Hotel Alfonso XIII (Seville; tel. 800/221-2340 or 95-491-70-00): This reproduction of a Spanish palace, a fixture in Seville since 1929, is a regal bastion of fine living. From its white marble courtyard to its Moroccan gardens, it is the grandest of Andalusia's hotels.
AC Palacio de Santa Paula (Granada; tel. 95-880-57-40; www.ac-hotels.com): It's not quite as magnificent as the Alhambra, but this post-millennium architectural monument to grandeur harmoniously blends the contemporary and the antique. Many buildings, including a 15th-century medieval cloister and two 14th-century Arab houses, came together to create this deluxe hotel.
Vincci Seleccion Canela Golf Resort (Ayamonte; tel. 95-947-78-30; www.vinccihoteles.com): The most luxurious resort living along the Costa de la Luz is at this magnificent estate and 18-hole golf course built near an estuary of the Río Guadiana. Stunningly modern, it evokes an elegant Portuguese manor house on landscaped grounds but with Andalusian architectural motifs.
Marbella Club (Marbella; tel. 800/448-8355 or 95-282-22-11; www.marbellaclub.com): This posh, discreet, Costa del Sol resort put Marbella on the board. Since 1954 the rich and/or famous have flocked to its plush precincts. Boasting the most lavish hotel gardens along the coast, the club is a hangout for movie stars, fading European aristocracy, and oil-rich sheiks.
Kempinski Hotel Bahía Estepona (Estepona; tel. 95-280-95-00; www.kempinski-spain.com): A justifiable member of "the Leading Hotels of the World," this is modern resort-hotel living at its most luxurious along the Costa del Sol. Not as well known as the Marbella Club, it is, nonetheless, a citadel of luxe living, with airy, spacious bedrooms, first-class service, and some of the best cuisine on the coast.
Duques de Medinaceli (El Puerto de Santa María; tel. 95-686-07-77; www.jale.com/dmedinaceli): The epitome of taste, style, and luxury, this tastefully converted 18th-century palace is one of the flashiest hotels in Andalusia. Amid beautifully landscaped gardens, this hotel is imbued with the ambience of yesterday, yet all the modern conveniences of today. Local sherry producers cite this as one of their favorite addresses, not only for its public and private rooms, but also for its first-rate cuisine.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
