Hotel Rural Cortijo La Alberca is located in Níjar, Spain. I describe it as handsomely comfortable because this place abounds in details. It is very well thought out in terms of the interior design of the rooms and other features on the grounds including the patios and swimming pool. My stay here was in April, so it was not warm enough to use the pool, but the water feature made the place that much more appealing. The location is at the very edge of town, deep in a gorge in the mountains as you can see in this photo.
That gives you a perspective on where you are as in how close to nature. Moving along, you’ll note the swimming pool next.
One of many, the iron lamp casts subtle light in the evening. The water feature continues from the pool in a narrow trough that carries the flow down past the rooms providing a touch of white noise that is very pleasant.
The rooms are grouped in a couple of buildings with patios that front the doors. Here’s the one where I stayed.
Great place for a gathering with friends, maybe a glass of wine with your significant other, or just yourself and a book. Inside you’ll find a comfortable bed when its time to finally get to sleep.
Of course you prefer a bathroom with class and this one fits the bill with the custom walk-in shower, ceramic tile counter, and lovely handmade sink.
That photo gives a good impression of the details I mentioned at the outset of this post. When choosing a hotel in Spain, or elsewhere, I always search for those with a personal touch as opposed to the corporate low-bidder design specials. Back to La Alberca. If you had a corporate outing or were traveling with a group, you’ll find the rooms close yet separate as they are in a couple different buildings, which gives everyone a chance to be together yet escape for a bit of privacy. The next photo shows one of the buildings.
Finally, you don’t have to worry about losing the key.
That hunk of wrought iron is about 8 inches long and weighs a pound. Like I said, this place has a unique character with plenty of handsome details.
Hotel Cortijo La Alberca
Casa Rural Mas Fontanelles
Only a kilometer or two from the town of Biar, Spain, in the Alicante region, you’ll find Casa Rural Mas Fontanelles. Imagine a large farmhouse complex converted to a bed and breakfast type of lodging. You can even enjoy your own little casita such as the one shown below.
Let’s call this a small hotel because it has its own swimming pool and gardens, which is more than I would expect from a bed and breakfast. We stayed in an average room that was cozy as shown in the next photo.
We happened to be the only people staying there on a Monday night. In other words we had the place to ourselves. It’s a shame I didn’t have bigger plans; I could have invited another twenty people for a nice time. No matter, the bathroom was also well appointed, too. Check it out.
Perhaps the nicest feature of the room was the little private balcony. I couldn’t resist taking a long break out there.
There are cushions for those chairs; so don’t worry. There was a comfortable common room just outside our door, a place suitable for reading, relaxing with a drink, or a quiet chat with friends.
A similar room can be found on the ground level, complete with its own wood-fired stove for chilly evenings.
You can take your meals in the dining room. We opted for supper and breakfast, which was prepared by the owner himself, a fun experience I will post about separately. I almost forgot about the view, which from our room looked like this:
Timeless, isn’t it? Mas Fontanelles is a little bit of a work in progress. There are some finishing touches being added to the outdoor spaces. However, I wouldn’t let this bother you. If you’re looking for a place to stay that offers plenty of creature comforts and none of the in-town hassles, give Mas Fontanelles a try.
Hotel Spa Villa de Alarcón
If you go back a couple of weeks, you’ll find my post about the fortifications of the town of Alarcón in Spain. Well, today we’re going to take a brief look at the place where I stayed while visiting this handsome town. Hotel Spa Villa de Alarcón is located literally on the edge of town. As you’ll soon see in the following photos, the building clings to the side of the hill on which the town sits. Driving up to the building, however, you’ll be greeted by this facade:
There are a few parking spaces in front of the building and plenty more in a lot just a few yards from where this photo was taken. Before going inside for a look at the room, check out the swimming pool.
It was chilly during my visit in April, so I did not take the waters. That is a nice pool, though, and I look forward to getting back here some day when it’s nice and hot. Moving inside, here’s a typical room.
The double doors open onto a common balcony that runs the length of the building. You can look out over the valley and the swimming pool, too. The bathrooms are fitted with plenty of marble as you see here.
Don’t forget, this facility is also a spa. Various treatments can be scheduled for your stay. I arrived late in the afternoon and departed the following morning, so I was unable to utilize this feature. You’ll also find a nice bar, a restaurant, and a staff that will take care of you. The town of Alarcón offers a few other dining spots as well as a couple of churches worth a look. Enjoy your stay!
Molino de Santillan, Spain
Not far from Malaga near the town of Rincon de la Victoria you’ll find Hotel Molino de Santillan. Yes, this place was a mill and the stones are there to prove it. However, it has been converted into a rural hotel with plenty of amenities. The rooms are spacious, outfitted with great bathrooms, and equipped with wardrobes and bureaus if you plan to stay for a while. There are numerous interior rooms for meetings and dining. Outdoors, you’ll find gardens, a swimming pool, and bars should your event require them. Here’s a short video showing the hotel’s common areas and the room where I stayed.
Please note, this place can be a little difficult to find. Print out a good map, use your GPS, and be careful on that last 2km of winding road. Saludos!
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