Whether you are a tourist, a prospective employee or a new resident in Spain, you will need somewhere to stay

Where Tourists Stay

Hotels

Tourism is a vital industry for Spain which has resulted in thousands of hotels of all grades. Hotels are government regulated. They must fulfil certain requirements according to their star rating. A five star hotel will have air conditioning and central heating in all public rooms and bedrooms and all bedrooms will have en-suite bathrooms. Three or four stars hotels are of a quality associated with package holidays. One and two-star hotels will have central heating but not all bedrooms will be en-suite.

An unusual fact! With the recent construction of four new macro hotels, Benidorm is currently third in Europe behind London and Paris in offering tourist accommodation rooms –and cheaper too. The newly opened Gran Hotel Bali is the tallest building in Spain at 210 metres and the tallest hotel in Europe.

Here are some useful hotel-related phrases:

• Do you have rooms? –Hay habitaciones?
• For an individual room ask for una habitacion individual. It maywell be that there are two single beds in the room but the charge will only be for one.
• Intending to share a room? Ask for a una habitacion doble, which will be a room with two single beds.
• If you want a double bed, ask for una habitacion con cama matrimonial (a room with a double bed).
• A room with a bath is una habitacion con bano, and one with a shower is una habitacion con ducha.

Paradores

The Spanish tourist industry is proud of its unique network of 86 hotels called Paradores. They range from three- to five-star, the majority of which are restored historic monuments such as castles, monasteries, convents or palaces. Great care has been taken to preserve their decor and distinctive characteristics while converting them into high-quality modern hotels. Even the modern, purpose designed Paradores reflect regional styles and have unique decor and furnishings. Their restaurants too pride themselves on regional cuisine and wine. Travelling around Spain staying in Paradores is a special way of seeing the country.

• There is a high standard of service and cleanliness.
• The cuisine is excellent, normally to international standards and caters for all tastes.
• The buildings are usually interesting and the facilities are modern.
• They are frequently located in beauty spots off the beaten track.
• They are expensive.

Balneario (Spa)

There are numerous spas. They take you back to the last century with a leisurely way of life and treatments which range from a rest cure to a full twice daily programme controlled by doctors and staff. Fourteen of Spain’s 17 regions have spas. They can be like expensive hotels. Te ensenamos el poder del agua thermal (We teach you the power of the thermal waters).

The history of spas is interesting, for Spain was once rich in medicinal baths and spas, a strong Mediterranean tradition. Most have fallen into decay but a few of these ancient baths still survive in Granada, Jaen, Cordoba, Ronda and surprisingly in Gibraltar. The Moors still practise the art of bathing for pleasure in their home country Morocco with each town having several public baths known as Hammans. Of course it was these invaders who built and developed the spas of Spain.

Hostales And Pensiones

These are usually defined by the letters MS or P on a blue background outside the establishment. They are more modest forms of accommodation, but like hotels they are graded according to the facilities offered. The star rating is based on facilities, so a two or three star hostel can be better in terms of furnishing than a low-rated hotel. Hostales and pensiones are good value for money.

Guesthouse

A basic form of accommodation, consisting of a room with only a simple bed and washbasin can be found in fondas or casas de huespedes, which are both forms of guesthouse or lodgings. They can be identified by signs with the letters F or CM in white letters on a blue background, and are usually to be found in the older sections of a town.