Hospes Palacio de los Patos

Reviewed by Laura Dibben


URBAN ELEGANCE..............

If you are looking for 5-star luxury in Granada, do not think twice about this Hotel. Two contrasting adjacent buildings make up Palacio de Los Patos; a beautifully restored 19th Century Bourgeois palace and an illustrious modern building, joined underground by a peaceful space of enlightenment and self contemplation, also known as the Bodyna Spa, where delicate ripples of light filter through the glass-floored fountains on the patio above.

Iron gates open invitingly to a pathway that leads you to the main entrance where two white marble swans sit proudly in the fountain under two grand palm trees. Once inside, a sweeping marble staircase leads your eye upward to a spectacular, ornate cupola. Soft, chill-out music sets the mood in the lavish entrance hall and reception area where the serenity is astounding. Relaxation sets in from the moment you arrive.

The Hotel´s 42 bedrooms – comprised of a Presidential Suite, Grand Suite, 3 Suites, 5 Junior Suites, 11 Superior Doubles and 21 Doubles – are situated throughout both buildings. In the main palace, the fusion of neo-classical architecture with modern design is outstanding, and the result is pure elegance. Cool greys, blues and beiges with silver and gold accents are calming. The suites in this old palace are drop-dead gorgeous, making stunning use old features such as alabaster moulds and painted ceilings. Three of the bedrooms are specially adapted for wheelchair users and those with mobility problems.

Across the patio are the fabulously modern Doubles and Superior Doubles. Frosted glass walls veiled by white curtains separate bathrooms from bedrooms and bedrooms from sitting areas. The marble baths are most impressive. When it comes to room amenities you will want for nothing. All feature ADSL, safe, plasma TV, DVD, telephone, mini-bar, Egyptian cotton linen, fluffy towels, bathrobes, pillow menu, heating and air-conditioning and top-of-the-line toilietries. Some rooms are non-smoking, and 24 hour room service is available.

The Hotel also has a restaurant – a rare commodity amongst Granada hotels – creative cuisine using typical products of the region is on offer for lunch and dinner. Breakfast is buffet-style.

For complete relaxation after a day´s sightseeing, a variety of massage and beauty treatments are available in the Spa, along with an indoor swimming pool, sauna and Turkish bath.

You are just a 10-minute walk to all the sights and attractions Granada has to offer. A visit to the Alhambra Palace cannot be missed, and it is highly recommended you purchase your tickets in advance (www.alhambratickets.com) to avoid lengthy queues on the day of your visit.

An ideal citybreak Hotel if you are looking for exquisite, chic accommodation with superb service.


This Hotel was featured on Conde Nast Traveler´s ¨Hot List¨ for 2006.