Hotel Monasterio San Miguel

The Monasterio de San Miguel hotel is in the very centre of El Puerto de Santa María, just a few minutes from the heart of the municipality. Known for its length, the road the hotel is found in is rather narrow, like most of the roads in this town, and relatively calm with several shops and bars. The area's tourist attractions, such as the wine cellars and palatial mansions, are just a stone's throw away, while the promenade around the port is only 200m from the hotel and the town of Cadiz just over 12 mi away. As for the local airports, Jerez is the closest at 9 mi, followed by Seville at 62 mi. You might also be interested to know that there is a train to Alvia train from Cadiz (with 3 daily departures from Madrid) that stops at El Puerto de Santa María, as well as a TGV that arrives in Seville.

Arriving at Monasterio de San Miguel, guests are immersed into the building's long history. The decor, featuring pieces from various different antique dealers, contributes a its enchanting, sacred and historic aura. The hotel receives a varied clientele and recently hosted a number of events for various business groups. Among the regular guests you will find: golfers, lovers of all that involves wine, and those looking for some sun and sand given the establishment's proximity to the sea. The hotel offers special services for golfers, such as discounts on green fees and transportation to the closest golf courses: Golf El Puerto (just under 2 mi away) and Costa Ballena (12.5 mi away). This is all without forgetting the bullfighters, because most of the ones who come here to fight on the Place des Taureaux stay at this hotel. To accommodate these guests as well as fans of bullfighting, there is a smart little sitting room with glass doors decorated with photos and pieces of art representing bulls. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel. This establishment is part of the historic hotel chain Estancias de España, which allows guest to accumulate points with an 'Iberia Plus' card. It's also part of the European Historic Hotels of Europe network. There is no mini golf or playground for children, although it does offer interesting rates for young guests, including discounts or special 'free for children' offers. It also puts on clown shows from time to time and offers attractions like a bouncy castle for the little ones. In collaboration with the Duques de Medinaceli (next door and belonging to the same chain; Jale), this hotel organises gourmet days dedicated to a specific type of food, such as fish or mushrooms, and offers special set meals for £31. It also gives its guests the opportunity to acquire a 'Privilege Card' that, among other advantages, gives couples (or any two guests) a 50% discount on their restaurant bill.

This hotel was inaugurated by the Kings in 1989 after being renovated by the Jale hotel group. The building dates back to 1727 and for more than two centuries served as a convent for the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin. A pretty example of the Baroque style, its original structure has been almost entirely preserved and some areas have, in fact, not been touched at all. One of the best examples of this style is the former church, which is full of charm and currently sometimes used as a conference room. It has a stage and a superb, noticeably-high archway. Over the years it has housed lateral chapels, a raised altar, a painting of Saint Michel, as well as the space reserved for believers listening to mass behind an iron railing. The monastery is also an enchanting place. Shaped like an octagon and with gated galleries, the 4 corridors surrounding this building are bathed in sunlight. From here you can get to the reception area, the restaurant, and the stairways leading up to the guest rooms. The former dining hall is now a superb meeting room that also hosts private lunches and cocktail parties. In total, the hotel has 16 conference rooms that can hold between 10 and 700 people. Other facilities include a swimming pool, surrounded by hammocks to take in some sun in a restricted space, and a solarium-gazebo on the third floor. There is an underground car park open 24/7.

The hotel has a total of 175 guest rooms: 133 doubles (standard and superior), 15 junior suites, 9 suites and 8 singles. The only difference between the standard and superior rooms is that the latter have a terrace. Among other extras, the suites and junior suites have a double wash basin. All of the rooms are spacious, very comfortable, and have almost everything you could need for a few days' rest. Useful features include the phone in the bathroom and the bedroom, and the hair-dryer and shower screen in the bathroom. Some of the furnishings, like the headboards and chests, could do with some refurbishment to really show off the hotel's 4 stars.

Like the rest of the establishment, the restaurant is full of charm, as it is found in the convent's former laundry. It takes its name, Las Bóvedas, from the original stone arches. The walls are adorned with photos of politicians, journalists and other famous people (Carlos Herrera, Antonio Gala and Alfonso Ussía, among others) who once dined in this restaurant which specialises in international cuisine. Breakfast is served in the style of a buffet (in the Herbolario room), while the other meals are offered 'a la carte'. Also not to be forgotten is the Las Capuchinas cafeteria, where you can enjoy some tapas and other appetisers in a laidback atmosphere. It is open from 10:00am until midnight.

The closest beach to the hotel is Valdelagrana and is just over a mile away. Found in Costa de La Luz, the beach boasts fine sand, a beautiful sea, and a comfortable place to relax, not to mention a large choice of restaurants. There is no private area for guests of the hotel, but it is possible to hire hammocks and sunshades by the day or half-day from private companies. A 10 minute bus ride from the hotel will take you directly to the beach. The same distance will also take you to Vistahermosa beach, which is almost 2 mi long. The latter offers the same amenities as the former but does not have a promenade. Other beaches include: La Puntilla and Fuentebravía, as well as the very lively Puerto Sherry.