Quiet and Luxurious

Quietness: ★★★★★

Hotel Alfonso XIII in Seville, Spain, is as grand as a Spanish palace — and not by coincidence. Commissioned by King Alfonso XIII for the 1929 Ibero-American Exhibition, the hotel showcases Andalusian Moorish architecture, reflected by Moorish tiles in the bathrooms and the white arches above beds in some guest rooms.

Quietness: Despite being just a short stroll from tourist attractions such as the Real Alcázar and Plaza de España, the hotel remains remarkably tranquil. My friend and I stayed there during a marathon weekend in Seville — and we didn’t even realize an event was happening until we stepped outside the next morning. That’s how quiet it is.

The breakfast buffet at Restaurante San Fernando is a lavish feast with seemingly endless selections. The flora-filled patio invites guests to relax and refresh under the warm Andalusian sun.

Walking through the property feels like wandering inside a royal residence — with the elaborate coffered hanging lamps, fine carpets from the Royal Tapestry Factory and the painting on the ceiling that you only see in a royal palace or a church. No wonder it is a preferred accommodation for celebrities visiting the city such as Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt.

Hotel Alfonso XIII is part of the Marriott hotel family, under the Luxury Collection. The rates are far from modest, but if you would like to indulge yourself and live like a king, this magnificent hotel offers the perfect opportunity to do so — quite literally.