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In my previous post, I talked about what makes an accommodation ‘epic’ and my assignment from Booking.com to find an accommodation that reflects my definition of ‘epic’. I thought hard about what I look for in a hotel and the factors that make me want to gush about the hotel to everyone. It took a bit of soul-searching and slightly less time finding an accommodation that matched the requirements. I knew it, once I found it, that this accommodation was truly ‘epic’. So, what did I choose? Please allow me to introduce you to *DRUMROLL*…

Hotel Alfonso XIII in Sevilla

So, why did I choose this hotel? Not hard to see why once you’ve seen photos of it. The Hotel Alfonso XIII is visually striking to say the least. This hotel is without a doubt, fit for a king!

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The glorious entrance to Hotel Alfonso XIII.

Built by command of King Alfonso XIII of Spain to house VIP guests during the Iber-American Expo in Sevilla in 1928, the hotel is a lavish display of pomp with a distinct Andalucian flavour. Mudéjar, an architectural style that blends Islamic and European classical influences (particularly Gothic), is evident the second you step inside the hotel. I was greeted by a rich symphony of sweeping arches, columns and exquisite ceramic tile-work. It was an incredible sight that left me feeling quite bewildered.

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The Hotel Alfonso XIII in Sevilla by night.
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…and by day.
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The beautiful lobby with its sweeping arches and stunning tiles.

The check-in was swift and when I arrived in my room, my bag was already there. The hotel has three styles of rooms: Andaluz, Moorish and Castilian. My Grand Deluxe room was in the Andaluz style. The room was spacious with a large, extremely comfortable ‘Luxury Collections’ bed and Andalucian-style furnishings. The bathroom, with its marble floor and counter and gorgeous tiles, came equipped with a big bath-tub. The design was simple and functional and yet there was an unmistakable air of luxury.

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My room was spacious, functional and luxurious – that bed was fit for a king!

As I explored more of the hotel in the following days, it became increasingly apparent to me why this hotel is simply epic. I mean, it ticked all the boxes. To start, the architecture is just breathtaking; the lobby was stunning whilst the courtyard just blew me away! Add to that a rich history (the hotel even has its own museum filled with photos of royal families, statesmen and celebrities from the past century), attentive service and to top it off, a fantastic location in the heart of Sevilla’s historic centre (the Cathedral and Alcazar palace are just a few minutes walk away).

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The floral arrangements in the lobby were gorgeous!
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The courtyard seen from above.
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A panorama shot of the impressive courtyard.

Breakfast was served each morning – a sumptuous spread I may add – in the San Fernando restaurant, a space reminiscent of a grand ballroom complete with Venetian chandeliers, coffered ceilings and gleaming marble floors. I felt like royalty every morning!

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Breakfast is served in this grand room!

The hotel also has another restaurant, Ena by Carles Abellan, located on a beautiful terrace with an inviting bar. This restaurant serves a mix of Andalucian and Catalan cuisines in a contemporary style.

On my last evening, I treated myself to a gin & tonic at the hotel’s stylish American Bar. As I sipped on my drink, I turned my gaze to the wall and spotted Grace Kelly staring straight back at me. I thought of all the famous people who once had a drink at this same spot – not a difficult task as their photos adorn the walls of the bar – and I smiled. Like, how EPIC is that?

Check Booking.com for Hotel Alfonso XIII rooms and rates.

Note: this post is part of the #BookingEpic campaign, a collaboration between iambassador and Booking.com to initiate discussions on and highlight exceptional accommodations. The views expressed above, including the chosen hotel, are mine and mine only.

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