El Arenal

Hotel Simon Sevilla

★★★★★

For travellers who want to stay in the heart of Seville without spending much, the Hotel Simón is a long-standing favourite. It occupies an eighteenth-century Andalusian house on the Calle García de Vinuesa, in the Arenal, about fifty metres from the Cathedral, and it describes itself, with good reason, as one of the oldest hotels in the city. Step through the door and you are in a traditional central patio with a fountain, tiles and potted plants, the kind of courtyard that more expensive hotels spend fortunes recreating. The building has kept much of its period character, and some of the rooms are decorated in traditional Andalusian style with ornamental tiles and dark wooden furniture. This is a simple one-star hotel, so expect basic comforts rather than luxury: rooms vary in size and outlook, some open onto the patio or the street, and the facilities are modest. But the essentials are there, including a 24-hour reception and a continental breakfast served in a dining room decorated with Seville tiles, and the staff are used to helping guests plan their days. The location is the great asset: the Cathedral, the Giralda and the Real Alcázar are a couple of minutes away, the river, the Torre del Oro and the Maestranza bullring are a short walk west, and the Arenal is full of traditional tapas bars, so you can sightsee in the morning, rest in the heat of the afternoon and head out again in the evening without ever needing transport. Parking can be reserved in advance through a third-party service, though in the old town you are better off without a car.

Who it suits: budget travellers, solo visitors and couples who prioritise location and atmosphere over facilities, and who enjoy staying in a historic house. It is less suited to travellers who need a pool, a gym or modern design, or to light sleepers who might be disturbed by the sounds of an old building and a busy street.

Living in it: when booking, ask for an interior room for quiet or a street-facing one for light, depending on your priority, and check whether air conditioning is included in your room type during the summer months. Use the patio as your living room, and the Arenal bars around the hotel for cheap, excellent tapas. Book early for Holy Week and the April Fair, when rates rise and rooms disappear. The reception staff can recommend nearby bars, call taxis and store luggage, and the Puerta de Jerez metro and tram stops are a short walk away for trips to the Plaza de España or the bus stations. Pack light if you can, as an old house means stairs and narrow corridors.

Value: rates are at the budget end of the central Seville market, which makes the hotel one of the best value options so close to the Cathedral. Seville does not currently charge a tourist tax. The value case is simple: an eighteenth-century patio house steps from the Cathedral, at a fraction of the price of the boutique hotels nearby.