AC Hotel Guadalajara by Marriott, Spain

We keep coming back every December because it’s such a calm, pleasant place to unwind. The staff are friendly and helpful on every visit, and they were happy to make us a warm omelette or cooked eggs when we asked. The room was roomy and comfortable, and the food from room service was a nice surprise. Breakfast was decent, and having a Dia supermarket right next door is handy. We always enjoy staying here.

There’s a rooftop terrace with nice views, and the food was tasty and good value. The hotel is in a quiet neighbourhood and has plenty of underground parking. Just be aware that the exit is very tight, so take a small car.

We needed this hotel for a karate tournament, and I hope next year’s event is somewhere else because this stay was terrible. The room was 25C and I was sweating, but staff said they wouldn’t turn on the AC. At this price, I expect to be able to use air conditioning when I want. The hallways were dark and dirty, and there aren’t many dining options nearby. The parking garage entrance is unusual and on the opposite side, so watch for that. Parking also cost 14.5€, not the 12€ listed on the website and app. The hotel doesn’t seem to respond to reviews, so I doubt this will make any difference.

The building is nice and the room was clean, though it was quite hot. The bed also slides away from the wall when you lean back to watch TV. That may sound picky, but I’ve never had that happen before. What bothered me more was how unwelcome we felt: nobody greeted us when we arrived, and the attitude after that didn’t help. I’ve stayed at lots of AC hotels in Spain and usually trust the brand for a good rest and decent treatment, but this one was an exception. There’s no coffee in the rooms, and the two male attendants at reception told me that without paying 15 euros for the breakfast buffet, I couldn’t get coffee at the hotel. Management may need a reminder that they work in hospitality.