Switching Hotels In Granada??
 

Here is our dilemma. We will be in Granada for two days this March arriving and departing via rental car (a very small one, but still a car nonetheless).

We previously made reservations at the Parador, but our financial situation has changed a bit and so I am considering selecting a less expensive hotel that has hopefully as much charm. (The parador is 254 Euros with the tax and breakfast included per night.) One hotel that I found which looks lovely is Casa Morisca (at 150 Euros with tax included) in the Albaicin section. There are several reviews on Casa Morisca on tripadvisor and other sites and it seems like it may be a really charming and beautiful place.

However, I have seen some comments that the Albaicin may be a bit rough in the evenings, although other reports seem to refute this. Some seem to find the Albaicin a really great area to explore and others have been disappointed. I have also read that driving will likely be a real challenge.

Having said all that, it looks like we could stay in a standard double at Hotel America for 107 Euros - obviously the price is better, but I'm thinking I may be sacrificing some charm.

So I am hoping someone might be able to advise me as to (1) whether I should be concerned about driving into the Albaicin, (2) whether anyone has any fresh comments on Casa Morisca and the Albaicin in general, (3) whether the Alhambra hill is a more convenient / lovely location / safer location, (4) if so should be go with Hotel America - I've seen some spotty reviews on the standard doubles, which is what I would be reserving and (5) should I just stop the nonsense and stay at the Parador.

Thank you for any thoughts you might have. I don't know if this information will be helpful, but we will be driving in from Ronda and then leaving for Toledo.

Thanks again!
SRS

Hi,

We were in Granada a couple of years back. We stayed at the Hotel Macia on the Plaza Nueva. It was clean and well located. The Plaza Nueva is at the bottom of the hills between the Alhambra and Albaicin. So has good access to both.

We found the Albaicin to be pretty rough. I wouldn't feel comfortable walking around there at night. Plus, it adds a big hill to your walk home. The views of the Alhambra from there are great.

That said, if we were to go back, we would try to get a room at the Parador. If you can afford it, I'd recommend you stay there. If not, check out the Macia.

-- Chad

SRS,
We stayed in the Albaicin for one night several yrs. ago before seeking refuge on the Alhambra hill the very next morning. We made the wrong hotel choice in the Albaicin, the Carmen de Santa Ines, which we personally found to be very disappointing on many counts. And my traveling companion, a Spain newbie, found the area around it rather "rough around the edges"-she felt uncomfortable and not too safe at night. So we rushed up to the Alhambra hill and managed to snag the last room at the really lovely 4 star Alhambra Palace, where we had stayed so happily before. It's the other less expensive option to the Parador.

The Alhambra hill hotels are so easy to reach, as you take the Carretera de Circunvalacion, the Ronda (ring road), skirting downtown entirely and up and around to the Alhambra parking lot. It's so simple and easy. We find the downtown Granada traffic just a nightmare. We've often found ourselves going 'round in circles for hrs.

But our Albaicin experience was before the opening of the two boutique properties, Casa del Capitel Nazari and the Casa Morisca and before the neighborhood's "gentrification". With the opening of the Mosque, the new Arab Baths and all the tea houses, it's now getting a lot of press as a very happening, young, hip "Little Morocco". Back then, we just thought the Albaicin wasn't quite ready for "prime time", and I still don't think I'd recommend it to first timers.

But...I've heard and read great things about the Casa Morisca, particularly about the lovely decor.
But I still don't personally consider the Albaicin a lovelier location than the Alhambra Hill. I prefer quiet and romantic to "happening" and have always enjoyed being near the Alhambra grounds, whether it be at the Parador, Alhambra Palace or tiny and sweet Hotel America. When I traveled on a smaller budget, I stayed at the America and was happy as can be. I think it also depends on one's age too. Some prefer the "vibes", the energy and the lively tapas bars of downtown.
When we stay at the A. Palace, we just walk down to the tapas bars of the Campo del Principe, then taxi back.

I really wouldn't attempt the Albaicin with a car. When we gave our taxi driver the address of the Carmen de S.I., he laughed about it's being the "narrowest street in Spain". The streets are tiny, tiny, narrow as can be, the layout is typical Moorish maze-like and hills quite steep, so there's nowhere to park.

Hope this helps you to decide.

Thank you both for your replies.

I need to do more research and talk to my husband! Right now I am leaning toward just staying at the Parador - we can always be more exciting on the next trip, plus we will have taken care of our need to stay at the Parador.

But what about this? Do you think this would be possible / a good idea - we could park up at the parador (depending on parking fees, but I'm hoping they are similar everywhere) and then take a cab to Casa Morisca if we stay there. Does that sound doable and better or just doable and different.

As far as our styles go - we are in our late 20s, but tend to be quiet romatic types. I can see us staying out to walk and stroll or have a drink, but we wouldn't be out partying the night away at a club - it just wouldn't be us.

Thanks again!
SRS

Hi SRS,
That's exactly what we did when we stayed in the Albaicin. We made our way up to the Alhambra parking lot, dumped the rental car there and took a taxi down to our hotel in the Albaicìn. Much less hassle than trying to find parking downtown. Now that's a major chore that has been known to strain the very best of marriages! :-) (or so say my friends who tried to do just that) I highly recommend that stash the car in the Alhambra lot if you do decide to spend 1 night down there.

But I still think that if you reeally have your heart set on the Granada Parador (I certainly did when I was in my 20s), just stay there and economize elsewhere during your trip.
We had a reservation there for last April which we sadly had to cancel due to an truncated trip, but we'll try once again in the future.

As for the romantic part, we really enjoy our alfresco dinners on the terrace of the Parador, serenaded by a classical guitarist, contemplating the iluminated Alhambra by night. I've never done one of the floodlit night visits to the Alhambra, but that's something you might enjoy as well. In March I believe it's open at night only on wkds. from 8-930 p.m. It's not at all a substitute for the regular day entrance, as you get to see far less, but posters here have enjoyed it nonetheless. You book the evening entrance separately at
www.alhambratickets.com

The parador in the Alhambra is without a doubt a wonderful place to stay in Granada, and I had a splendid meal there. The Hotel America, which as you know is also in the Alhambra, is a modest one; I only had a meal there, so I cannot comment on the accommodations. You might consider the Alhambra Palace Hotel, which is right on the edge of the Alhambra grounds. It is cheaper than the parador, has a lovely terrace with a view over Granada and into the mountains behind (?) above (?) Granada.
If you go to www.tripadvisor.com, you will find both Fodor's and Frommer's descriptions of the hotel as well as conflicting opinions by travellers who have stayed there.

This thread is very helpful. I read all about staying at the Parador de San Francisco which I think is also called the Parador in Granada and I was convinced we would stay there for 2 nights..Ha, Ha the joke was on me when I saw the price for mid July. Maybe well just eat there.

The Alhambra Palace sounds wonderful but still pricey (163 euros) for 2 twin beds. What about staying at "ALIXARES" it sounds comfortable, not too expensive (82 euros)however there's seems to be two places with very similar names - the Hotel Alixares and the ALIXARES GENERALIFE. This name of a place did well in the Raves and Reviews section. Any comments about these choices as well would be appreciated.
Thanks!

2CdnMMs,
I stayed at the 3 star Los Alixares del Generalife (the complete name of the Alixares) quite a long while ago when we were traveling in the south in late July with 7 teenage boys. We chose it for the low price, the Alhambra hill location and most importantly, the pool! What I remember are basic, clean but simple rooms with rather thin walls but a pleasant staff and that pool which kept the kids happy. The rooms may have been updated since our stay. It is next door to the Hotel Guadalupe, across from the Alhambra parking lots.

I'll (once again) agree with Maribel. Trying to navigate Granada in a car is far from relaxing. Dropping it off in the Alhambra's parking lot and then taking a taxi makes a lot of sense. When we drove into Granada, we got lost for quite a while before finding an underground garage. It was then about 1/2 mile of dragging our luggage to get to the hotel.

If you do choose the Morisca, please post a review when you get back. I've visited the website and it does look great. Also, its been about four years since we were in Granada. Maribel talks about the Alabaicin's gentrification, so a lot could have changed since then.

Still, I'd really like to stay at the Parador.

-- Chad

Chad, Eloise, and Maribel,

Thanks again. I think we are leaning toward the parador right now. We'll spend more time walking thorugh / eating in the Albaicin.

Interestingly, I am looking into Hotel Residencia Macia, which appears to have a quite reasonable price - I think under 100 Euros. I am not finding much information on it, but I am still in the initial looking for reviews phase. Chad, based on your post, I am thinking that it does not have parking. Would you stay there again? (If the Parador was full or if you were trying to save some money?)

Thanks again!
SRS

I would stay there again if I were trying to save money. The hotel is fairly generic with little of the charm of either the Parador or, from what I have seen on the web, the Morisca. But, the rooms are clean, the beds are good, and it was well insulated for sound. Of course, we had an airshaft view, those overlooking the Pza Nueva might not be so tranquil. Also, the location was great, right in between the Alhambra, the Albaicin, and the Cathedral.

There was no parking at the hotel. Also, that area has traffic restrictions, not everyone can drive in it. If you do choose the Macia, you can drive up to the hotel by showing your reservation at the gate leading into the Pza Nueva. You'd then need to drop off your bags and park elsewhere. I found an interactive map at multimap.com. According to it, there is a parking garage about two blocks away on C. Oficios between Cs. Elvira and Joacquin Costa. That is a lot closer than where we ended up parking...

Speaking of driving and parking, do take a look at multimap.com and viamichelin.com once you chose your hotel. I've been using viamichelin a lot as I plan our upcoming trip. I'm trying to avoid some of the "strain" (as Maribel so eloquently puts it) we've had in the past trying to drive into Spanish cities.

-- Chad

Also, for more information on the Hotel Macia (or Macia Plaza as it appears to be called), check out www.tripadvisor.com. There are several reviews of it (and other Granada hotels).

-- Chad

Chad,

Thanks again! I appreciate your insight and thanks for the tip on the viamichelin sight! I have to work out where we will stay! I am going to work further on my itinerary this weekend and will post for more comments shortly!

SRS