Hotel La Malvasía — Hotel in Almonte

Reading about the La Malvasia, I thought I would like it. I did not. I loved it. ||It was everything it promised. And much more. ||Everyone on staff was exceptionally helpful, most especially the kind angels who arranged to get our left-behind passports to us. ||No task was too big, no request too small.||The standouts in the stay were the size and layout of our beautiful and spacious suite, number 12. We have never before had such a comfortable accomodation in any of  our dozens of trips to Europe....or anywhere else in the world.||And the graciousness of the hotel is enhanced by the natural beauty of its setting. The lake/marsh that serves as the "front yard" is a vast expanse full of birds, and wild horses. Hundreds of Flamingoes dance across the waters as dozens of Cattle Egrets swarm the skies. Too many magic moments to note them all in one review.||The meals were well prepared and presented, the rooms kept to a high standard of cleanliness, the internet connection strong and fast. ||My one and only disappointment was that the lovely restaurant was lit too brightly at night for dinner.  We would have much preferred candlelight as the soft jazz and moonlit marsh begged for a more romantic dining experience.||We look forward to returning to Hotel La Malvasia and hope the next time it will be for considerably more time than the 3 nights we spent...

A beautiful little hotel on a quiet street, situated at the far end of the wooden boardwalk which runs alongside the "lagoon". You can walk along here and watch the wading birds (in winter and spring when there is water in the lake) or horses and deer (in summer and winter when it's dry).

Unfortunately although we went in late September the hotel bar and restaurant were closed, as was most of the town. It was very hard to find somewhere to go in the evening, as all the cafes and bars seemed to only open in the daytime.

The purpose of our visit was to enjoy a guided tour of Doñana National Park. The guide picked us up from the hotel at 7.45 a.m. - too early for breakfast, which isn't served till 8. Instead they gave us a "picnic" comprising a cheese & ham roll, an apple and some fruit juice. The roll was made up the night before so unfortunately was stale by morning. They did knock a couple of euros off the price, as the room price included breakfast, but some coffee would have been nice!

The room itself was comfortable, with a decent sized bed, though we didn't spend...

We had a junior suite overlooking the water which was great to observe the birds. BUT some items of the decoration spoiled the atmosphere: one big plastic tree in a corner (yes a PLASTIC TREE in a town were you go to for its NATURAL environment), the ugliest baroque chair and side table I have ever seen and, to really make the atmosphere totally artificial; very powerfull dated perfume sticks in the room and the bathroom (in the hotel's corridor as well) so that you could not breathe the nice air from outside and which made us realize how the hotel managers did not understand where their property was located and in which century we are living.

Service was not good (including -but not only- very little or no english spoken). Food, drinks and service at the restaurant were way below average, except for breakfast, which was good. FYI the only room with a view over the water is the...