Parador de Ronda

The only real problem was the Wi-Fi in my room, which was poor and unreliable, probably because the building is large and heavily built. Otherwise, everything was perfect. The location is stunning, above dramatic cliffs with panoramic views, and the room itself and its views are beautiful. Dinner and breakfast were delightful, and service was impeccable. From reception onward, we were treated like VIPs. The attention to detail was remarkable, even the lotion and hand soap bottles had Braille for visually impaired guests. Thick walls and doors also kept the room exceptionally quiet.

The view might be beautiful, but the way we were treated made us leave. We had a confirmed 1:00 PM reservation and arrived 20 minutes early, expecting we might have to wait. At first the staff asked us to do so, which was reasonable. Later, a waiter said the window tables were full and indicated a table in the middle. While I was trying to understand, he gestured toward the door and asked us to leave. When I calmly asked for the manager, he suddenly offered us a window table, contradicting what he'd just said. We politely went outside to wait the remaining 20 minutes until our booking time. We weren't planning to leave, but the waiter immediately shut and locked the door in front of us. That was so disrespectful and unprofessional, and only then did we decide to go. We were paying guests with a proper reservation and had behaved respectfully. I rarely post reviews, but management should look into this. A restaurant's hospitality depends on respect and professionalism, especially somewhere so renowned.

The restaurant staff were rude, and I felt discriminated against. Across the hotel, the staff seemed disengaged and didn't make anyone feel welcome, even though the parador's famous location must make it one of the busiest. My room was uncomfortably hot. It was pouring outside, and when I went to reception, the only response was a one sentence suggestion to open a window. That might be an acceptable answer to a child at home, but it didn't feel professional from hotel staff. The outside of the hotel was also under construction, blocking access to the terrace by the bridge and its view. The booking hadn't mentioned this.

The location was perfect, and our room was clean and tidy. Everyone on staff welcomed us with smiles and cheerful greetings, and they were genuinely friendly and helpful. When my daughter lost a toy near reception, they carefully helped us look for it, even though it wasn't found in the end. We enjoyed our stay so much and would definitely come back.