Staying in the Albaycin in Granada
Feb 15th, 2003, 06:08 PM
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Staying in the Albaycin in Granada
A number of the lodgings we are interested are in this area. Will this be a horror if we have a car? What does one do with a car when staying in this area? Thanks
Feb 15th, 2003, 06:30 PM
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One ratchets in the side mirrors and hopes for the best. Really, it is an area very difficult for parking, and driving, cars, but you'll manage. We did. If you're driving a stick shift, be prepared for a lot of backing up and shifting, but you'll be OK. It's an adventure, right?
Feb 16th, 2003, 06:19 AM
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What people do is park all over the plazas and clog the narrow streets. It's a type of pollution, if you think about it. When my sister lived there a few years ago, many items were still transported into the Albaicin on the backs of donkeys.
Feb 16th, 2003, 07:34 AM
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julies,
We tried staying in the Albaícin just once, at the Carmen de Santa Inés. It and its sister, the Palacio de Santa Inés are recommended in the Sawday "Special Places to Stay/Spain" guide and secretplaces.com and i-escapes, and the Carmen de Santa Inés boasts a red designation for charm in the Michelin. So we went with high hopes, even forwarned about the accessibility problems, ready to enjoy this "adventure".
The front entrances of both hotels are completely inaccessible by car, and it's a steep, difficult climb up to both with heavy luggage in tow. The Carmen does have a lower back door off a tiny street our taxi driver called "the narrowest street in Spain" with elevator to take luggage up, which they didn't tell us about until we departed. When I reserved there, management told us to call them from the Plaza Nueva downtown (which after much frustration we gave up trying to reach in the maze of early evening traffic), that they would send their bellhop there to rescue us, take our luggage and park the car somewhere (there are no parking lots/garages in the Albaícin!). We ended up exiting the city and taking the Carretera de Circunvalación speedily up to the Alhambra hill, where we usually stay because of the great convenience, and stashed our car in the huge Alhambra lot then taxied down. By that time, at 8 p.m., the hotel's bellhop had gone home for the day anyway. We found that section of the laid back, bohemian Albaícin very scruffy, the hotel itself overpriced for what it was, our requested Alhambra view suite simply a large room with a small setee with no view in sight, more "shabby chic" than elegant, and the housekeeping just so-so. And the Albaícin can be dicey at night. My friend, a Spain newbie, felt uncomfortable staying there, so we left the next morning and switched to the Alhambra Palace on the Alhambra hill. (The little Hotel America and Parador were full, but the moderate Guadalupe was available), Because of this experience, we don't feel that the Albaícin lodgings are quite ready for prime time yet.
We tried staying in the Albaícin just once, at the Carmen de Santa Inés. It and its sister, the Palacio de Santa Inés are recommended in the Sawday "Special Places to Stay/Spain" guide and secretplaces.com and i-escapes, and the Carmen de Santa Inés boasts a red designation for charm in the Michelin. So we went with high hopes, even forwarned about the accessibility problems, ready to enjoy this "adventure".
The front entrances of both hotels are completely inaccessible by car, and it's a steep, difficult climb up to both with heavy luggage in tow. The Carmen does have a lower back door off a tiny street our taxi driver called "the narrowest street in Spain" with elevator to take luggage up, which they didn't tell us about until we departed. When I reserved there, management told us to call them from the Plaza Nueva downtown (which after much frustration we gave up trying to reach in the maze of early evening traffic), that they would send their bellhop there to rescue us, take our luggage and park the car somewhere (there are no parking lots/garages in the Albaícin!). We ended up exiting the city and taking the Carretera de Circunvalación speedily up to the Alhambra hill, where we usually stay because of the great convenience, and stashed our car in the huge Alhambra lot then taxied down. By that time, at 8 p.m., the hotel's bellhop had gone home for the day anyway. We found that section of the laid back, bohemian Albaícin very scruffy, the hotel itself overpriced for what it was, our requested Alhambra view suite simply a large room with a small setee with no view in sight, more "shabby chic" than elegant, and the housekeeping just so-so. And the Albaícin can be dicey at night. My friend, a Spain newbie, felt uncomfortable staying there, so we left the next morning and switched to the Alhambra Palace on the Alhambra hill. (The little Hotel America and Parador were full, but the moderate Guadalupe was available), Because of this experience, we don't feel that the Albaícin lodgings are quite ready for prime time yet.
Feb 16th, 2003, 07:35 AM
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(cont.):
I haven't seen the Casa Morisca or Casa del Aljarife in the Albaícin, which are Inns of Spain selections but have read here a not- so-favorable review of the Aljarife. It pops with a text search.
I would highly recommend that with a car, you either stay on the Alhambra hill for sheer ease of access or in a downtown hotel such as the business class Hotel Carmen or Tryp Albaycín (not to be confused with the Albaícin quarter) that are easier to reach by car, not as far deep into the downtown maze.
Or simply hire a taxi to guide you to your hotel. The new deluxe AC Palacio de Santa Paula and the new moderate Hotel Casa del Capitel Nazari have received excellent, recent reviews here by posters whose judgment I value and trust.
I haven't seen the Casa Morisca or Casa del Aljarife in the Albaícin, which are Inns of Spain selections but have read here a not- so-favorable review of the Aljarife. It pops with a text search.
I would highly recommend that with a car, you either stay on the Alhambra hill for sheer ease of access or in a downtown hotel such as the business class Hotel Carmen or Tryp Albaycín (not to be confused with the Albaícin quarter) that are easier to reach by car, not as far deep into the downtown maze.
Or simply hire a taxi to guide you to your hotel. The new deluxe AC Palacio de Santa Paula and the new moderate Hotel Casa del Capitel Nazari have received excellent, recent reviews here by posters whose judgment I value and trust.
Feb 16th, 2003, 03:52 PM
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I think you are scareing me off of staying in this area. I can already see the steam coming out of my husband's ears when trying to drive the area. The Alhambra area is sounding better all the time as is a Cortijo 3 km out of town that I found. I also have been a tad leery of walking there at night. Thanks.
