i've read a few of the less-than-flattering reviews here. not my experience. yes, you cannot readily drive here. it's an ancient part of an ancient city. which is WHY you come here. i parked at a safe, underground lot, an easy and delightful 10-minute walk away. a taxi CAN bring you here. there's just no parking.

several emails to confirm room were promptly returned (my spanish is terrible), but when i arrived, they were waiting for me. my room: the best in the house, with the long balcony allowing a great view of the alhambra. why else would i be there? clean, welcoming. you wake to the sound of golondrinas - swallows - flying and filling the sky. and yes, also the sound of construction and church bells. simple continental breakfast and you are then off to walk the old quarter and other sights.

clean, tasteful, well appointed. hardly the poor furniture or furnishings noted elsewhere. would highly recommend this place to anyone willing and able to get off the standard hotel scene. worth it. a GREAT experience. wonderful place, people, etc.

We stay in Granada at least 2 times a year, and I've tried many B&Bs because I like their quirkiness. Sometimes however, quirky, can spill over into something you don't really want. As in- instead of the furnishings being pleasantly shabby-chic, etc, we found they were really very run down. It would be one thing if we were paying 89 a night, but at 200, you really ought to get more. Additionally, when they say views, that all depends on your room. There is one room that I peaked in which would have made it worth it (and I'm sorry the name fails me), but otherwise this one is definitely a pass. - If you wanted to gamble on this one, ask for the room that is blue and white at the very top of the stairs. Its the only one with a full balcony and gorgeous views.

Stil, if you can, opt for Pension Mari Carmen as I highly recommend staying in the old town - its the reason you go to Granada! Staff there is friendly, hotel sparse, but delightfully decorated.

I don't want to be too hard, after all it's a B&B, but this was beyond tired and even I, a hopeless romantic for all things Spanish, found this "un poco cansado".

Stayed here for 2 nights on our honeymoon. We managed to stay in a room with balcony with the MOST amazing views of the Alhambra for 175 euros a night, which I thought seemed pretty reasonable. The ceilings in some parts are very low (both the bathroom and the stairs) and I kept bashing my head and I'm only 5 10 so taller people watch out! Staff are hopeless (ooh no, there's no one to carry your bags and no you can't use the computer for 1 minute) and the breakfast is rubbish and poor value. But it's a great location, with some really charming rooms, and a wonderful place to start your honeymoon...

What a mistake it was to book this place. While walking to find it (you cannot drive to the hotel) my wife and I were hassled by teenagers using drugs less than a block from the hotel. When we found the hotel entrance there was a torn up old couch across the small courtyard from the door and a couple rough looking characters nearby. We didn't feel very safe walking to this place during the afternoon, much less at night. Finally, we were shown our room. It was dark, smelled old and musty, and was completely different than the photos on the website we used to book our stay. In spite of explaining that the room wasn't as advertised and that we didn't feel safe right outside the hotel, the hotel demanded a one night (90 euro) charge to cancel our reservation. We felt ripped off. We decided to pay the charge and found another hotel that was superior and less expensive. Don't waste your money at Hotel Carmen de Santa Ines.