Hotel Boutique Caireles

The rooftop was a lovely place to have breakfast on my first morning, with nice benches, tables, and chairs. I stayed two nights and asked for a quiet room, so I was given an interior one without a view of the mezquita. That suited me, since many guests say the rooms facing the mesquite are noisier. I slept well both nights, even though the room was hot and stuffy, and I had to prop the window open for air. The bed was comfortable, and there were four types of pillows. The shower got hot right away, but the hot water seemed limited, so long showers weren’t really possible. The overhead shower bracket was broken, which made washing my hair awkward. There was a day bed where I could spread out my luggage, useful because there wasn’t space to lay my 25-inch suitcase flat. The room came with two bottles of water, but no other complimentary drinks in the room or reception. There’s a kettle in the lobby, but no cups. Luckily I’d brought a hot water bottle and tea bags, and went downstairs each day to refill it for tea at night. I asked for the room to be cleaned. The cleaner took out the rubbish and made the bed, but didn’t replace the used towels. Since I was only there for two nights, I didn’t ask for fresh ones. This is a beautiful, simple little hotel in the centre of Cordoba. Getting here from the train station or airport is a hassle: there’s no bus or light rail, so expect at least 15 minutes pulling luggage over cobblestones. I hurt my shoulder doing that, which is why I gave the location four stars. The staff work hard, especially given how few there are: two in the morning and one in the afternoon and evening. I appreciated that someone ran up water to my room, then hurried back downstairs when a new guest rang the bell. When I arrived, I had to be buzzed in because the front door had been locked while staff were helping another guest.

Daniel at the front desk was a real star: polite, friendly, smart, caring, and kind. We really enjoyed chatting with him. The rest of our experience was disappointing, especially after I’d given plenty of notice about what we needed. We specifically requested a spacious interior room, and you confirmed we’d get the large one. I have the WhatsApp messages showing that. I also asked for a quiet room because I’m a very light sleeper, and you promised that too. Instead, the room was small and very noisy. The severe noise wasn’t just because of the location by the Mezquita. Better windows could help insulate the rooms. I stayed in the heart of Granada and heard nothing. The bathroom was a glass box with no privacy, so we had to take turns leaving the room while the other person used it. Even couples don’t necessarily want to see or hear each other on the loo. At breakfast, the hard-boiled egg was completely off. Staff kept blaming each other over the room mistake, which felt strange and disappointing. For the price, the hotel is good value, though it really is a two-star place. The location next to the Mezquita is handy, but the rooms are very small and noisy.

The rooftop terrace has a fantastic view of the Mezquita, and the hotel is right in the heart of Córdoba. Our room was clean and in perfectly fine condition. Still, we had a rough time with the heat. The air conditioner only blew air without cooling. We reported it on the first day and were told we weren’t using it correctly. After another poor night’s sleep, we raised it again on day two, and they said they’d call a technician. We were later told it had been fixed, but it still didn’t cool the room. Our windows faced an interior courtyard, so there was no fresh air or breeze, and the room stayed hot, sticky, and uncomfortable. One staff member was rude and unhelpful. The driving directions for dropping off our luggage were no use, and when we explained what would have helped us and future guests, our feedback wasn’t received well. I’m still giving three stars for service because the woman on the later shifts was always very friendly and welcoming. If you have trouble sleeping in warm conditions, get a street-facing room, or choose somewhere with working AC if nights are still hot. The location is hard to beat.

The view is 😍 The woman at reception was so nice and helpful 🫶🏼. Our room was cozy, clean, and tidy too 👌🏼. Maybe we got the best one 🤭.