We visited in January on the occasion of my birthday ( any excuse to get away).Our flight was to Malaga so there was a long drive of about 2.5 hours to get to the hotel,boy were we glad we had a sat nav as I doubt if we would have been able to drive around the very narrow streets with just a map to find the hotel.

Check in was a breeze with lots of helpful info about attractions and places to eat and while this was going on our car was being parked at a cost of 18 euros per day, and it stayed parked for our whole visit,walking is the best option here.
Whilst mentioning walking I strongly suggest you visit Google maps and download very accurate walking directions to the city centre,we used it all the time to find our way out and back!

Our room was no.37 which was simply furnished and of a good size and had only a tiny window overlooking the inner courtyard but French doors in the bathroom with a view of adjoining houses.The floors are of slate so the complimentary slippers were well used.

We ate in the restaurant the first night and thought the food was of a good standard but perhaps a little expensive.Breakfast is a cold buffet with a wide selection ranging from smoked salmon to cereal & cakes.However if you want anything hot you have to pay extra which is not what you expect from a hotel of this standard.

We particularly liked the roof terrace and pool and sat out enjoying the late afternoon sun,a real bonus in January

The staff were friendly in helpful especially when checking out in the early morning Miguel presented us with a generous picnic for the journey,a lovely touch we thought. Overall we thoroughly enjoyed our stay in this little treasure of a hotel.

No fire in lounge. I was told they had never lit it, were afraid it might smoke. And some music please? We don't have any in the lounge. The only sound to break the audible silence was the pathetic peeping of a small bird in a cage. I went to the reception again and asked if at least they could light the candles. Nice setting, stylish but so 'dead'. Probably nice in summer when there are other guests.

For an extended birthday treat - a stay in Seville - we chose the 4-star Hospes Las Casas Del Rey de Baeza. With a name as long as that, it’s not surprising that the hotel doesn’t have a large sign outside: the Hospes sign on the wall by the door is small and discreet and that kind of sums up this little gem of a place. It has just 41 rooms and we were lucky enough to be upgraded to a suite - which proved to be a welcome retreat (with a huge exceptionally comfortable bed) at the end of a long day exploring Seville.

The hotel combines the traditional architectural and decorative features of a building in the old part of Seville, with modern comforts and facilities. We loved the two inner courtyards: the blue-painted woodwork of the balustrades and window frames, set against pristine white walls; iron tables and chairs; rustic accessories and pots full of exuberant plants. The hotel has no bar but, ask for a drink at reception and it will be brought to you wherever you want it. There are a couple of lounge-type rooms - one with a sofa and easy chairs, fireplace and, in the corner, a desk with a laptop (free Internet access).

Breakfast was a highlight: a large choice of items (some helpfully labelled) on the cold buffet - which was regularly replenished so that it always looked as though it had just been set out. A choice of cooked items is included in the price: these dishes are prepared to order and ours were brought to the table by the chef himself! Even the breakfast coffee was good - something I don’t often find in hotels.

We were in Seville for tapas, so we didn’t dine in the Senzone gourmet restaurant, which I rather regret - but gives us an excuse to return. The hotel’s location meant that we could easily walk to everywhere we wanted to visit, including Seville’s oldest tapas bar, the atmospheric El Rinconcillo; amazing ice cream shop Rayas, and the slightly less touristy flamenco venue La Carboneria.

The hotel, its location and helpful friendly team all contributed to our successful visit. I have only two tiny criticisms: there was no full-length mirror in our room (I do like to ensure that my skirt isn’t tucked into my knickers before I got out!) and, unlike most hotels in these environmentally aware times, there was no card in the room instructing us what to do if we were happy to re-use our towels. As a result we had fresh towels every day - not a habit we can enjoy at home!

This hotel is welcoming and beautiful. The inside courtyard was peaceful by day and night. The staff was friendly and helpful. We enjoyed the convenient location. Take an extra map at check in. As well-seasoned travelers, my friend and I found ourselves walking in circles in this area of Seville. It would be well worth the data charges to use google maps in this area of the city. Take a compass, too. If you are there during appropriate weather, enjoy the roof top pool. The cafe con leche in the restaurant was the best we had in the city.