If you come to Spain you must know about this...... :
Pensiones - generally basic, well-used rooms, no-air conditioning, shared bathroom. Guest rooms may be small, have a sink but lack a towel, and they don't take credit cards. Most likely staff will not speak English.
This basically described the pension I stay at in Malaga. It was a large room, but plaster chunks missing from the wall had just been painted over rather than patched. I did have a sink, and the total cost for the night was about 15€ for my single.
You can find pensiones for one person as low as 12€ per night during the off season. A couple during high season can pay 30€. Pensiones and hostals are often only around the corner from more expensive hotels.
This basically described the pension I stay at in Malaga. It was a large room, but plaster chunks missing from the wall had just been painted over rather than patched. I did have a sink, and the total cost for the night was about 15€ for my single.
You can find pensiones for one person as low as 12€ per night during the off season. A couple during high season can pay 30€. Pensiones and hostals are often only around the corner from more expensive hotels.
Hostels- Generally known as youth hostels but families can often stay too. To book Hostels try this booking engine from 'Hostel World'.
Hostales - Generally have nicer rooms than the pensiones. Some hostales are very nice (One of Spain's best hotels, the Parador of Santiago de Compostela is actually called the Hostal de Dos Reis Catolicos.) and like pensiones are usually family owned. Some hostales have private baths, generally with towels but no washcloths; a few have air-conditioning. You are more likely to find staff that speaks English at a hostal than a pension.
When travelling alone, I generally tried to find hostales to spend the night. Rates run from 12€ to 120 + euros, depending on quality. You are more likely to find nice hostales, at a resonalble cost, in the smaller cities. Click here to see some vid. caps. of a hostal in Madrid.Use the Hostel World's Hostal Booking Engine (Note: This booking engine will give different results than the hostel booking engine above.)
Note: Many Hostales and Pensiones lock their doors at night and lack room locks that automatically unlock from the inside. (see "where should I stay?")
Hostales Residencia -Basically same as above. I have heard two explanations for the "residencia" label; Explanation No. 1, a hostal that doesn't have a restaurant. Explanation No. 2 and the one that makes the most sense to me, the hostal is promoting long-term renting of the rooms.
Hoteles - (Hotels) All rooms generally have private bathrooms, can be very luxurious, and most have air-conditioning--a must for summer traveling.
When traveling with my family, we stay in hotels. Generally, with the exception of the cheapest hotels, hotels in tourist areas will have an English-speaking person at the desk. Price range 25 to 900 €. Click here to see some photos of a mid-price hotel in Madrid.
Paradores de turismo - a state-run chain of high-class hotels, converted mansions, castles, monasteries and palaces. Price approx. 75€ and up. To include one of these in your visit, do make reservations early; it is not unusual for paradores to be booked up 6 months in advance. Paradores can be booked throught Madrid and Beyond.
Hostales - Generally have nicer rooms than the pensiones. Some hostales are very nice (One of Spain's best hotels, the Parador of Santiago de Compostela is actually called the Hostal de Dos Reis Catolicos.) and like pensiones are usually family owned. Some hostales have private baths, generally with towels but no washcloths; a few have air-conditioning. You are more likely to find staff that speaks English at a hostal than a pension.
When travelling alone, I generally tried to find hostales to spend the night. Rates run from 12€ to 120 + euros, depending on quality. You are more likely to find nice hostales, at a resonalble cost, in the smaller cities. Click here to see some vid. caps. of a hostal in Madrid.Use the Hostel World's Hostal Booking Engine (Note: This booking engine will give different results than the hostel booking engine above.)
Note: Many Hostales and Pensiones lock their doors at night and lack room locks that automatically unlock from the inside. (see "where should I stay?")
Hostales Residencia -Basically same as above. I have heard two explanations for the "residencia" label; Explanation No. 1, a hostal that doesn't have a restaurant. Explanation No. 2 and the one that makes the most sense to me, the hostal is promoting long-term renting of the rooms.
Hoteles - (Hotels) All rooms generally have private bathrooms, can be very luxurious, and most have air-conditioning--a must for summer traveling.
When traveling with my family, we stay in hotels. Generally, with the exception of the cheapest hotels, hotels in tourist areas will have an English-speaking person at the desk. Price range 25 to 900 €. Click here to see some photos of a mid-price hotel in Madrid.
Paradores de turismo - a state-run chain of high-class hotels, converted mansions, castles, monasteries and palaces. Price approx. 75€ and up. To include one of these in your visit, do make reservations early; it is not unusual for paradores to be booked up 6 months in advance. Paradores can be booked throught Madrid and Beyond.
Good Things to Know about Hotels:
During the summer it is best to get hotel reservations in advance, way in advance for Barcelona. During the winter you still need to get reservations for Barcelona and it is best to do so for Madrid as well.
Often in more modern hostales and hotels the hall lights are activated by timer switches located in the hallways. If you step out into a darkened hall, look for a switch (button) on the hallway wall.
Ask to see the room before renting it for the night. This is common practice in Spain and it is particularly good practice for checking out a hostal or pension.
During the summer it is best to get hotel reservations in advance, way in advance for Barcelona. During the winter you still need to get reservations for Barcelona and it is best to do so for Madrid as well.
Often in more modern hostales and hotels the hall lights are activated by timer switches located in the hallways. If you step out into a darkened hall, look for a switch (button) on the hallway wall.
Ask to see the room before renting it for the night. This is common practice in Spain and it is particularly good practice for checking out a hostal or pension.
Good Things to Know about Hostales, Pensiones and some Hotels:
Stars (*) next to a hotel, hostel or pensiones note the level of services available. It does not, necessarily, indicate the quality of the establishment.
Always give your room key to the desk clerk on leaving the establishment. If you don't, your bed won't get made up and the management will be miffed with you.
The less expensive hostales and pensiones lack locks that automatically unlock from the inside. If you use your key to lock the door from the inside, you need to have it available in an emergency. You must be able to find the key, if wakened in the night, with no lights available. Some of those old locks can take fiddling to make them work, so you might want to practice unlocking them.
Some hostales and pensiones actually lock you in at night. Generally a clerk will let you in and out, but once I had to wait 10 minutes to leave a hostal because the owner had gone off and taken the door key with him.
Many establishments require you to insert a special plug or your card key in an outlet/slot to activate the electricity to your room. (photo)
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