This is quite a modern parador, despite being one of the first Paradors established in Spain (back in the 1920s). It's clearly been completely redone since then. All rooms have a view out over the ocean, which is lovely as it means you can fall asleep to the sounds of the ocean below. What it lacks in charm (this is not at all an atmospheric Parador!), it makes up with good, efficient service.

GREAT THINGS:
-Outlook: Nice, peaceful setting overlooking a palm tree-filled park (amazing topiary!) and the Bay of Cadiz.
-Rooms: Rooms are large and comfortable. Bathrooms are suitably glitzy.
-Staff: The staff are very well-trained, helpful and efficient.
-Breakfast: Amazing array of breakfast options, very tasty and well worth the price (probably your only option anyway - not much in the way of breakfast places nearby!).
-Restaurant: Some really interesting, traditional Spanish dishes on offer. Go outside your comfort zone and order something new.

OKAY THINGS:
-Location: The location is good in terms of being located in a quieter area of Cadiz and looking out over the ocean. However, there is not much in the immediate vicinity in the way of tourist sites.
-Parking: Parking is expensive. Check the rates before you park.

NOT SO GREAT THINGS:
-Bar: Looks and feels like something out of the USSR. Quite frustrating, as there are very few alternatives while waiting for the restaurant to open (which opens quite late even by Spanish standards!).

Overall, this is a good, modern Parador, but be warned that it's a fair way from most of the things you'll be visiting in Cadiz.

This Parador is more modern than other paradores we stayed in. It is next to the Genoves park - nice for a stroll among the palm trees - but don't think you can walk there late at night as it gets locked - as does the adjacent access road to the municipal car park. There is free outdoor carparking at the hotel (a bonus in Spain).

The hotel sits at the very tip of the promontory, which gives it great views, and gets you away from the humidity of central Cadiz. It was nice to have a view of the sea, and a balcony. And it didn't look into a wall as we experienced at the parador in Malaga.

Our air-con was fine - good job as I got heat stroke the day we were in Cadiz and never got to take advantage of the amazing pool. It was actually a swimming pool rather than a plunge pool with plenty or sunbathing around- my only complaint was that it didn't open until after breakfast - but this seems to be standard in the paradores. If we had stayed more than a night it would have been a good place to sunbathe and swim - the only Andalucian city we found to offer this opportunity.

It is quite a big parador. But the restaurant didn't feel crowded at breakfast or dinner. And the dinner was great (for us having a separate vegetarian menu was such a bonus - and it wasn't the same as in other paradores so we could tour them and have a different meal each night.) It also served complimentary aperitifs with a very nice, chilled manzanilla. (Something we didn't get at all Paradores and not at any other hotel.)

Although it hasn't the ancient historic interest of some paradores, it is not new (I don't know when it was built but it feels very '50s or '60s) so there is a feeling of recent history to it. There were some attractive courtyard areas to sit in, and a nice gift shop and photographic displays to while way time in.

The staff at reception weren't as friendly and welcoming as in some other hotels, but they were professional and reasonably efficient. And the restaurunt was well run.

All in all a satisfactory experience - especially in light of other places we stayed in Andalucia. And although the drive from Cadiz to Jerez isn't as interesting as from Gibraltar to Cadiz, it is well located to tour the Costa de la Luz.

Having previously stayed at the Parador in Ronda (which is excellent!) my girlfriend and I were looking forward to our stay at the Parador in Cadiz - and how disappointed we were!! Firstly the lady at reception was rude and unwelcoming which is absolutely unforgiveable at a hotel of this class. Secondly the room was dirty and full of bugs and insects. Thirdly the air con didn't work properly - when we complained we were told that the whole hotel was sufferring due to power shortages in the city - fair enough, but how come the reception area was freezing?? they were unable to provide a fan.
The good points were the location and swimming pool (which is big) but for the money it's not worth it. I will definitely not be staying here again.

The A/C wasn't working in our room and the staff didn't care even though I repeatedly asked them to fix it.

At 3:00 a.m. they told us somebody would come to make the repair. We got dressed. Ten minutes later we received a call that it couldn't be fixed until the morning. We got undressed and tried to go back to sleep.

In the morning they told us to pack our bags and that they would be moved to another room. When we returned in the early evening, we were told that the A/C was repaired and that we would have to spend another night in a room that had given us nothing but misery.

We got them to move us, but it wasn't easy. The new room was smaller than the first room, but the A/C worked.

At 144 Euros a night, this is a very inept place, and the location is not convenient. True, it is a 10 or 15 minute walk to the historic center, but it is an unpleasant walk. That's OK if you do it once, but not if you do it two or three times a day for three days.