Tarberna del Alabardero in Seville - Big Disappointment!
 

Two weeks ago I requested references about this hotel and read references. Everything suggestd it was a good choice.<BR><BR>Made a guaranteed reservation for a double and specified mother and daughter. <BR><BR>Arrived at the hotel at 3:30pm, were taken to the &quot;Almeria room&quot; which different to all the other rooms, looked like a space where they fitted another room to sell in a hidden corner. Went in and almost cried! The tiniest little room, a small double bed for two adults, no windows and only a a very dim light on the ceiling above the bed. Depressing!<BR>Called reception, a lot of sugar coating, but...&quot;sorry, that is all we have left&quot;, no explanation as to why my reservation was not honored properly.<BR><BR>We went out to the Plaza Nueva and found Hotel Inglaterra jus a block away, for $123.00 per night. For this rate we got a lovely room with two beds, and a beautiful private terrace overlooking the plaza and the cathedral.<BR><BR>I knew what my money was worth in Sevilla. I stayed at the Alfonso XIII last August for $150. and was wonderful. <BR><BR>Just wanted to share with this forum. You have been wonderful to me!

epaulino,<BR>Thank you for sharing this information. It's so good to know when people here have liked or not liked a place. Sorry you had a bad experience, but glad it turned out fine (how could it not in Seville!)<BR><BR>Could you tell me how to get in touch with Hotel Inglaterra? Do they have a website?<BR><BR><BR>Thanks again,<BR>Julie<BR>

There are many posters here who would say they loved the place. Was it clean? Did it have a bed? Over and over again people say that's all that's important in a hotel. Some of us like more than that, and I'd say you learned the hard way.

I've never heard of a hotel having a bedroom available with no windows. I'm not doubting you, but I am surprised. I hope you got your money back immediately.

Dear Z.z; Oh yes. I have been given a room without windows many times in Paris, Sevilla, and other locales throughout Europe. Rarely have I been given what I have requested in advance in Europe. I get what seems like the worst and then pitch a nice little hissy and they then give me their best. epaulino's story does not surprise me. In fact, the same thing happened to me at one of the best hotels in Sevilla. I think it was called: Hotel Dona Maria.

<BR>Dear epaulino,<BR><BR>Hotels in Sevilla and other cities in Spain that are located in older buildings have lots of what we call interior rooms. <BR>By that I mean a room that has a window, but it is not floor to ceiling, just regular european size -about 1m x 1m or a little bigger- and they generally overlook a small interior court, with no view at all. <BR><BR>The tradition of most buildings in the center of these cities is a very narrow fa&ccedil;ade, and lots of rooms built to the inside to avoid the heat of the day and the noisy busy streets. Even noble houses in Seville are built this way.<BR><BR>Of course, newly built hotels don´t have this handicap, specially if they have been purpose built.<BR><BR>Having lived and worked at a hotel in the U.S., I know what americans expect as standard and I understand people feeling dissapointed when they get one of these rooms. The same thing when people come to Spain expecting a queen or king size bed, which usually are only available in modern hotels.<BR><BR>Truth is, generally you have to sacrifice comfort a little bit for atmosphere or great location.

<BR><BR>Hotel Inglaterra's website is:<BR><BR>www.hotelinglaterra.com<BR><BR>Ph: 95 422 49 70<BR><BR><BR>About the window question:<BR><BR>What they have in that room is a very small piece of opaque plexiglass(?)imitating a window, facing the hallway, with a same size drape.<BR><BR>They said that after all, they figured I was going to be out of the room most the time, and could not understand my frustration.

Having stayed in the Taberna several times I go back there whenever I can get a room. Every room is different. Some are tiny cubby holes and others are noisy. Some require a stairway, others are walk-ins. Some are gorgeous, others are tiny.<BR><BR>We asked for specific rooms when we reserve and usually get them. (3-6 months lead time...the property is teensy.)<BR><BR>The restaurant is amazing, wonderful and not to be missed. Even if you don't like the rooms, the food is wonderful.

Topper

Thank you for the information on Hotel Inglaterra. One last question--is Alfonso XIII MUCH nicer?<BR>Thanks,<BR>Julie

MUCH, MUCH, MUCH, MUCH NICER !!!<BR><BR>It´s a beautiful moorish style building from the 20´s, possibly one of the prettiest in Spain. The building alone is a work of art, not to mention the woodwork on the ceilings, paintings, chandeliers, etc.<BR><BR>A friend of mine stayed there last year with bancotel coupons -off season- and payed only about 150$. They got what was probably their smallest room and it still was gorgeous. Lots of beautiful antiquey details, plush bathrobes, etc. <BR>

Agree about Alphonso. Great hotel. The Taberna is enjoyable because of its small size and eclectic style and the Alphonso is huge, gorgeous and reasonable. <BR><BR>Taberna, you can see (and hear) the horses clop down the narrow streets, stroll to the best Tapas in Spain and walk to most of the tourist sites.<BR><BR>Alphonso, you feel the luxury and, if lucky, you overlook the beautiful Alcazar.<BR><BR>Sevilla...a wonderful town with wonderful facilities...and a short trip by rail to Madrid.

thank you epaulino and olga...oh...i'm ready to go back (as soon as i get halfway decent at Spanish!)

A command of Espanol is not a requirement in Sevilla. Just a happy heart and a smile on your face.<BR><BR>The folks there love their city (with good reason) and love to show it off!

Epaulino is right in my opinion. They <BR>( the hotel) tried to see if it worked, they must have been aware that it was a lousy room but ...if you do not complain....that is why reservation or no reservation most ot the time I ask to see the room first, or at least I try to convey a messge to the front desk guy in the process of assigning me a room that I care.....that I would not take a bad room, it works most of the time.