Puerta de las Granadas

excellent location super welcoming and helpful staff clean rooms

Five essential things to know about the Hotel Puerta de las Granadas: 1. It’s ideally located up a short hill on the way to the Alhambra. So, if you’re headed to this architectural masterpiece, you can get a head start by staying at this hotel. It’s still an ascent from there, but you’re only about 10 minutes to the Justice Gate and the Palacio de Nazares. The other benefit is that it’s beautifully quiet. My room had an enviable view of the Alhambra without a hint of external noise pollution. Unfortunately, noise traveled from the eighth-floor terrace in the form of staff moving tables and chairs after closing. I heard the rearranging of the deck chairs every night between 11 and midnight. It was unfortunate because that was the only noise that entered the room. 2. The summer is hot in Granada, and it was sweltering during my four days in the inland empire. Fortunately, the air conditioning was outstanding. The temperature could be adjusted to well below 70 degrees. And the best part is that the central AC was silent. 3. I arrived just before noon and fully expected the dreaded “your room is not ready, but we can store your bags.” Instead, the lovely front desk associate processed my entry paperwork, informed me the room was ready, and handed me the keys. I love when hotels do this without a hint of fanfare or asking for an early access fee. Check-out time is also generously slated for Noon. 4. The room was clean and simple with a narrow desk, mini fridge, and two cushioned chairs. The bathroom featured a shower with a glass door, although water pooled around the door (as seems to happen in most hotels). The shampoo and conditioner were watered down, and my room did not have any body wash. Towels were thin and should be replaced. The bathroom is the one area where the hotel could markedly improve the guest experience, but it wasn’t unkempt, out of order, or problematic, so it would only affect my rating by half a star. 5. Is the Alhambra view worth the upgrade? I thought so, largely because I sheltered in the room during the mid-afternoon heat. I enjoyed looking outside and seeing the dramatic façade of this masterpiece. But I generally opt for a room with a view. If I were to return to Granada and stay at this property, I would select an Alhambra room again. Pro tip: if you are looking for a stunning view of the Alhambra, Mirador de San Nicolas is highly overrated. It’s crowded but easy to access from town. A much grander view is from the east side of the Alhambra along a mile-long street that takes you to the Dehesa del Generalife. It’s a hike from the Alhambra with an uphill incline, but the view is infinitely more beautiful with 95 percent fewer people. Hotel de las Puertas delivered on the three things that I wanted the most – easy access to the Alhambra, excellent air conditioning, and a view of the Moorish masterpiece. The room was clean, and the price/value equation was very favorable. The pros easily outweigh a few blemishes, and I would happily stay here again.

We celebrated our civil wedding at this hotel with our family and we could not be happier. The place is beautiful, with spectacular views that made the day even more special. We especially want to highlight the service from Conchita, who was great at all times, friendly, attentive, and mindful of every detail. We also want to thank Ángel, the cook, because everything was delicious; you could tell the love and skill in every dish. We felt very comfortable, enjoyed ourselves immensely, and took home a beautiful memory of such an important day for us. Without a doubt, a completely recommendable place.