Parador Molina De Aragón

Sad to see another piece of our heritage insulted in the name of “design” and “contemporary” architecture.

The staff were the best part of our stay. We used the spa and found it very pleasant; reception lends bathrobes for it, which you return there. The Parador is new, with modern decor and lovely views, and the room and bathroom are spacious, though I wasn't keen on the design. The terrace was pleasant too. The layout has some drawbacks. The toilet is in a separate area from the shower and sink, but that space isn't fully closed off from the bedroom, so you hear everything from the bathroom. It's unusually large, with the toilet at the far end. Rather than a bidet, there's a tap for washing yourself, a setup we've seen in Eastern or Asian countries. I understand it may suit some people, but we're more used to a bidet. Using it leaves water on the floor, and there isn't a towel provided. The cafeteria and dining area felt cramped even with few guests. At breakfast, the double tray they brought to our table for two took up more than half the space. It came with cold cuts, cheese, yogurt, and other things we probably wouldn't have picked at a self-service buffet, and some of it was left sitting there. You can choose items from a separate menu and order what you want. The attentive service was what we've come to expect from Paradores.

The only disappointment was that the cafeteria had nothing to snack on at night. That's a shame, since every Paradores visit we've had before included that option. Otherwise, the building is lovely and modern, the room was spacious with unbeatable views, and it was incredibly quiet at night. You couldn't hear a thing.

Magali deserves a special mention. Her friendly, excellent service made us feel at home during our two days at the Parador. The place is spectacular, as Paradores usually are, though a few details stood out because it's newly built. There's no bidet in the room, just an Arabic-style hose tap that's hard to manage if you're not Muslim. The dining room feels small for its floor, and the furniture was difficult to describe. All the guests seemed to be hunting for the most comfortable chairs. The minimalist modern pieces could use reconsideration in favor of something easier for diners to use.