Hotel Review: Almohalla 51

BeSeeingYou At: Hotel Almohalla 51

Location: Archidona, Spain

Number of Rooms & Suites: 5

Date of Stay: September 2023

Website: www.almohalla51.com

***

A stay at the cozy five-room hotel feels like being welcomed in a friend’s home

Why book? 

This traditional owner-run townhouse is also the home of your hosts Jo and Ken, who will make you feel welcome from the first hola. Whether you want to take a complete break and just relax by the pool or you plan to use this charming hotel as a jump-off point to explore inland Andalucia, Almohalla 51 offers an ideal location brimming with all the authentic home-away-from-home feels you’re looking for.

Ideal for a quick getaway or longer holiday, Almohalla 51 is only 40 minutes from Malaga Airport, one hour from Granada, and 1 hour 20 minutes from Cordoba.

Almohalla 51 also won a TripAdvisor Best of the Best award for 2023. Now that tells you they’re doing something right!

Who’s staying?

Reasonably fit travellers who won’t mind getting their steps in on the plentiful stairs— both inside and out. Small retreat-type groups and family and friend gatherings will love the ultra-relaxed and intimate atmosphere, while solo travellers will feel at ease as will those who work online and need to be well connected to their offices and teams.

The lounge is a great place to escape the summer heat, warm up in winter or make work calls 

Does the hotel have a past?

 It has a split personality past. Once two run-down houses, the previous owners bought both and transformed them into a luxury small hotel. Much of the original character has been retained and lots of reusing, recycling, and upcycling has created its comfortable charm.

Rooms & Suites

With only five delightfully charming rooms (yes, I got to see them all), the hotel delivers unique charm, and each room is loaded with tasteful and welcoming touches, as well as Spanish character such as original wooden beams on the ceilings, tile floors and thick whitewashed walls.

The entire house can also be booked for your group.

Spill the tea: how’s the food and drink?

G&GT? Any time you want.! By the pool? Absolutely!  Don´t fancy walking out to dine? Just say beforehand and dinner will be lovingly prepared for you. Jo does a great Paella and seasonal salad. Breakfast is a gourmet feast too, served on the patio or around the communal dining table. Home-picked black figs (in season) home-made jams, cakes, granola and a cooked breakfast, if wanted, are to die for.  The emphasis is always on local and home made produce and you might find items like serrano ham, local cheeses and olive oil and the house specialty: the Almohalla 51 Shakshuka.

There is also coffee machine in the dining room to help yourself whenever you like and the homemade cake just sitting on the table waiting to pair up with that coffee. If you´d rather be served, that’s also not a problem.

The town of Archidona is a short stroll from Almohalla 51 (photo courtesy of https://www.shutterstock.com/g/LuxBlue)

Neighbourhood News

Almohalla 51 is perfectly located for a weekend getaway or longer trip to visit nearby cities, wineries, lakes and beaches. Or to simpley stay put by the pool and wander into the lively little agricultural town of  Archidona with its shops, bars and unusual 18th-century Baroque Plaza Ochavada, just a one-to-two minutes’ walk.

Above & Beyond Service

 Jo and Ken create a real experience for us. Having travelled widely, they strive for a welcoming atmosphere and personal touches that will make you not want to leave, and yet wanting to leave so you can return anew.

Does it pool?

 It does. Sun loungers and pool invite more relaxation on the private top patio area. This is, I was told, the favourite spot to partake in one of Almohalla 51´s ´G&Ts of the Day´ while watching the setting sun over the rooftops and hills.

Almohalla 51´s pool deck is where to gather for G&Ts, especially at sunset

Is there a “green” scene?

 The owners are very eco-aware and do their best to ensure the hotel is too. Solar panels heat the hot water, original thick stone walls insulate guests from heat and cold, and air conditioning is not installed. Shower gel and shampoo are in refillable bottles.

Extra! Extra!

With a wealth of local knowledge and experiences close by or a little further afield, Jo and Ken can make suggestions of where to go and what to do so you can make the best of your time here, from biking, hiking and birdwatching to golf, white water rafting and wine tasting, to name just a few of the ways to discover the region.

***

Want to organize a hotel review? Contact editor@beseeingyou.world

Read more Hotel Reviews at BeSeeingYou

Editor’s note: Rachel enjoyed a complimentary overnight stay at Almohalla 51. Read more about her at Luxury Spain Travel

All photo by Rachel Webb, except where noted