Where to stay in Seville

Seville has a wide range of places for visitors to stay in, although it is always in great demand and so, if possible, accommodation should be reserved well in advance of your visit. This is especially true of the time of the year around Semana Santa (Easter) and the famous Feria de Abril. The so-called 'Spring Supplement' of many hotels can be as much as three times the usual rate - but everywhere will still be fully occupied.

It is probably fair to say that most people arriving in the city for the first time will prefer to find their accommodation near the centre of the city, close to the wonderful historic sites, and there will be something to suit all budgets in the attractive Barrio de Santa Cruz, close to the Cathedral and Alcazar.

There are some spectacular hotels in this area. Some are to be found in typical Sevillian palaces whilst several are actually complexes of interconnected houses and palaces. These authentic Andalucian houses, with their flower strewn patios, fountains and truly individual rooms can offer guests a compelling taste of Spain combined with the luxuries they would expect in a modern hotel.

Even in the Santa Cruz area, though, you can still find some hotels offering very good value hidden away in the narrow side streets - although few of them will have much in the way of parking space.

For those visitors who would prefer to be outside of the maze of streets that constitutes the old part of Seville, then there are some truly luxurious hotels along the wide avenues around the site of the Seville 1929 Exhibition.

As Seville has seen the benefit of a greatly improved transport infrastructure over recent years, with the airport being upgraded and the development of the new high-speed train, there are large hotels near the airport and the Santa Justa station - both of which have easy access into the city.

The city of Seville additionally has a large number of hostels for visitors to use - and don't imagine that this automatically conjures up images of hard bunk beds and strict wardens. Hostels in Spain are actually just cheap hotels that might offer single, double and dormitory accommodation.

Finally, it is worth giving serious consideration to actually not staying in a hotel at all during your time in Seville. There are a good number of apartments that cater for everyone from individuals or couples up to large families or groups of friends.

There is a lot to be said in favor of renting an apartment. It does give you considerably more freedom with regard to your routine and meal patterns than an impersonal hotel - you can breakfast as early or late as you choose or have a quick snack when you come home without having to depend on the hotel kitchen being open or charging a supplement for room service. Although you don't necessarily go on vacation to cook every day, the option of being able to in a fully-fitted kitchen is an appealing one for many people - especially those with fussy children.

Renting an Seville apartment is a much more independent way of visiting the city and is an option many people prefer.