<BR>All you experts of Spain!<BR>I am looking for recommendations for paradors. Which parador did you like the best and why?<BR>Thanks!<BR>AA

Seu d'Urgell. Great room, great balcony and view of the Pyrenees.<BR><BR>I would also like to try Ronda and Granada (right at the Alhambra someday); I have walked into both, but have never stayed in either.<BR><BR>Best wishes,<BR><BR>Rex<BR>

Thank, Rex. Any more Spain experts?<BR>AA

topping

The one in Granada is wonderful but really hard to get reservations-definitely worth a phone call!

Make sure and ask this on www.madridman.com also<BR><BR>probably better for Spain than this forum.<BR>

<BR>Thanks, Tom, for the advice. I tried to use the madridman form, but find it close to impossible to search there for a given subject.<BR>AA

Really?<BR>

If you are interested in staying in an ancient and quaint village near Madrid, try the parador in Chinchon. I have not stayed there, but I have had drinks at the parador and have wandered around its garden. It has an almost magical atmosphere with gorgeous views and is in one of my favorite Spanish spots.

Have stayed in several. Most wonderful -- Leon, both for the room and the restaurant. Most disappointing -- Santiago -- was OK, but not the "flagship" that I expected.

The parador at Granada is beautifully situated -- with restaurant looking over the Generalife Gardens (and in the Alhambra itself). Also, the parador at the Roman town of Carmona is stunning. Just 20 min drive from Seville, it has a moviestar-esque swimming pool, and is a lovely mix of old and new. I would stay there (have only had drinks on the terrace, from where you can see for miles). While the Parador at Ronda is nice, it is a bit "corporate" looking with a relatively small outdoor area. There is a website: paradors.es (I think that's it, anyway!)

We stayed in the paradore in Rhonda. Yes, it's modern but we had a balcony with a view over the gorge that was incomparable. The comfort in the rooms is also very nice. While modern it was not lacking in Spanish charm.

I was going to post the same thing about the parador in Ronda. It isn't your typical parador -- built in an historic building -- it is brand new. But you can't beat the location looking out right over the gorge!

The parador in Salamanca was quite generic, more like a Best Western. Very clean, but boring. However, the view of the cathedral, etc was fantastic, especially at night.

<BR>Friends,<BR>You are really GREAT!<BR>Thank you all.<BR>AA

Probably too late to help. Have only stayed at the Parador in Alarcon. We loved it! You could drive from Madrid in under two hours.