Dodge_out_n_about
Google
Located in a cave house area just behind the railway station in Guadix, the road sign showing the end of Guadix marks the entrance to the Cuevas Pedro Antonio de Alarcon and is fairly easy to find. This is shown on Google Maps. A short road of a few hundred metres, past houses and cave houses will see you at the reception. It was unusual in this part of Spain to have an English speaking receptionist, and she proved to be friendly, knowledgeable and helpful.||||It was not my first visit to Guadix, nor to a cave hotel. I would go back tomorrow if I had the chance. Outside my dwelling was a small seating area, shaded by trees and grape vines growing above the doorway to provide shade. The first room in, is a kitchen / living room, equipped with a fridge, icebox, microwave and cooking hob. It also had a table, chairs and sofa. Behind there, was a very adequate bathroom area. Right at the rear of the cave was a large bedroom area, with an indented wardrobe area covered by a curtain. I would imagine that the dwellings on this site are all slightly different, depending on the size selected. After a visit to a cave dwelling I always start to wonder what layout I'd chose if I were to live in one.||||On this site, the cave was nicely painted inside and out; it was also tastefully fitted out. All was peaceful and calm. There is an outdoors swimming pool area which is locked, and to which guests have a key. A late afternoon swim, followed by a relaxing rest on a recliner was very much enjoyed. The pool is licensed for 85 people max, but there were only a handful of people in there when I visited, so it was very quiet.||||Visiting the on-site restaurant (with WIFI) in the evening, I ordered from the menu del dia, which was reasonably priced, gave plenty of selection, was filling and tasty. The staff were patient with my dodgy Spanish and provided a relaxed environment to eat either indoors or outdoors. In the two nights I stayed, I didn't get around to trying the a la carte menu, but I'm sure that it was excellent too. Morning visits provided very simple breakfast options, but it seemed enough to get the day going. I believe that they sold burgers in the afternoon, but I didn't get around to sampling these. No place is perfect, but I felt that the staff made every effort to make for a great stay. If you get the correct price, then visit the hotel.||||In the centre of the city, roads twist and turn, so the map provided by the hotel is very handy for first time visitors. The cathedral and old fortress are very impressive. There seems to be cave houses hidden in every corner of the city. A bit of research is very handy before a visit. I believe that there is a motor racing circuit nearby, which I might have visited if I'd gone for vehicle hire. Enjoy.