Hi, I'm enjoying the multifarious delights of planning a trip to Spain in Octover 2003. We're planning to train down to Pamplona, then to Madrid and on to Seville, and hire a car for a more relaxing look at Andalucia.<BR>Now the question.<BR>Has anybody had experience of the Paradores in this or any other part of Spain?

Gordon,<BR>If you do a search you'll find all kinds of information on the paradores. I'm going to Northern Spain next month and will post about the 2 paradores I'll visit when I return. I'm staying 2 nights in Olite and then 2 nights in Hondarribia. I'm very excited as I love history and these are 2 castles! <BR><BR>I've visited several paradors (had to stop and enjoy a drink somewhere!) and stayed in only one, Pontevedra. It was just wonderful. When I return from my trips and tell friends about the incredible places I've stayed at such reasonable prices they can't believe it.<BR><BR>Oh, also last year we spent 2 nights in Arcos de la Frontera. I loved this little town. We stayed at El Convento, right next door to the parador. It was so welcoming and our balcony was bigger than our room (and it was a nice size room). Oh to return soon....

Dear Gordon:<BR><BR>I have stayed at Paradores.<BR><BR>Jaen - Great views, modern hotel facilities built into a Castle ruin. Our room was small, but the bathroom was huge!! Very nice place. I recommend this one.<BR><BR>Avila - Avila is a walled city, and although the hotel was nice, I felt like I was staying at any chain hotel. I did not feel the same sense of history as in Jaen.<BR><BR>Have fun!

Hi, as Cathy says there is tons of information in previous postings.<BR>look also for their web site, there are all kind of promotions going on most of the time. good luck.<BR>PS They are excellent.

I have stayed at 3 paradores: Granada, Pontevedra and Carmona (near Seville). They all were beautifully appointed, spacious rooms at reasonable prices (when compared to similar in USA). The breakfasts in the hotel are excellent, but the rest of the meals have been lackluster with the exception of Carmona. The parador in Granada is AMAZING as it is part of the Alhambra grounds. And if you go to Granada, bring your swimsuit and go to the Arab Baths...bath time and a massage for around 30 bucks! Perfect antidote for the weary traveler.

Thanks everyone.<BR><BR>I've been trawling through various sites, including the comprehensive paradores site. But nothing beats personal experience.<BR><BR>Gordon

Cathy, you'll love Hondarribia and the paradore there. It's a very picturesque little town and the paradore is directly on the uptown square. Didn't stay there but went in to see its public rooms. Looks truly fun. The only parador we stayed in was in Ronda. Had excellent appointments but was modern rather than historic. Enjoyed it though.

Confess to only staying at one, so definitely not an expert. That one was in Toledo, however, and it was lovely in a very formal and rather stuffy way. The view across the Tajo (Tejo/Tagus) toward the old town is magical, especially at sunset. The rooms are deluxe, the dining room spacious. The menu when we stayed there was a little inaccessible to our tastes - venison, rabbit, wild boar - my wife said it was the "Bambi" menu and we, along with a neighboring table of Israelis, asked if they could produce a steak out of the kitchen, which they did after much sniffing and muttering. Good steak, though - that's the sort of place it was.<BR><BR>You might consider the "poor man's Paradors" - a chain of independent historic hotels that we've used several times and had uniform good results with - cheaper, too.<BR><BR>http://www.estancias.com/

Most paradores are great, but the vary dramatically. Some modern and austere (but in great locations), others old rehabbed buildings and charming.<BR><BR>Highly recommend the Parador in Granada. Probably the most popular and difficult to obtain a reservation (we got dates we could stay there and planned our trip dates around that). <BR><BR>Can look at them all at <BR><BR>www.parador.es

I stayed at the Parador in Arcos. I too thought the atmosphere was a bit stuffy, but I didn't let it bother me. But the best thing about the Paradores is the magnificient lunches! We ate at three and each was a meal to remember, and not too expensive either!

Hi Gordon,<BR><BR> I stayed at the Parador de Cardona in June and loved it. The hotels in Spain are of real value and half-board is well worth it. The Parador de Cardona is a great place to stay for a day trip to Montserrat or Barcelona. Check out the Paradores of Spain website.

We just stayed at the Parador Hostal de los Reyes Catolicos in Santiago de Compostela. Its a historic building dating to the 15th century. We loved it, specially its location right on Plaza de Obradoiro where the Cathedral is. Breakfast was plentiful and very good. We had dinner in their main restaurant one night and found that very good also.

I stayed at the Parador in Ronda, which was very nice, perfect location, beautiful views and all that.<BR><BR>PLEASE look into the parador in Carmona. I LOVED it. It has its own look as it was a moorish palace. It has a lovely pool and nice views of the countryside. The town is on a hill, very cute and tiny, a nice getaway from the cities! Anyway back to the parador, I loved the food, the people were helpful, and it's just COOL to say you stayed in a moorish palace. My warning, there isn't a whole lot of natural light in the rooms - I remember thinking they're kinda' like a monestary (not like I've ever been in one.) Hope that helps!

Thumbs way up for the post by John (jfsevy) regarding www.estancias.com - - not only does it look fantastic, but it led me to its parent "federation" - - http://www.estancias.com/federacion.htm which is a website for the "European Federation of Traditional Accommodation and Historic Houses" - - absolutely phenomenal!! For Italy, just as one example, take a look at http://www.abitarelastoria.it - - and this one property, in particular:<BR><BR>www.oscano.com<BR><BR>Out of this world cool looking - - there are a few posts with questions and the rare answer about this palce, but I had never heard of it.<BR><BR>Sometimes, it's the same old stuff here - - Cesari in Rome, Goldenen Ente in Salzburg, Da Fiore in Venice, yadda yadda yadda.<BR><BR>Hats off to John for what looks to be a whole bunch of fresh new ideas.<BR><BR>Best wishes,<BR><BR>Rex<BR>

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