Throughout the 19^th century, kings, queens, princes, statesmen and noblemen who visited Seville stayed at Inglaterra Inn. Today the property is a parador - one of the Spain’s collection of historic buildings converted into hotels - and it is a noble choice for travelers wanting to stay in a marvelous downtown location.

Now called the Hotel Inglaterra, the property celebrated its 140^th anniversary in 1997 with a major renovation that will take the city’s oldest, still-operating establishment into the 21^st century. The refurbishing, however, was not done at the expense of the elegance and style that attracted royalty from around the world. The property, which has a central location, has become a symbol of quality. Hotel Inglaterra is known for its restaurant and it prides itself on service. In fact, the hotel owners live on site, and most of the staff are longtime employees.

Clientele

Tour groups, many composed of older, retired clients, make up a large portion of hotel’s clientele. The Inglaterra also is attracting more independent travelers.

Accommodations

Double rooms contain two queen size beds. The rooms also include a small desk, sofa, coffee table, chair, large closet with ample hangers and drawers. The furniture is dark wood, contrasting with the white stucco walls. Wall decorations consist of ornately gilded framed reproductions of old masters. Rooms are done in muted shades of burned-orange and sea-green. A flowered curtain covers the pair of tall, French-style doors that led out to a large balcony. The balcony, which is furnished with serviceable plastic patio furniture, looks down the Cathedral and its Moorish minaret, the Giralda.

The bathroom, which is tiled in pink marble, contains double sinks, a toilet, bidet and a combination shower/bathtub. Plenty of plush, white towels that are embossed with the hotel’s log are supplied, along with an assortment of toiletries in a small basket. A mirror large enough for two people to share and a built-in hair dryer are also provided.

Public Areas

The sitting area, located off the lobby, resembles a small parlor that might have once been found in a palace. The combination of dark marble floors, dark wood paneling and classically sophisticated furniture exude elegance. The area is large and sectioned off so that guests can form small groups for intimate conversation. The hotel has limited facilities for meetings and banquets.

Walking through the halls of the Inglaterra leaves no doubt where guests are staying. The spirit of Spain is apparent in the heavy wood and leather furniture, the reproductions of old masters’ murals and the wood-paneled walls.

Dining

The hotel has one of oldest restaurants in Seville. It specializes - naturally - Spanish cuisine, with and assortment of meat and seafood dishes. Diners can expect to pay about $15 for an entree.

A small Irish pub, Trinity, is located off the lounge area. It is traditionally appointed, down to its long wooden bar and brass fixtures. Patrons have a choice of beer, liquor, wine and pub food. Staying with the Irish theme, Trinity offers Guinness by the pint. It also serves San Miguel, a crisp Spanish lager that is one of the most popular beers in Spain. There is also an entrance to Trinity from the street.

Service

Excellent service is the hotel’s trademark. Dining room staff are attentive and courteous, even when guests stumble with the Spanish language. The reception desk staff also is exemplary, helping guests make transportation arrangements and guiding them to sites of interest.

Could be improved

Voices could be heard from other rooms, but the bathroom facilities have been vastly improved with the new renovation.

Strongest Selling Points