Property
Large business-style hotels have certain charms. Such as, when the air conditioning in your room stops working (in Seville, in July), there is something undeniably appealing about a hotel with full-time maintenance staff and lots of spare rooms. This place is not pretty from the outside, but who cares? It’s clean, comfortable, and a terrific value for families. Spacious junior suites accommodate four. Superior doubles sleep four as well, but with less privacy. Some rooms have enormous balconies.

Location
From the hotel it’s a 20-minute walk (or much shorter bus or cab ride) to Barrio Santa Cruz, the historic center of Seville. There are two big, shady parks on your doorstep (Jardines de los Reales Alcázares and the Parque de María Luisa) so your kids can frisk around a little on the way.

Sleeps
2-5.

Highlights
Although you cannot tell from the photos the pool is actually on the roof of the first floor. The resulting peaceful atmosphere belies its big-city location. The hotel (and many of the rooms) has a delightful view of the Plaza de España, particularly at sunset.

Good to know
Seville is an everything-is-closed-on-Sundays kind of town. If you’re here on a Sunday, that’s the day you’ll want to set aside for swimming, reading, writing postcards, and hanging out at the park.

Contact
www.solmelia.com

Written by Jamie Pearson

Property
The recently refurbished Apartamentos Murillos feature 11 one-bedroom apartments and 3 two-bedroom apartments. All units include fully equipped kitchens (fridge/freezer, stove, oven, microwave), television with cable channels, and individually controlled heating and air-conditioning. Parents of very young children may want to move the glass-topped coffee/dining table up against the wall. Otherwise the apartments are pretty child safe. Cribs are available through the Hotel Murillo next door as is laundry service (one day turnaround). Don’t feel like rustling up breakfast? You can pop next door for that too.

Location
Unspeakably cool location in the historical, pedestrian-only maze that is Barrio Santa Cruz. Taxis drop you 2 minutes away, and you make the rest of the journey through winding narrow alleys on foot. How narrow? You can touch the walls on either side of Calle Reinoso (the street where Apartamentos Murillos is located) while standing in the middle. Really. Everything from the Catedral with its magnificent Giralda to some of the best shopping and tapas bars in Spain is right on your doorstep. There are two decent supermarkets within fairly easy walking distance, and a children’s playground in the Jardines Murillos just outside the Alcazar walls.

Sleeps
2-6.

Highlights
Space to stretch out. Free wifi (which doesn’t always reach the third floor, but you can always go down to the lobby). Modern, metal shutters on the windows which block light and heat like nobody’s business. Daily maid service. No minimum stay.

Good to know
Seville is a lively and busy city. Management is happy to put you on a high floor away from the street, but there is no elevator from the 2nd to the 3rd floor. Murillo has no pool (and there are no public pools nearby) but don’t despair! You can splash your cares away at Aquópolis Sevilla Guadalpark (waterslides, wave pools, and river-type rides). Ask the concierge for details.

Contact
www.hotelmurillo.com

Written by Jamie Pearson