Riu Rincon Andaluz Hotel
 

Has anyone stayed at the Riu Rincon Andaluz in Marbella? We are considering a package in January which includes breakfast, dinner and car. Would appreciate comments on location (is it near the old town, within walking distance)quality of rooms and meals. If it's not close to the old town will we have problems with parking there? Also what is the best way to get to Seville from Marbella using public transportation? We want to drop off the car after spending 6 days in Marbella. Is it a good idea to drive to Malaga and drop off the car at the train station and take the train to Seville. Or if we drive to Seville where is the best spot to drop off car so we don't have to drive into Seville. Thanks for your help.

We have been at the Rincon Andaluz in October 2001. The reason why your package includes a car is that it is not close to Marbella or any other city (10 min. drive). Actually the Rincon Andaluz is close to the small village of San Pedro de Alcantara.<BR>When you want to go to Marbella old centre there is a big underground parking lot right in the centre. The same goes for Puerto Banus that has various parking lots. Don't worry about getting rid of your car, especially in January. It's the most quiet month overthere.<BR>What you also should know is that the hotel is along the very very busy road from Malaga to Gibraltar. When we were there the hotel was under total renovation and they didn't rent out the rooms facing that road. Don't know if they do now. There is a private parking lot in front of the hotel.<BR>Regarding the hotel itself: it is a nice low-rise hotel in typical Andalucian style, built around a tropical garden with 2 pools. Rooms have been refurbished and are rather large and beautifully decorated. Ours had an ensuite bathroom with double sink, bathtub and separate shower cabin.<BR>The staff were all very friendly.<BR>Breakfast is a huge buffet with fresh rolls, croissants, pains au chocolat, various egg preparations, bacon, cereals ... everything you can think of.<BR>Dinner was buffet style as well with one or two dishes prepared 'a la minute'. It was OK for one week but shouldn't have been much longer. The quality of the food was OK but it got a little monotonous in the end ...<BR>Cannot advise you re public transport because we got our car at Malaga airport and dropped it off there as well.<BR>

Myriam,<BR>Thanks so much for your reply. It's such a good deal, but I just can't decide if we should go with something closer to the old town. I'm still interested in hearing from others.<BR>

If not being close to the old town is your only objection, then I would not hesitate. You do have a car and it's really easy to get rid of it in old Marbella.

Hi Lily,<BR>About your transportation to Seville:<BR><BR>You could just drop your car off at the rental location in Marbella and take the Portillo bus to Seville from the bus station on Calle Trapiche. I believe the morning bus leaves at 9:30, but you should check when you arrive at the Rincon Andaluz.<BR><BR>Otherwise, if you want to drive to Seville, you could drop off the car at the Seville airport, avoiding the inner city maze entirely. It's actually easy. From San Pedro de Alcantara, just take that very scenic N 376 (up to Ronda, then Algondonales, Utrera) all the way up to the NIV-E05, which is that &quot;beltway&quot; that will take you around and up north to the San Pablo airport. This is relatively hassle free driving. We find that turning in a car to Seville's Santa Justa train station is much harder than picking one up there. <BR>Just drive to the airport, then take the public bus or a taxi to your hotel. And take along a print out of more exact driving directions from www.viamichelin.com<BR>The drive up to Seville from San Pedro de Alcantara should take around 3 hrs.<BR><BR>Or leave the driving to others and take the Portillo bus, but there are only 2 regular daily departures to Seville. See www.marbella.com<BR><BR>Hope this helps.<BR>Maribel<BR><BR><BR><BR>

Thanks again Myriam and Maribel. I guess my main objective is to combine some touring and relaxation and we would like to be close enough to the Old Town that we can stroll around on days that we don't feel like doing too much. Definetly want to go to Seville for a few days but from what I've been reading want to avoid driving into the city to our hotel that's why I'd like to drop off the car before going there.

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