Hotel Puerta De Las Granadas

While there's no denying that this is a budget hotel, this is a pleasant step up from most of what's on offer in this category in central Granada. Guests enter to a lobby with a reception desk, several computers for guest use, and a gift shop selling good-quality items. The bright and cheery breakfast room is a popular gathering spot, as is the charming outdoor patio with a cobblestone floor, a wall of vines, trees, and potted plants. Many of the rooms have a colorful and vibrant look, and the overall atmosphere is quiet -- which helps make this a popular pick in this category. The hotel draws budget-minded -- but quality-seeking -- tourists who want an affordable hotel in a superb location a short walk from the cathedral and other attractions. Most rooms are small, so couples stay here more often than families.

Puerta de Las Granadas is in the heart of Granada, within walking distance of numerous shops, restaurants, and city attractions. The 16th-century Granada Cathedral and the Royal Chapel are under five minutes away on foot, while the Renaissance-style Monastery of Saint Jerome is a little under a 15-minute walk. The Alhambra is on the hill behind the hotel, and is about a 10-minute drive or 15-minute walk. The Albaicin district features winding streets and Moorish architecture from the medieval period. At its heart is the Mirador San Nicolas, which is a 15-minute walk from the hotel. Granada's train station is a little over a 10-minute drive from the hotel. The nearest airport is in Malaga, about 90 minutes away by car. Malaga city center is a little northeast of the airport, about the same driving distance from the hotel. 

Rooms at the Puerta de Las Granadas have a generically modern look, which isn't always the case in this category in southern Spain, where rooms can be woefully dated. There's wood paneling behind the desks and beds, along with pops of color like yellow and red, plus art that riffs on the city's Moorish history. The air-conditioning works well, and rooms are clean and well-maintained. Standard features include free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs (albeit with limited channels and English channels), and minibars, but no safes. Some rooms have a small skylight, and others have cathedral or Alhambra views. The main drawback to the 14 rooms is their size, and some are a bit cramped. There's also not much in the way of storage beyond an open closet, and many rooms have little space for luggage. Walls are thin, so sometimes there are noise issues from neighboring rooms, though the hotel is generally quiet. It's also worth noting that some double beds are two singles pushed together. En-suite bathrooms come with toiletries and showers. Counter space is limited.

Puerta de Las Granadas has decent amenities for a budget hotel in the center of town. It offers free coffee, tea, and juice all day, and serves a limited continental breakfast (for a fee) of baked goods and fruit in the morning. A lobby shop sells post cards and souvenirs, but it also features art and crafts, decorative objects, scarves, and other gifts. The hotel has several computers for guest use, plus a reading and relaxation room, outdoor terrace with city views, and outdoor patio with seasonal snack service. Nearby parking is available for a fee. Lobby doors are locked at night, but the staff is available 24 hours a day. The staff are also very helpful in offering tourist assistance and booking Alhambra and other tickets. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel.