Hotels & Paradores in Spain
Tourism is a vital industry for Spain and has resulted in thousands of hotels of all grades. Hotels are government regulated. They must fulfil certain requirements according to their star rating. A five-star hotel will have air conditioning in all public rooms and bedrooms, central heating and all bedrooms will have fully furnished bathrooms. Paradores are a good example of this. Three- or four-star hotels are good quality. One- and two-star hotels will have central heating but not all bedrooms will be en suite.
An unusual fact! With the recent construction of four new macro hotels, Benidorm is currently third behind London and Paris in offering tourist accommodation - and cheaper. The newly opened Gran Hotel Bali is the tallest building in Spain at 210 metres and the tallest hotel in Europe. The Bali's figures are impressive. It employs 278 people, has 776 rooms with 1,608 beds, a convention hall with assembly rooms for 3,000 people and restaurants for 1,000.
Interested in rooms at a particular hotel?
- Do they have rooms? - Hay habitaciones?
- For an individual room ask for una habitation individual. It may well be that there are two single beds in the room, but the charge will only be for one.
- Intending to share a room? Ask for a una habitation doble, which will be a room with two single beds.
- If you want a double bed, ask for una habitation con cama matrimonial (a room with a double bed).
- A room with a bath is una habitation con bano, and one with a shower is una habitation con ducha.
Paradores
The Spanish tourist industry is proud of its unique network of 86 hotels called paradores . They range from three- to five-star, the majority of which are restored historic monuments such as castles, monasteries, convents or palaces. Great care has been taken to preserve their decor and distinctive characteristics while converting them into high-quality modern hotels. Even the modern purpose-designed paradores reflect regional styles and have unique decor and furnishing. Their restaurants, too, pride themselves on regional cuisine and wine. Travelling around Spain staying in paradores is a special way of seeing the country.
- There is a high standard of service and cleanliness.
- The cuisine is excellent, normally to international standards and caters for all tastes.
- The buildings are usually interesting and the facilities are modern.
- They are frequently located in beauty spots which are off the beaten track.
- They are expensive.
