Parador de Jaén

Stunning views and unique location. Large rooms with good heating/AC. Friendly and helpful staff, with well kept common areas. Chromecast feature for entertainment was useful. Only issue was no kettle for hot drinks.

Room was very clean and the bed was very comfortable.

In one word EXCELLENT

As you approach the Parador, you can’t be anything but wowed by the drive up the winding road, the views and the fabulous building, however upon arriving the initial wow started to fade. Hotel parking was restricted with many bays blocked off (for no apparent reason) so parking was in the general car park for castle visitors making it pot luck for availability. Reception staff was lacking any customer warmth. Breakfast, what can I say other than very disappointing, and not free (like some of the blurb and feedback says). We were shown a table and then left to wait 25 mins for any type of service despite staff having seated us, seeing that we were waiting and us getting their attention. When we were served almost 40 mins after arriving (at the time we’d “reserved”) the ham omelette arrived with no ham, no flavour and as will be seen from the photo thrown on to the plate after it (would appear) had been picked up off the counter after missing the plate. Whilst the meats, cheeses, fruit, danish’s and assorted cakes all looked very appetising and laid out beautifully, there was barely any taste in the few that I tried. We’re not demanding people and generally go with the flow but sadly the service at breakfast left a bad taste to the end of a fantastic road trip around Gaudix, Cordoba, Sevilla and Jaén staying at some beautiful boutique hotels with quality foods and lovely friendly staff.