This review is a little late in the making - we stayed at the Parador de Nerja in October of 2005. However, I wanted to share our experience with travelers considering this hotel for their trip to the Costa del Sol.

We loved the Nerja parador. It was a very interesting-looking building, almost modern in style, and the lobby was bright and modern as well. The people at the front desk were extremely helpful, and the man who was there when we arrived talked us into upgrading to a room with a sea view and balcony, and I'm so glad we did... the room was absolutely incredible, with the entire back wall being a panoramic window out to Burriana Beach and the Mediterranean, framed by majestic mountains in the background. The view literally took your breath away.

The parador is close enough to downtown that you can walk easily, but it's also slightly off the beaten path, and it's position on the top of a hill is perfect for the view. The grounds are stunning - a beautiful pool and gardens, with the infamous glass elevator to take you down to the beach. The elevator takes a while, but it's very cool to watch yourself being lowered to the lovely beach below.

The breakfast buffet offered by the hotel is wonderful, and it's great to sit out on the hotel's terrace and drink steaming hot cafe con leche and nibble on jamon iberico and fresh bread with the mountains looming in the background. The first morning we were there was foggy and damp, but it lent almost an ethereal quality to the beach and the town.

Nerja is great as well - still managing to retain some small-town charm even when it's packed with tourists. October was a good time to go, because it wasn't too crowded, and you can find some delicious food in town for any appetite.

All in all, I would highly recommend this hotel for it's location, cleanliness, friendliness and beautiful grounds. We've stayed at several paradors and this one was the most modern and fun of all of them - it wasn't stuffy like some can be. You won't be disappointed.

I've stayed here a couple of times, with slightly mixed results. The first time I had a large, bright room with a balcony overlooking the garden and sea: when I returned with my husband and son we were given a family room on one of the corners, overlooking a street and apparently above the kitchens. No balcony, and quite dimly lit ,and the bathroom was definitely in need of renovation. So when you're booking, try to get a seaview or a garden room. That aside, though, this is a great hotel. Don't let the exterior put you off (like a cross between a company head office and a reform school!): inside - yes, 70s retro but coming out the other side to be really stylish - especially the bar and restaurant. There's a large car park.The staff were unfailingly helpful. The gardens are delightful, overlooking the best beach in Nerja, with swimming pool and lots of loungers, trees, shrubs, and so on. If you want to visit the beach there's even a cliffside lift for residents only - but be warned, it stops operating quite early on in the evening so if you want to eat at one of the many beachside cafes you'll be walking back up! The breakfast was amazing, maybe the widest choice that I've seen, of hot and cold dishes, buffet style so you can eat as much as you like. I ate dinner there once and wasn't terribly impressed, though. The main thing about this hotel is the ambience, it really is a place to come and just relax.

Stayed at the Parador in Nerja for 4 days over Xmas. I have stayed in several hotels in Nerja. This is easily the best. The location overlooking Burriana Beach is superb and the hotel is designed so most of the rooms have sea views. The hotel has a somewhat retro 60's look from the outside but the interior is beautifully furnished and very comfortable.
We didn't eat in the restaurant but the buffet breakfast was excellent. The atmosphere in the hotel was charming and informal and the service was good.
Highly recommended.

Stayed for a couple of nights late September in a hydrotherapy room. Good sized room with comfortable bed, verandah and huge bathroom with jacuzzi.

Great breakfast, helpful staff, superb views over the beach at Nerja and an easy walk into restaurants and bars around Balcon de Europa.

Having just experienced hell of the hire car hall at Malaga airport (Crown may be cheap, but we queued almost an hour to get a car) arriving at this oasis of peace and calm evaporated our tensions immediately.

Will definitely return, and will try other Paradores