Hotel Palafox

The pool on the 9th floor was in poor shape and badly needed cleaning and renovation. Several beds were broken, there were only two umbrellas, and we had to go back down to reception for towels. In our junior suite, there was just one bottle of water and one bathrobe, while the fittings felt very poor. The room itself was old and needed a proper refresh. We had to handle unloading our own luggage because there was no porter in sight when we arrived. We also parked the car ourselves, though arranging parking was easy. Check-in was fine. They claim this is a 5-star hotel, but the service and fittings felt like a basic 4-star at most.

We barely slept. The room was boiling even though it was very cold outside, and there was no way to control the temperature, so we had to leave the balcony door open. The noise was awful. The hotel felt old, and the carpet in the room looked worn. We stayed on a Thursday night at the end of March, and paying over 300 euros for a weeknight felt far too expensive. It might suit someone who likes the charm of an older place, but it didn’t feel like a 5-star hotel. Service also fell short, with only one or two people at the front desk and no other staff around. At half that price, if it were a 3-star hotel, it might have been worth it.

The hotel’s location is fantastic, with plenty of bars and restaurants nearby. Breakfast was very good, and the staff provided excellent service throughout. We came in high season, but it didn’t feel too busy, and we were upgraded to a very nice Ducal suite. Still, some areas need refurbishment. The shower leaked, and adjusting the temperature was difficult because there was no mixer setting. We reported the leak. There weren’t enough plug sockets, and the Wi-Fi didn’t work. To us, it felt more like a 4-star than a 5-star hotel. We’d return for a longer stay and see more of Zaragoza.

The rooms are spacious, with an old-fashioned elegance. The location is great.