Hostal La Paloma I

The location is quiet, and the shared villa has lovely garden areas and a superb pool. The rooms are clean and basic. Having a car matters because of the steep gradient.

David Belcher was one of my favorite staff members. He always had a big smile, and his attention to detail was spot on. Thanks, David, for making the stay so memorable for my family. You can tell he really loves providing good service. The pool staff were incredible too, and the pools were great for the kids. We got a very attentive welcome when we arrived at the beautiful circular drive. The property is full of natural beauty, and the rooms are clean, updated, and great.

In summer, the price felt completely out of proportion to what you get. The room was cramped, and everything else felt squeezed in too, as though they’d tried to fit too much into one place. The location also wasn’t great for us: with the change in elevation, it’s quite a walk to both the city center and the beaches.

We were on a day trip to Calpe when friends invited us for a couple of drinks, so we decided not to drive back to Valencia. Around 9 p.m. I called las Palomas I to ask about a room. Trying to book ahead was a mess. First they asked me to send details on WhatsApp, then said there was no need and that I could just pop in when I wanted the room. I also got conflicting opening times for Las Palomas 1 and Las Palomas 2. I only wanted to know whether I could arrive before midnight and avoid sleeping on the street. She kept saying yes, but may not have understood me properly in Spanish. We arrived a little before midnight thinking we had a room. The same person then told us we were at the wrong place because Paloma I closes earlier than Paloma II. I had clearly said I needed Paloma I, next to our friends’ house. If I’d known it closed early, we would have booked somewhere else. Paloma II was badly located for us, but she insisted we walk there and said it was my mistake. We ended up getting a taxi to another hotel. I can’t comment on the place itself because we never went in, but the booking communication and service when we were outside were horrible.