Hotel Arabeluj
Granada
All 12 rooms in this small-scale hotel offer a panoramic view of the city of Granada. This hotel, completely in Moorish style, is very suitable for people who want to stay somewhere within walking distance from the Alhambra (5 minutes' away!) but who want to avoid the hustle and bustle of the city.
The rooms have been decorated in Andalusian style, with the use of white marble, dark wooden beams and beautiful mosaic tiles. All rooms include such modern conveniences as hi-tech showers, air-con, central heating for those cooler times of year, heated towel rails, Wi-Fi and flat screen TVs. But let's be serious, who is going to want to watch TV when all the rooms offer such spectacular views! It is so nice to be able to put your feet up after a long and tiring day of sightseeing around beautiful Granada or wandering around the impressive Alhambra and to enjoy watching the sun set. And sunsets in this location are, without a doubt, absolutely spectacular!
So, the hotel is situated outside the city centre, at about 10 to 15 minutes' walking distance. Do take into account that the walk into the city is downhill so on your way back, it will take you a little more effort. The good news is that taxis are not very expensive here. Great to know because there is no restaurant at the hotel itself, so taking a walk into town for a nice meal and catching a taxi back is certainly an option.
Friendly staff and, all in all, we really felt that this hotel deserved to be mentioned on our site, partly because we thought the price/quality ratio was very good.
Cons:
• No restaurant at the hotel so you will have to dine out. However, the hotel does serve breakfast.
• Car parking facilities consist of roadside car parking only which can be a little tricky at times.
Pros:
• Breathtaking location
• All rooms have views
• New hotel, modern conveniences
• Alhambra within 5 minutes´walking distance
• Excellent price/quality ratio
Hotel Arabeluj
facilities
Hotel
- No restaurant for lunch or dinner.
- Bar.
- No swimming pool.
- Terrace.
- Internet connection in every room.
- Children are welcome.
- One room with wheelchair access (room with terrace).
- Lift.
- Pets are not admitted.
- The hotel offers a range of excursions/activities.
- Hotel does not have its own parking facilities. Parking in the street.
- Hotel is located just outside Granada, with views on the city, near the Alhambra.
Rooms
Every room has air conditioning, heating, TV and an internet connection.
Fully-equipped bathrooms with hydro massage shower (no bath).
The hotel has 12 rooms, including 4 double rooms with views, 5 Superior double rooms, 2 double rooms with terrace and 1 Junior Suite.
Hotel Arabeluj
surrounding area
Granada
Anyone visiting Granada will have heard of the Alhambra, the city’s main attraction. The Alhambra was the part of town where princes, nobility and court staff dwelled, on the hill right in the middle of Granada. The Alhambra is a huge complex, 720m in length and 220m wide. Clever use of space, light, water and decorative features are the Alhambra’s defining features. A miniature town in its own right, a world of palaces, beautiful gardens with ponds and fountains, a fortress, baths, museums, a church, and even a hotel.
The Generalife, to the north of the Alhambra, was the Nasrid sultans' country retreat. They would find some welcome relief from the intrigue at the court here, and enjoy some peace and quiet. Generalife translates as ‘the garden of heavenly paradise’.
On the hill opposite the Alhambra, the Albayzín quarter, is where Granada’s Moorish past is still most tangible. Stroll around its narrow streets, past villas with Moorish decoration and gardens, up to the Mirador de San Nicolás. This is where you will have the best views, of the roofs of Granada, with the Alhambra behind them, which makes for a stunning view, especially at sunset!
When you get tired of strolling, you can take an Arab bath at one of Granada's 2 hammans, the Aljibe Baños Arabes or the Hamman Baños Arabes.
And Granada also happens to be one of the hippest cities in Andalucía, with great nightlife, lively flamenco shows and tapas culture.
Granada is also a good place to learn Spanish or take dancing lessons.
Active
At about 40 km from the city of Granada you will find the Sierra Nevada ski resort. The Sierra Nevada mountain range has the highest peaks in Europe, after the Alps. In Pradollano, at 2100 metres, there is the Sierra Nevada Ski Station, with around 70 pistes (mainly blue and red ones), with a total length of 80 km.
During the summer months you can go for walks here.
Cultural
Granada is a cultural city, with plenty on offer! Be sure to catch the Alhambra and the Generalife (it is recommended to reserve tickets well before you head for Granada, because the number of visitors admitted every day is limited to a maximum).
Anyone with an interest in Spanish literature will have heard of Federico García Lorca. This world famous poet and playwright is closely intertwined with Granada. His birthplace in Fuente Vaqueros, about 20km west of Granada, is open to the public. And there is also the Lorca Museum, the Huerta de San Vicente, an estate on the edge of Granada.
And to top it all off, Granada also makes for a great destination for shopping, and to take in a few flamenco shows.
Family
The Parque de las Ciencias is a great place to introduce children to science. You will find it 2 km south of Granada. There are numerous activities on offer here. Including experiments that let you experience, for example, what it is like to be inside a beehive or a mini-tornado.
The following villages/towns in the area are definitely worth a visit:
Guadix (55km; 50min):
The ‘Barrio de las Cuevas’ (cave-dwellers quarter), with 2000 caves, which have been inhabited for centuries, is the main attraction of this town. A museum has been established in one of the cave dwellings near the church, in order to give you a good idea of what life in such a house is like.
Alhama de Granada (60km; 1h):
Alhama de Granada is beautifully situated, balancing on sprawling rocks over a gorge, and it has a compact, nicely renovated Moorish centre. The village received its name, derived from the word alhamma, from the hot springs that you can still visit at the Hotel Balneario on the edge of the village.
In the higher part of the village, behind the Iglesia del Carmen church, a plateau offers stunning views of the deep gorge of the Alhama river.
And you can, of course, head for one of the other 2 world famous cities for a day trip:
Córdoba (240km; 2h45min):
Visit the Mezquita, Córdoba's huge mosque, which has seen various different developments throughout the years to become a fascinating blend of styles and religions. And you can also go for a stroll through the districts of San Lorenzo, Judería and San Basilio, where you will encounter the most beautiful Moorish patios. Other sights include the palace/fortress Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos with magnificent gardens and fountains; various museums, such as the Museo Arqueológico, Museo Taurino, Museo de Bellas Artes; a string of great squares, such as the Plaza de la Corredera, Plaza del Potro.
Seville (250km; 3h):
The capital of Andalucía is a compact city with a rich past. Most of its major sights are in or near the city centre on the Guadalquivir river’s left bank. And they also know how to party and have a good time in this city of flamenco and tapas.
As you wander through the old Jewish quarter, the Barrio Santa Cruz, through a maze of white streets and patios, you should not forget to take in the imposing cathedral, the Moorish bell tower, La Giralda, and the royal palace Real Alcázar.
You can unwind in the María Luisa park, where you can spend the hottest part of the day under orange trees and palm trees.
The museum Museo de Bellas Artes, one of Spain’s best museums of art, is a real must. And then there are its magnificent palaces and other sights, such as the Plaza de Toros de la Maestranza (bull ring); Casa de Pilatos and the Torre del Oro.