The best things about this hotel are the location, the breakfasts and the carpark (rare to find one in Granada).

However, we booked the hotel after seeing pictures of a fabulous pool and luxurious rooms. Not quite sure where those pictures were taken but I don't think it was in that hotel! The pool is no more than a splash pool though it is nice to have the outdoor space. Our rooms, whilst clean, were very dated, noisy with a slight sewage smell at times!

BUT the worst thing about this hotel are the reception staff. They have to be seen to be believed. Do not expect ANY welcome on arrival nor any pleasantries upon departure. The gentleman on the desk was so surly and unwelcoming that frankly you wonder if they'd be happier if no one stayed in the hotel at all!

We stayed at the Hotel Carmen for 2 nights. We were very excited about the hotel because it looked great online. We were put in a room where the only window looked out to a brick wall. When we first entered the hotel room, it smelled like we were inside a Port-o-Potty. The smell never went away. We were literally gagging. We would have found a different hotel but there was no availability. Also, the shower sprayed water all over the ceiling whenever it was running. Therefore, it got the entire bathroom wet.

The sheets were nice, the lobby was nice, the rooftop was nice, but the stinky, outdated room was not worth it.

Stay somewhere else.

To be honest, this hotel needs a good refurbishment. It's clean enough, but it just doesn't lift your spirits. The location is fine but the hotel is on a very busy main road. Not a problem if you get the room we were in because our view was facing inwards to what can only be described as a "bricked ventilation shaft". I've sent a photo with this review, so click on the users pictures to see our wonderful view! A picure tells a thousand words. On a final note, we went in April and found the rooftop pool to be awful and tatty; almost deralict. Maybe things improve for summer when it warms up, I don't know. All in all, it's not a bad place; it just needs bringing into the new millenium.

After reading reports on this site (after we had booked) we arrived at the hotel with some trepidation. We should not have worried. The hotel is situated in the busy heart of the City opposite El Corte Ingles and within 5 minutes walking distance of the Cathedral. Many restaurant bars both inside and out are within walking distance serving till late.
Yes the hotel has an old facade (but you are in an old city) but as soon as you set foot in the large modern cool A/C lobby everything changes. The room was big enough with twin beds placed together and nicely decorated, aircon ok, the bathroom modern with black and white marble. We were at the back of the hotel and had a large balcony with table and chairs. Great so far! The pool on the roof is small (maximum of 8 people at one time) and there are a limited number of sun beds which is offset by lots of tables and chairs. The ambience wow. Terrific views of the city and surrounding mountains and to sit up there in the late evening with a bottle of wine could not be beaten. Still great so far. Breakfast was included but according to others on this site not worth turning up for. Well something must have changed, Ok the bacon was the usual overdone streaky effort that one always associates with Spain and the fried eggs were a bit rubbery, But the rest of selection was superb, cold meats, tuna cheeses, boiled eggs, too much to mention.
Oh and the staff were friendly and helpful when needed.
Obviusly we went to a different hotel to some your posters, or at least it seemed so. Would not hesitate to recommend the Carmen to our friends, a good 4* hotel at great prices