Hotel Alegria Bodega Real

The hotel’s design is unique and it’s peaceful, which made me wish I could give it five stars. But the doors need serious maintenance. They barely shut or seal, and someone could push their way into the bedroom or bathroom. The room cooled quickly when the air conditioning was off, so we kept switching the heating on and off through the night. When it was running, it got much too hot and didn’t stick to the set temperature. If the doors and AC were repaired, this would be a great hotel.

We only went to the restaurant. The patio is really charming, and Luis was an excellent waiter. The main course arrived not warm enough, but he quickly sent it back and brought me a new one, cooked perfectly. Service was slow, though the poor guy was on his own in a restaurant about the size of a football field. The food was good.

Getting to the centre and tourist information meant a 20-minute walk, which was difficult for my wife. The train station is only a few minutes away, though, with lots of bus services there too. We found the Linea 3 circular bus really useful for reaching the beaches and sights around town. We looked forward to meals because the restaurant food was interesting to see and eat. The dining room itself is fascinating, with the building’s bodega history on show. Paco, Luis, Juan and Anna gave exceptional service, and reception were always ready to help. Our room was practical and comfortable, with an unusual balcony overlooking the inner courtyard where you could eat.

We stayed for a week in this old Sherry Bodega, built around a courtyard with rooms looking out onto it. The large room had a big, comfortable bed and a sofa, and it was cleaned daily. The staff were friendly, helpful and excellent. It’s two minutes from the train station and an easy walk into town and to the attractions. We were on half board, but the menu was partly restricted and at least a third of the options were unavailable every night, usually the same ones. We got tired of the limited choices and went out instead. There also seemed to be no vegetables. On Sunday, a wedding in the courtyard meant hotel guests couldn’t use it. Those things kept the stay from being five stars.