Hotel El Cid

For a 1 star hotel, this was outstanding. Breakfast was so good, and the staff were amazing, especially the girl in the breakfast room and Eduardo on reception. Thank you for everything, I was really pleased we stayed here.

We’d stay again since we only used the hotel to sleep after very busy days. It suits anyone wanting a cheap, no-frills place to rest after the beach or a night out. Check-in was very easy and the receptionist was friendly, though the other colleagues we saw more often weren’t as accommodating. The room was basic and needed care, but the bed was large enough for four and relatively comfortable, and the air conditioning worked very well. Plugs were down by the bed, and the room could use fresh paint. The wall art was torn at all four corners where it had been screwed on, which looked cheap and poorly thought through. The closet smelled badly of damp. Shower pressure was good, but the water had gone cold by the time the second person used it. The communal areas have character, though some details were unfinished, including wall lights without covers, lights that didn’t work, and fixtures missing bulbs. Breakfast was reasonably priced with a good selection, but the hot food was put out before opening and there was a lot of it. Nothing fresh came out during the four-hour service until something needed replenishing, and then they only brought small amounts.

The best surprise was a welcome drink at another hotel down the road, served on its rooftop. Hotel El Cid was also very LGBT friendly. My compact room had most of what I needed, though a small fridge for cold drinks in the heat would’ve been nice, and there were no tea or coffee facilities. The large, comfortable bed and air conditioning meant I slept well each night. Breakfast was really good with a range of choices, including cava if you arrived early enough. The pool was quite cold, but there were plenty of sun loungers if you’d rather relax out of the water. I had a really pleasant stay.

The rooms are perfectly adequate and the service is fine. What makes it five stars for me is the price. Breakfast is decent, the pool is a good size compared with what most hotels offer, and you can’t beat the location. If you’re not a hotel snob, choose El Cid.