Hotel Infanta Cristina

That stained-glass dome above the atrium was something else, and I loved the glass elevator. The whole entrance and lobby had that Hollywood glamour from the 1930s or 40s. Corridors ran around the atrium on each floor, with leafy window boxes; from there you could look down at the marble-patterned floor or up at the dome. We paid extra for a superior room, and it felt worth it. There was a sofa and an armchair in the sitting area, curtains separating it from the sleeping space, and a big comfortable bed. By the bay window, another chair faced rooftops, plenty of greenery, and hills planted with olive trees. The room was spacious, splendid really. The bathroom was modern and had a spa bath. The awkward bit was having to shower in the tub, which felt slippery to stand in. We put a hand towel on the bottom to make it safer. Still, a lovely stay in a beautiful hotel.

The hotel is in a good spot and has a bit of charm, even if it feels dated. My room was comfortable, and I enjoyed staying here. The air conditioning is set by the hotel, though, so you pretty much get one temperature. I suppose that's normal in Spain.

The breakfast was great, and there are useful facilities like a gym and pool. The hotel feels classy, with a striking glass ceiling inside and views over olive fields that give it a local feel. It's about 5€ from the center of Jaén. Parking is available, though larger cars should watch out for a few narrow turns and corridors, even with generous parking spaces.

The staff were friendly, and the place was very clean. I liked the lobby, too, but our room felt dated and stuffy, and being beside the road made it a bit noisy. Parking is free, which was handy. The pool was tiny and didn't look very clean. Breakfast was disappointing. I understand the COVID restrictions may have limited the choices, but we got one slice of very dry toasted bread with margarine, tomato, olive oil, or marmalade. There wasn't even ham or cheese. I wouldn't book breakfast here.