Los Omeyas Hotel

I'm writing this for people arriving by car, in case it helps someone avoid what happened to me and other reviewers. I agree with the earlier reviewer who called it the worst experience of their vacation in Andalucia. I followed the hotel's website directions, left my car to the side, and walked in. The small lobby was packed. The Front Desk Clerk was chatting with two Italian men while two women and my party of two waited behind them. A second clerk was moving around doing errands, but for around ten minutes nobody acknowledged us or the wait. I understand that Spanish conversation may move at a different pace from what I'm used to in America, but I felt staff should have noticed the crowded situation and at least greeted those of us waiting. Eventually I said I had a car parked on the street, and the second clerk was sent out with me to the garage. Five policemen were by my car, preparing a ticket. I don't speak Spanish; after talking briefly with them, the clerk went back inside and left me there on my own. The first clerk and another female clerk later came out and spoke with the officers, but it didn't help. I got an 80 euro ticket. Nobody apologized for the stressful situation, even though I'd followed their instructions. The desk staff said it was a personal matter and not the hotel's fault, and wouldn't recognize any role their bad directions had played. They even told me to ignore the ticket because I was a tourist. That only made their guidance seem more questionable. I asked if they could waive or reduce the garage fee, and they did lower it. But I had trusted their directions, which were a major reason I got the ticket. After the trip, the rental company charged an administration fee because I hadn't paid the fine earlier. I could have avoided that by paying on time, if informed staff had advised me to do so. I was trying to respect the local pace and maybe I should have spoken up sooner about the car. Lesson learned, and I hope this is useful to other visitors.