Monte Puertatierra Hotel

While the Monte Puertatierra’s primrose, Art Deco-influenced facade is attractive from the outside, sometimes beauty is only skin deep. The hotel’s shared areas are dated and feel anonymous, particularly the bar and restaurant that have lots of disjointed colors and patterns. The lobby is a pretty bare space, although a marble floor and chandelier do liven it a little, while the restaurant is a long and narrow space with almost no windows, and wooden tables next to faded-red chairs that clash with the rust-accented walls. The bar, on the other hand, has rows of faded red and yellow striped and patterned banquettes among bright-yellow walls. The hotel tends to attract a crowd of couples on vacation who prefer its proximity to the beach than the sights of Cadiz’s old town.

The Monte Puertatierra is ideally situated for beach-lovers, being only a four-minute walk from the sands of the Playa Santa Maria del Mar and the attractive promenade that runs up and down the coast. However, Cadiz’s center, the oldest in Spain, is a long walk away -- it’s a 25-minute walk or a seven-minute drive to the old city, although the rewards of that journey are ample. Cadiz is home to a Roman amphitheater and a splendid Baroque cathedral, as well as the Tavira Tower, which remains one of the highest buildings in the city center and offers panoramic views of the city. Expect transfers to Jerez Airport to take roughly 30 to 35 minutes by car.

The hotel’s 98 rooms are all decorated to a far higher standard than the shared areas downstairs, with dark-wood furniture, wood floors, neutral linens, and a jazzily patterned feature wall behind the bed. A desk and chair, two armchairs, and a small table come standard. Double Rooms either have two twin beds or a queen-sized bed, while Family Rooms fit in an extra bed. Decent-sized bathrooms are contemporary and have a shower/tub combo with a rainfall showerhead, a glass sink, bidet, hairdryers that could use replacing, and a little tray of free toiletries. All rooms have a safe, minibar, flat-screen TV, bathrobe, and free Wi-Fi, as well as a pillow menu. Some rooms have tiny Juliet-style balconies, but they aren't large enough for furniture.

The Monte Puertatierra is light on amenities, lacking a swimming pool, spa, and gym. A varied buffet breakfast is offered for a fee, and drinks and snacks are available at the bar throughout the day and into the evening. Business travelers can make use of a conference space of four rooms, the largest of which can accommodate up to 100 people. The hotel has secure underground car parking and free Wi-Fi throughout.