KITTY HOLLANDstays at Hospes Amerigo in Alicante, Spain
APPROACHING the Hospes Amerigo hotel in Alicante, Spain, is an unprepossessing experience – particularly during siesta when the main streets around are deserted. This gorgeous boutique hotel, in a former Dominican convent in the old part of Alicante, is off Rambla de Mendez Nunez, a main street near the sea front, and hidden away down an alley on Calle Rafael Altamaria. Its exterior is understated elegance – white, bare stone and nicely lit by night.
Marble floors, cool dark teak-like wood and exotic orchids at the reception desk set the tone for the rest of the hotel, its decor reminiscent of the Morrison hotel in Dublin. High ceilings, exposed brickwork and the original arched windows allow it to retain the old grace of its convent days. Check-in was quick and friendly, and towels were offered for use at the roof-top pool, which naturally were taken.
Two lifts are available, or the stairs if preferred. We had a deluxe room – one grade up from the standard “dreamer room”. Two junior suites and one suite are also available.
The deluxe room was one of the most stylish and spacious ones this reviewer has stayed in. Again, it was dominated by cream furnishings and dark wood furniture, with several exotic plants about the place, but there was interesting bright modern art-work, a huge arched window with a wrought-iron balcony overlooking the little street below, and bright orange and red cushions on both the enormous king-size bed and cream leather couch.
One aspect we expected to find disconcerting was the open plan way the bathroom was connected, without doors, into the bedroom. Having read about this on TripAdvisor I was curious to see if it worked. It did.
The bathroom is entirely open to the room but it is off the main bedroom and opens more into the hallway or entrance area, which can be cordoned off with a sliding opaque-glass and wooden screen. It gives a great sense of space.
The bathroom is big, and luxurious, with a large bath, walk-in shower with two shower heads, two basins and lots of lovely bathroom goodies. Two white fluffy robes and two pairs of soft white towelling slippers complete the set up.
Other notable extras are the large flat-screen television, the DVD player, remote-control blinds, wireless phone as well as the mini-bar, wifi access and safety deposit box.
Having sussed out the room, we repaired to the pool and roof-top bar, which we had almost to ourselves. The pool is indoors, although walled in by floor-to-ceiling windows, so the feeling is outdoors, and it opens on to an outdoor bar and bathing area. It’s not huge but big enough to swim lengths in and there are three high-powered water jets, like showers, which can be turned on for a head massage-type experience.
Perhaps because of how quiet it was, the bar was unmanned but a phone on the bar could be used to order a large, boozy glasses of sangria and lemonade, which were delivered to the poolside within about 10 minutes. Also available on this floor were a gym, spa centre and ample lounging-about areas.
Although the Senzone restaurant in the hotel is reputed to serve some of the best food in Alicante, I like to get out for dinner. Clueless as to where to look for good restaurants, advice was sought from reception and a helpful young woman circled three on a street map and gave a brief description of each. In the end we didn’t go to any of them but her directions pointed us towards a revelatory exploration of old Alicante.
I had been in this port city about three times before, but just for afternoons and had never ventured beyond the sea front and the main shopping street.
Our wanderings revealed a gorgeous, old traditional Spanish town of cobbled streets, charming squares, cafes and churches. After drinks in one square we had dinner in another, of huge gambas, fresh sea-bream and sea bass.
Bars were serving until about 2am, which was when we wandered happily home.
Wonderful things were expected of breakfast, and although good, it wasn’t the stuff of dreams. An adequate cold buffet of fruit, cheese, cold meats, pastries and cereals was shored up with a brief menu of hot basics – eggs, ham, sausages.
It sufficed but one suspects an American visitor would expect a lot more of breakfast in a five-star hotel. Not a waffle, pancake or slice of smoked salmon in sight. One has to remember, though, that the Spanish are not big on breakfast – a cafe con leche and a churros is as much as most Spaniards seek. Lunch is the thing in Spain.
WhereHospes Amerigo, Calle Rafael Altamira 7, 03002 – Alicante; 0034-965- 146570; hospes.com
WhatFive-star boutique hotel.
Rooms81 rooms, two junior suites, one suite.
Best room-only rates€107 per "dreamers" room per night, up to €583 per suite per night.
Breakfast€18.19 each.
Restaurants and bars60-seat Senzone restaurant offering gourmet regional food, 36-seat tapas bar – with skewers of duck, tiny foie gras sandwiches, a lounge bar and roof-top pool bar.
AccessWheelchair accessible entrance, lobby, lifts and rooms.
Amenitiesswimming-pool, gym, treatment rooms, wifi, luggage storage, covered parking, meeting rooms.