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Shhh! Hotel Monte-Carlo has a secret: it's room No. 260, a triple standard with impressive, carved Mudejar arches that make us feel as if we're at an Arab bath. What's not so secret is that its 52 rooms are undergoing major renovations. The hotel plans on upgrading to three-star status. So unfortunately, until renovations are completed, you might be taking a siesta with power tools.
Charming young bellhops and mismatched furniture keep the chain-hotel-like consistency of the Monte-Carlo from becoming the usual homogenous humdrum. You would never guess from the boring outside, but this hotel is bouncing with character. And the whole place just smells good!
Bathrooms are clean, basic, shockingly white, and outfitted with shaving mirrors, our favorite hotel detail. Neither the artwork nor the bedding win any prizes, though Arabic designs surprise with unsuspecting detail.
Location is centrally south of town, near the bullring and a quick walk to the Cathedral and the royal castle. In just a few minutes, you can also arrive at the riverbanks of Guadalquivir and into the neighborhood of La Triana across the river—definitely worth the trek.
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