My flight home from Murcia was cancelled due to air traffic strikes and having returned to Murcia at 9.30pm found that the hotel I had previously stayed in was fully booked (the Zenit). They very helfully phoned round other hotels for me and my friend and the only hotel available was the Floridablanca. It was more expensive and 4****. The receptionist was not welcoming, the room was basic with damp and other marks on the walls, the bathroom actually had mould. If not for the circumstances and lack of rooms elsewhere I would have complained and/or left. My friends brother tried to phone to help us rearrange flight back to UK but was firstly put throught to the wrong room, cut off, then when he called again was cut off immediately. Perhaps the bad rooms are left for late bookers and if you book in advance they may be lovely but I'm not going to put it to chance by staying there again.

nice convenient hotel, about 5 mins walk from centre. chose it because it has a garage - although they did charge 10 euros for the privilege.
(found street parking on other nights)

I just had fantastic weekend in Murcia. The intense sunshine was mind-blowing for December, the Cathedral, though obscured slighty by renovation work, was magnificent, the people were hospitable despite the fact that I hardly speak any Spanish and they didn't seem to understand much English and the hotel where we stayed (the Catolonia Conde de Floridablance) was stylish, inexpensive and run by very friendly staff (and the hotel breakfast buffet was very tasty and plentiful).I also recommend a visit to the Cafe Felix, near the old city walls, as it's a great place to chill-out and has inspirational decor of a mystical Indian nature.All in all, Murcia was a pleasant surprise and I would recommend it to anyone for a weekend break