One of "The Leading Small Hotels of the World", the five-star Grande
Luxe Hotel Bobadilla is set in a magnificent 1,000 acre private countryside
estate in the heart of Andalucía. Just five kilometres from the motorway
exit it's perfectly located to travel easily to the great historic cities, Sevilla,
Granada and Córdoba, or to the Mediterranean coast. It's 65 km from Granada airport, 75 km from Málaga airport.
Surrounded by rolling hills and valleys as far as the eye can see, forests of
oak, olive and almond, wild flowers and herbs, the hotel has been designed to
recreate the feel of a tiny Andalusian village, complete with its own Mudéjar chapel, village square and labyrinth of flowering courtyards and passageways.
Offering all of the services and facilities you would expect from a 5-star Grande Luxe hotel, there are 70 guest rooms, each one individually designed and lavishly decorated. The feel is not cutting-edge designer chic, but something softer: smart and spacious, they offer grace and comfort, a place to feel at home. All have views, all have luxurious bathrooms.
They all have either a private balcony, terrace or a garden, so you can throw open doors and breakfast in the sun. You get super-king-size beds, whitewashed walls, sculptures and bronzes, beamed ceilings, too. Some rooms are designed in contemporary styles (fresh colours, clean lines, no clutter) others are more traditional, with pastel colours, big wicker chairs and padded headboards. Space is abundant, rooms get lots of light, but all have shutters to keep them cool.
Standard doubles have room for a couple of armchairs, but venture into the Junior Suites and you get huge rooms with a couple of sofas, antique tables and chairs, terracotta-tiled floors. Some rooms open onto an exquisitely-tiled interior courtyard where a fountain sings (and in which the housekeeper leaves flowers floating every day). The imperious, top-end suites come with something to elate: a domed ceiling, a hand-carved wooden bedstead or a gigantic bathroom with views across open country.
All rooms come with a basket of fruit, a bottle of sherry and mineral water. If you want breakfast in your room it will be brought to you on a starched, white table cloth and accompanied by a vase of fresh flowers. Bathrooms are excellent, most are huge and every tiny desire is catered for. You get robes and slippers, lotions and potions, big baths and separate showers, white fluffy towels coming out of your ears.
There are two top class restaurants. "La Finca" is the only "five fork" restaurant in the province of Granada, an elegant à la carte restaurant featuring a wonderfully creative range of seasonal Mediterranean dishes. "El Cortijo" Restaurant specialises in local and regional dishes and exquisite Spanish wines. The seasonal Pool Bar and the Mirador outdoor restaurant offer a selection of light snacks for more informal lunches. Cocktails and a wide selection of whiskies, brandies and liquors are available at two intimate bars. And there's 24 hour room service, of course!
A massive 1,500 square metre swimming pool, fringed by palm trees, dominates the gardens and grounds, where
tennis, horse riding, mountain biking, archery and many other outdoor pursuits
can be enjoyed within the 1,000 acre private estate. Tracks and trails lead through the estate, so choose your mode of transport – foot, horse, bicycle, quad – and go and explore.
Inside, the recently completed spa centre offers the finest health and beauty treatments in four new treatment suites, a dynamic indoor swimming pool, sauna, steam room, solarium and a beauty and hair lounge. All supported by a team of beauty and sports medicine specialists. The "Kid’s Club" features a children's outdoor pool, an adventure playground, Play Station gaming room and a creative range of supervised children’s programs are offered in high season.
With a list of previous guests which includes many of the world's most famous
people, the hotel prides itself on offering "complete mental, physical and
spiritual recreation in a beautiful environment, far from the stress of modern
life". Nothing here is done by halves and you can expect to be looked after in some style, as were Tom Cruise, Placido Domingo and the King of Spain. If you’ve come in search of luxury, here it is!
La Bobadilla is an ideal location for exploring Southern Spain as Andalucia's main motorway network is just a few minutes away, so trips from here to Granada, Sevilla and Córdoba couldn't be easier.
But you may find that everything you are looking for is right here! Service is friendly, courteous and helpful, facilities and food are excellent and the hotel itself is charming, surrounded by very peaceful countryside. As one client said, "this place is perfection!"
