Parador de Alcaniz

The situation – including the medieval chapel and cloister –, the city of Alcaniz itself with many surprising places and monuments make the travel there worthwhile

I really liked the calm, quiet atmosphere of this Parador. There were many places to sit and relax, inside and out. It is a beautiful, historic place that has, at the same time been respectfully adapted to the needs of the modern traveler. My room was in the older part, with beautiful views of the river and countryside beyond.

Fantastic experience! Great place to stay in Alcaniz. Staff and our room was amazing. Walk to town is not bad at all. Fun to walk around and see the sights. A must see while in the area. Nighttime is especially beautiful to see all around. We really enjoyed the bar in the castle. Excellent local wines are available.

Lovely room - though we almost needed a pole vault to get into the supremely comfy, but high, four poster bed. Our room had dual aspect windows, with spectacular views which were even more magical by night. Sadly too tired to go down Into the city, after a long day scrambling round a number of Pueblos Bonitos de España ….the inevitable steep climb back up again was more than we were up for!

We have now visited 55 Paradores and this was easily the worst experience we have encountered. Check in was virtually silent, the receptionist completed the paperwork and then we were frogmarched to the lift pointing out the breakfast room and the dining room on the way. We had similar experiences with two other reception staff, one saying there was nowhere to park in town (the Mercadona car park is very close to the town centre) and no taxis, another basically said the only way to see the other parts of the building was with the organised tour of the town, take it or leave it. Absolutely no customer facing skills at all. The restaurant experience both nights was appalling. My wife ordered beef “solomillo” . When she cut into it it fell apart revealing that it was in fact a slice of beef which had been cooked and folded and sealed to resemble a steak. It was sent back, and instead of an apology, the chef told the waitress to tell us that we didn’t know what we are talking about. (After 23 years living in Spain we certainly do). The second night I ordered the rabbit which was very dry and overcooked. It was not worth complaining again as we would be charged anyway. The only staff that had any customer service skills were the two female waitresses and the bartender. The building and the rooms were clean but the location at the top of the hill posed some mobility issues for us with heart and hip conditions. Clearly there is a managerial problem that is leading to low morale and poor customer service. It has so much potential, I hope the Paradores sort it soon.

If your travels take you anywhere near Alcaniz this hotel is a must visit. Beautiful views, beautiful medieval castle, friendly and helpful staff, and fantastic cuisine await you !