Because of the great number of visitors that visit Spain each year, an impressive network of hotels and tourist residences located all over the country and are available to fit the needs of each traveler. Hotels in Spain are classified into five categories and are ranked and identified by using one to five stars. Stars are assigned depending on the services that the hotel offers as well as the characteristics of each hotel that makes for a unique staying experience for its guests. Hotels with one star usually offer the most basic of services while there are five-star hotels that are truly exceptional in their offerings that they earn the highest rating known as Gran Lujo or Grand Luxury. The price one has to pay also depends on the rating of the hotel, inevitably hotel rates depend on the hotels rating and status based on their star ratings.

Spain Hotels: Other Options

Although similar in scale as other hotels, the only difference that Spain hostal-residences and hotels have is that hostel-residences do not have restaurants, just bars and cafeterias, yet they do serve breakfast and provide room service. Another lodging option similar to hotels but are more modest is the hostal, which are classified into three categories from having one to three stars.

For those who would like a cozy, comfortable retreat reminiscent of home, casas de huespedes or pensiones might be the ideal place. Usually operated as family businesses, casas de huespedes are more intimate and personalized in dealing with their guests since they usually offer just a limited number of rooms. Casas de huespedes offer services from the most basic to the relatively luxurious and only most often only offer lodging and meals that are frequently excellent. Pensiones are recommended for those who would like to get to know more Spain a little deeper, veering away from the more frequented tourist paths.

Paradores, or state-operated tourist hotels, are actually old monumental buildings such as castles, palaces, monasteries or convents which have been abandoned yet still hold historical and artistic value that the state has renovated as hotels which offer the same services and comforts of modern hotels. Paradores are usually rated with 3 or 4 stars and are found in most places prized for their beauty, interest and history.