Review of Hotel Alhambra Palace, by Brendan Sainsbury

Perched dramatically on a hill overlooking the city of Granada with the snow-capped Sierra Nevada Mountains providing a distinctive backdrop, luxury hotel The Alhambra Palace blends modern creature comforts with a rather surreal mix of kitschy architectural blemishes. Aficionados will recognize the luxury hotel's gaudily turreted walls as a direct copy of the Moorish Torre de Oro in Seville, whilst visitors from North America could be excused for mistaking the rather grand and gilded interior as fake props in a Ridley Scott-inspired Hollywood movie set.

Situated a mere five minutes from the gates of the real Alhambra, this rather amusing fake buzzes like a smaller scale version the original, the busy reception area becoming besieged at peak times by a confusing mix of coach parties, convention planners and stray wedding guests.

The facilities

The luxury hotel is big on the banqueting scene. The Alhambra Palace is the kind of eye-catching four star hotel that guests are forced to share with visiting dignitaries, executives on the lecture circuit, or busloads of inquisitive tourists intent on gawping at the dubious retro adornments of its mock Moorish restaurant. It is an experience all its own and even the most fashionable guests will feel underdressed in comparison with the decor.

Business travellers flock to this luxury hotel for the fully equipped meeting rooms. There are five different styled rooms to choose from. Staff can tailor each room to your specific needs. Spacious and comfortable, this is the perfect place to hold a meeting or special event.

The rooms

If you make it to the upstairs of the luxury hotel, you'll quickly find that the 140 rooms justify their price tag by right of their large tiled bathrooms and stupendous views out over the bustling city and the fertile plains of the Vega beyond. Warm colour schemes and a tropical feel let you know your truly in Spain.