This is my second visit to this wonderful hotel and I have already booked a third trip in September! This is the only hotel in the old town and is close to all the shops and restaurants. The hotel itself is basic but very clean and the staff are both helpful and Friendly. We stayed in a room overlooking the Cloisters which was fantastic. Breakfast is served in the cloisters and is very peaceful. The weather unfornately on this occasion was not good but we hope for better weather in September when we return to Hotel San Francesco!! We would recommend this hotel to anyone wanting to stay in the old town.
See you in September!!! Jackie & Jayne

This great little hotel is conveniently sited for budget travellers - within easy walking distance of the main bus terminal. I had no trouble booking by e-mail - all they asked for was credit card details, and no deposit was required. The room was clean and comfortable, and though it was small, the facilities were perfectly adequate for me as a solo female traveller. I loved the location - the fact that the hotel was in a former convent in a quiet street in the centre of the old town gave it a special ambience. Reception staff couldn't have been more friendly and helpful - checking ferry timetables for me and helping me sort out travel arrangements. Breakfast (which I found perfectly adequate) is included in the tariff, and I was impressed by the excellent espresso coffee and the freshly baked croissants. Although it was too cold to sit out in the cloisters, they made an inviting breakfast area.

We stayed here only for a couple of nights but we'd booked ahead and managed to get a double room opening onto the cloisters instead of a window onto the streets outside. There are only 2 rooms that do that (there are other rooms on the 2nd floor which have windows that overlook the cloisters but do not open onto them as is only possible on the 1st floor). The room was spacious, comfortable, plenty of space to put your clothes and any other items. The bathroom was a small but perfectly formed wet room with a tiny window. There are enough clean towels for 2/3 people and basic toiletries (soap and shampoo/shower) are provided.
The church which the cloisters belong to is on the "main street" in old town Alghero. you can access the ground floor of the Cloisters through the church - and it is free.
At night, however, no one is in the cloisters and so that's when the room opening onto them becomes truly magical.
Breakfast is served on the first floor 8-10am in a small room in the corner of the cloisters but also has table and chairs outside so you may absorb your surroundings whilst eating breakfast. You are given an exact amount "anything over that will be seen as extra" and therefore chargeable. Is it entirely enough however: a roll, butter, preservatives, packed small fried toast/bread, a pastry, a juice and a coffee. You are also asked to vacate your room between 9.30-10.30 for the maids, who do an exceptional job in 10 minutes flat.
The reception staff are extremely hospitable and a real pleasure.
Upon arriving, you will have to buzz to enter, you must also always leave your key at reception (the weight of it helps you agree with this) and so will need to buzz every time you go back to the hotel. This is not a problem and it is done to preserve the peace and space of the cloisters which dates back to the 14th century and is not a public space.

There is a (small) wifi/computer area just as you arrive on the first floor, should you wish to use it.

The hotel is in a great place, very central and placed in the beautiful old streets. If you visit Alghero and are looking for a wonderful (albeit basic) place to stay, this is it. It's amazing how silent it is in the cloisters at night - and being able to climb through your window onto them when no one else (bar one room) can is an exclusively peaceful sensation.

Room was spartan and bathroom tiny which made it impossible to multitask !
Breakfast was equally basic.. But the cloister is wonderfully quiet and the staff extremely helpful and friendly. Hotel San Francesco is perfect for a short stay in Alghero.