Crisol Monasterio de San Miguel

We went for breakfast every morning during our five-day stay and liked it a lot, especially the range of sweets and cakes, and the very fresh, delicious fruit. The hotel has a special charm. I imagine it was once very posh and elegant, though it's gradually worn down over time. It still has its own niche appeal and great vibes. If that's what you're after while exploring this beautiful part of Andalucia, this is the place.

This is a handy base for seeing the city, with parking available for €10 a day. The building itself is gorgeous, especially the open-air courtyard at its center. Room styles vary, and ours felt a little dated.

The pool was decent and the location was the only other plus. The maids were lovely, but the service otherwise wasn't great for us as Americans. I called six times before check-in and got no answer, and when my wife rang reception from our room, they hung up on her. We also weren't allowed to bring food to the pool, and there was no food available there. Our room had just one outlet, across the room from the bed. The walls were so thin that we heard every door opening and closing, plus our neighbors talking, despite the hotel being advertised as soundproof. We booked a room advertised with a balcony and a view, but all we got was a window facing another wall. I hope other guests have a better stay than we did.

The building and its architecture are striking, and the bedrooms are huge. Breakfast had a great range of choices, and the staff were kind and helpful. We were also just a short walk from the port and Main Street. Booking directly on the hotel's website cost us less than Booking and included parking and breakfast, so it's worth checking. Some areas could use a little updating, but we were very happy with our stay and would recommend the hotel.