Karen

We're looking for clean, quiet, and convenient, nothing too fancy. We're already hoping to stay at a few Paradores, but need hotels for these towns just in case. Thanks!

Pedro

May I suggest you some recommendations about those cities:

Segovia: Hotel Los Linajes ( clean, not expensive, situated in the Old City )

The Parador is good but it is outside town though it offers good views over the city.

Toledo: Doménico ( Good situation with the city at its back )

Ciudad de Toledo and Parador ( Terrific situation and views, a bit more expensive)

These three are really interesting if you have a car because they are just outside Toledo but looking towards it.

In the Old Town: Alfonso VI : good but nothing special. Excellent situation just by the Alcazar.

Ronda: Each one has something to offer:
The Reina Victoria is a classic one, has a lot of charm and tradition since it is the eldest in Ronda. It has also good views over the mountains.

The San Gabriel is small, nice and cozy and it is in the heart of "la ciudad" (the Old City). It is also a bit cheaper.

The Parador is great and is absolutely centrally located but it is more expensive.

Granadaalacio de Sta Ines
Carmen de Sta Ines
Alhambra Palace
Parador de Granada
They all are quite good directions.

Sevillaas Casas de los Mercaderes
Las Casas del Rey de Baeza
Las Casas de la Juderia
Los Seises

These are more convenient, but it they are out of budget, try these either:
La Rabida
Fernando III

liz

Karen, I totally agree with Pedro regarding Hotel Los Linajes in Segovia. It was really beautiful with wonderful sweeping views, and extremly reasonable! I will definatley stay there again on my next trip to
Segovia, which was also one of our favorite towns. Have fun!

Paige

We liked the Hotel Simon in Sevilla, Hotel Anacapri in Granada and the parador in Ronda. He DIDN'T like the Hotel Macia in Granada.

Karen

Thanks everyone for responding! ~ Karen

Margo

SEGOVIA
LINAJES (LOS): Doctor Velasco 9, 40003. Tel: 921-460475. Fax: 921-460479. (55 rms., all w/toilet & bath or shower.) 9300ptas single; 10500ptas (large rm.) single; 13500ptas double; 17000ptas (deluxe) double/triple. Continental buffet breakfast (8-10:30am, including ham, cheese, cereal & OJ) at 900ptas pp can be served in the rm. or on the terrace in warm weather. Air-conditioned. Visa, MC. English spoken, cable TV w/Eurosport & BBC, phones, beautiful 11th-century former Segovian renovated palace w/contemporary furnished & identically decorated rms., all w/bathtubs, #506 (large rm. w/king-size bed & balcony w/magnificent view of the countryside), 407 (2 twin beds w/glass-enclosed interior & balcony w/panoramic view of the city) & 406 (large rm. w/king-size bed, sitting area lots of windows & magnificent view of the countryside) are for a double; #306 (deluxe rm. w/2 twin beds, sitting area w/convertible sofa, large bathroom & balcony extending off of bedroom w/magnificent view of the countryside) & 308 ( (deluxe rm. w/2 twin beds, sitting area w/convertible sofa & balcony w/magnificent view of the countryside) are for a double or a triple; 8 rms. w/balconies, 20 rms. w/views, 12 rms. w/king-size beds, bar, fabulous salon, decorative restaurant (April-Oct.), bar & terrace w/panoramic view over the city, garden, great location in the northern edge of the old town in a quiet historical pretty district, elevator, 8 flrs., garage parking (2000ptas per day). Owned/managed by Miguel Borreguero.

TOLEDO
PUERTA BISAGRA: Calle Del Potro 5, 45003. Tel/Fax: 925-285277. (19 rms., all w/toilet & bath or shower.) 4500ptas single; 7000ptas double; 9500ptas triple. Breakfast (8-10:30am) at 350ptas pp. Air-conditioned. Visa, MC. Limited English spoken (Ricardo), TV, phones, newly opened (July, 2000) charming hotel w/nicely furnished & identically decorated rms., new modern compact bathrooms w/half-size bathtubs or showers, nice flrs., #S3 (lower level rm. w/twin bed & faces the street w/no view) is the room for a single; #11 (double bed, shower & balcony w/view of rooftops & city wall) & 18 (2 twin beds, 1/2 bathtub, red brick wall & balcony w/view of church & city wall) are for a double; #S1 (double bed, shower, no window or view but w/private patio) & S2 (2 twin beds, full-size bathroom & small window that faces the street w/no view) are lower level rms. for a double; #17 (3 twin beds, shower & balcony w/view of church) is for a triple; 4 rms. w/balconies, soundproofed, bar, new modern contemporary glass-ceiling restaurant w/small see through flr. to show original rock, (mid-2001), elevator, 3 flrs. Built on the walls near the tourist office. Catch bus #5 or 6. It is a 10-min. steep uphill climb from this hotel to the Plaza Zocodover but the views are worth it. (Closed Dec. 2 & 31.)

RONDA
TAJO: Cruz Verde/Dr. Cajal 7, 29400. Tel: 95-2874040. Fax: 95-2875099. (65 rms., all w/toilet & bath or shower.) 4500ptas (5500ptas fiesta) single; 8500ptas (9500ptas fiesta) double; 10000ptas (11000ptas fiesta) triple. Breakfast (8-11am, includes cereal, cheese, eggs, ham & bacon) at 700ptas pp. Air-conditioned. Visa, MC, AX, DC. Limited English spoken (Cristobal), cable TV w/CNN & BBC, rotary phones, wonderful charming modern w/nicely furnished & identically decorated nice-size rms., nice marble flrs., all rms. for singles face interior; #131 & 132 (both w/2 twin beds & balconies that face the street) are for a double; #129 (corner rm. w/double bed & balcony that faces the street) is for a double; #130 (3 twin beds & 2 balconies that face the street) is for a triple; bar, restaurant, elevator, 3 flrs., parking (1500ptas). They offer half- and full-board rates. Owned/managed by Javier & Cristobal (husband & wife). Cross street: Calle Almendra.

richardab

In MADRID I stayed at the Hotel santo Domingo. Each room in this hotel is decorted differently. The staff is friendly and speaks good English. They also offer a nice Continental style breakfast with your room rate. They are centrally located, have a Metro stop right across the street and are located in a quiet area. Check the websight--

http://www.hotelsantodomingo.com/

Another inexpensive choice is the Carlos V. It seemed like a nice place and everyone recommends it, but its in the middle of the pedestrian shopping district. This means the neighborhood can be noisy and busy.

Shari

We've stayed at Hotel Ingles in Madrid, as have other members of my family, a couple of times & liked it. I'm sorry I don't have the exact address, but it's on Calle Echegaray, near Puerta del Sol. Rooms are large & clean, nicely decorated, and the bathrooms are big and modern. I think last time we paid the equivalent of $85 a night. It's best to speak Spanish or have a Spanish-speaking friend call for reservations/info -- the staff can be a little, er, prickly. Make sure you ask about rooms higher up & not facing the street, b/c there are a couple of restaurants nearby that can be kind of noisy.

Tom

Hi Karen. We splurged more on hotels, but do have some good suggestions (did your exact itinerary in September over ten days). We opted to stay put more and do day trips rather than pack/unpack:

Madrid - Hotel Villa Real (nice, good location, staff arranged a great day trip with an english speaking driver to Segovia and La Granja). Easy to cover these in a day (if not using public transport as La Granja is outside of Segovia).

Toledo - forgot the name of the hotel, but would do this as a day trip from Madrid. Charming little town, but again didn't think it was worth packing/unpacking.

Seville - STayed at the Alfonso XIII. Expensive, but this hotel and the parador in Granada were amazing. Great location and totally unique old hotel built by the King. Perfect location near the jewish quarter (it's a Westin so if you have any hotel points or discounts can use them here).

Ronda - cute town, but difficult to get to. Stayed at the Parador, but would probably have skipped this next time. Charming town, but again there's a gorge and some quaint old buildings.

Granada -stayed at the Parador in the gardens. BEST SPLURGE ON TRIP. Charming place right in the gardens and the patio for dinner overlooks the Generalife. Also, some of the best food we had in Spain. Books up way in advance (our travel agent is a Spain expert and we were the first of her clients actually able to secure a room there). Was also great to be able to walk around the gardens at night without the crowds. Also, noticed you can walk through the palace at night (need tickets) which would have been amazing because of the views and shadows and no crowds (we saw it in the am and tried to buy our way in at night but the gatekeeper was too honest - ticket office was closed by that time).

michele

Karen,
Try the Hotel America in Granada. Right on the Alhambra grounds. Small, family run, lovely patiod dining room. I stayed there and the parador and preferred the America for its genuiness.

Seville- try either the Casa de los Mercaderos or Casa de la Juderia. These might be a little expensive ( I think I paid around $125 for the Mercadero at peak season). Both are quiet, well-located, and in historical buildings.

If noise doesn't bother you, try the Moderno in Madrid. Excellent location in Old Madrid. Under or close to $100; no atmosphere.

Art

Hi Karen, in Madrid try the Hotel Mora. Clean and inexpensive approx $50/night for a double and it is across the street from the Prado Museum.