you are seriously considering the parador, and you have definite dates, I advise you to book now. I've already booked for July 2005 after being told by someone (here) they couldn't get a room nine months ahead!

On a trip last November, we stayed in two Paradors (in Ronda and in Málaga), and they were both terrific. The Paradors are all of high quality, and good values. But despite booking months in advance, we couldn't get in to all the Paradors we wanted. You probably know that you can book (or at least try to book) the Paradors at "http://www.parador.es/english/index.jsp" (that's the English version).

In Granada, we stayed at the Hotel America, a charming small hotel that is also up next to the Alhambra. In fact, it's probably 100 yards from the Parador. See "http://www.hotelamericagranada.com/". It's not super fancy, and the rooms were small, but it was pleasant, and the proprietor was very friendly and helpful.

One can argue both ways about the benefits of being up by the Alhambra vs. down in the city. Being up above made our several trips to the Alhambra very easy, and the hotel was quiet at night. We left our car in the Alhambra parking the whole time we were there, and took a bus down to the city most evenings for dinner, and to use an internet café. The bus is very convenient. The short trip uses a road that can only be used by this small bus and taxis. If you want to drive up to the Alhambra in your own car, you have to make a long round-about trip.

On the other hand, if you're going to do a lot in the city itself, you might be better off staying down below.

- Larry