Hotel De Montaña Los Parrales
North of Tranco along the road towards Hornos, cheerful Los Parrales has idyllic views of the reservoir and a country-style dining room.
Hotel Palacete Santa Ana
Undergoing a renovation at the time of research (though still open), this place occupies what was a 16th-century nunnery. Rooms are a little austere, but it’s clean and the owner’s an enthusiastic history buff.
Hostal Estacion Renfe
Although the exterior of this hostal opposite the train station is not the most attractive, inside it offers comfortable accommodation for short stays. It also has its own good restaurant.
Hostal Alameda
This good-value place is on the edge of the old town in front of the port. Rooms are cosy, with winter heating and satellite TV; beds could be more comfy.
Posada Vagamundos
Right in the centre in a carefully restored 18th-century convent building, Vagamundos has 11 exotic rooms with African-Asian-Islamic decor and a wi-fi-equipped cafe.
Hotel Arunda Ii
Convenient for both the bus and the train station, the Arunda offers good rooms and the bonus of parking in its own garage.
Hotel Francia Y París
Well placed on an old-city plaza, this bigger hotel (57 rooms) has perfectly comfortable rooms but little atmosphere. Breakfast is available.
Hostería Del Laurel
Above a characterful old bar of the same name on a small Santa Cruz plaza, one of the city’s prettiest plazas, the Laurel has spacious if uninspired rooms and good-sized bathrooms.
Hotel América
Within the Alhambra grounds, the early-19th-century building creates a restful ambience in contrast to the busy Alhambra foot traffic. Reserve well in advance, as rooms are limited.
La Mejorana
This is the sort of dreamy hotel you'd choose for a romantic weekend break. There are only five rooms, all of which are full of Spanish charm, and a very tempting pool hidden under a cover of shady green plants.
Palacio De La Rambla
Úbeda’s loveliest converted palace has eight gorgeous rooms in the home of the Marquesa de la Rambla. It’s not an overstatement to call this one of Andalucía’s most stunning places to stay.
Instalación Juvenil Marbella
Marbella's bright, modern youth hostel has 158 beds in rooms for one to four people (half have private bathroom). It's by far the cheapest place to stay in town and is fairly central.
Parador Castillo De Santa Catalina
Next to the castle at the top of the Cerro de Santa Catalina, this hotel has an incomparable setting and theatrically vaulted halls. Rooms are luxuriously dignified with plush furnishings, some with four-poster beds.
Camping El Robledo
Head to this place to camp near Segura de la Sierra.
Hostal Paco
Located in a pleasant, pedestrianised part of the old town, Hostal Paco has good-sized rooms and very good bathrooms. Staff are helpful. Marvel at the great black-and-white photos in reception.
Camping Montillana
Located 4km north of the town, this is the closest camp site to Tranco.
Hostal Africa
This revamped 19th-century house close to the Puerta de Jerez is one of the best hostales along the Costa de la Luz. The owners are hospitable and the rooms sparkle with bright and attractive colours and plenty of space.
Hurricane Hotel
This classy Moroccan-style hotel, 6km from Tarifa, is the place to go if you’re feeling flush. Beautifully set in semi-tropical gardens, it has large rooms, two pools, two restaurants, on-site riding stables and a kitesurf and windsurf school.
Hotel Carmen De Santa Inés
This Moorish-era house, extended in the 16th and 17th centuries, offers a lovely breakfast patio in a garden of full of myrtles, fruit trees and fountains.
Hostal La Luna
Calle La Luna is one of four pedestrian lanes dotted with decent hostales just east of the centre and close to the beach.
Pensión Alcázar
Occupying a pretty white house in a tranquil cul-de-sac behind the Alcázar, this comfortable pensión offers some of the best views in the city from its front rooms.
Hotel Lola
Individualism and a quirky style are the prime ingredients here. Each room, named after an Arab princess, is decorated with large antique beds and covetable items that you will wish you could take home with you.
Marbella Club Hotel
Created in the 1950s by Austrian-Mexican aristocrat Alfonso von Hohenlohe, this was the original super-deluxe, super-discreet hotel that launched Marbella as a luxury tourism venue.
Hotel Vázquez Díaz
A welcoming, well-run hotel with decent rooms and its own good restaurant ( menú €14).
Hostal Mena
This friendly hostal has immaculate rooms (some with sea views) and a pleasant garden. One of the oldest hotels in town, it offers a tranquil retreat from the bustling beach life outside.
Tartaneros Hotel
A century-old industrialist’s mansion with assorted fin-de-siècle artefacts and comfortable rooms, at the inland end of Calzada del Ejército.
Hotel Juanito
Next to a petrol station and opposite Baeza's football ground, this is hardly an optimum location. However, the rooms are comfortable, and there is heating and a TV. Its restaurant is one of the most celebrated in the province.
Bar El Cruce
At the entrance to the village of Hornos, this is a cheerful bar with decent rooms to rent. There's a lovely garden terrace where good food is served up. The bar also has information on apartments to rent.