Hotel Simon Seville Spain Reviewed

A Moderate Cost Seville Hotel With a Perfect Location in Historic Zone

I wanted a smaller hotel in Seville (Sevilla), Spain, ideally located for walking in the historic center, very close to all major sights, and operated in the style of a typical Spanish hotel.

For all these, the Hotel Simon worked perfectly. I highly recommend it for pleasure travelers.

Above: Guests flock to the pleasant and spacious lobby to read or to talk with friends.

Location, location, location

With little time to enjoy Seville, the Hotel Simon put me just one block from the famous cathedral (where Christopher Columbus may be interned) and within three blocks of Real Alcazar, the Santa Cruz neighborhood, Plaza Nueva, and other such places.

In addition, I could reach the Plaza de Espana, Maria Luisia and San Sabastin parks, El Arena neighborhood, the river, the bullring, and a tram and metro stop with just a few minutes walking.

Above: I could never decide if I enjoyed the cathedral more during the day or at night. The large plazas on two of its sides and wide Avenida de la Constitucion (closed to vehicular traffic) on another enhance your viewing pleasure.

Reasonably quiet

If you are awake during the night at the Hotel Simon, you may hear a very muted ringing of bells on the hour, one ring for 1:00 a.m., two for 2:00 a.m., etc. These could prevent very light sleepers from falling asleep quickly.

Nevertheless, this cathedral never goes nuclear with the electronically enhanced torpedoes of sound that some U.S. churches fire at their neighbors.

Very little car traffic passes in front of the hotel during the evening and at night, but a small bar across the street keeps its door open on warm evenings. Because of this and all the pedestrian traffic, you may wish to avoid the front rooms at this hotel, as I did.

Otherwise, the hotel is remarkably quiet for an urban setting. The nearest major street a block away allows no cars, just pedestrians, trams, and horse drawn carriages. Most of the rooms at the Simon contain no televisions to disturb you.

Comfortable, updated rooms

The rooms I saw all had updated (new looking) furniture and bathroom fixtures like my standard room. I observed no maintenance or cleaning problems in any part of the hotel.

The bed was wonderfully comfortable, unlike so many at hotels with similar or even higher pricing that I have experienced in Europe.

Above: View from my window at the Hotel Simon. It may not be beautiful, but its features are quiet. From another window, I could see the roof of the hotel’s atrium.
Warm and friendly staff

I felt welcomed by the employees of this hotel. They seemed to enjoy working there.

Above: The usual room rates do not include breakfast, but the Simon offers several light breakfast items at reasonable prices. You dine in the nook shown or in the lobby.

There are dozens of other breakfast venues within a few minutes walk. If you head left several blocks as you exit the hotel, these tend to be less expensive ones used by locals.

Above: You’ll find the entrance to the Real Alcazar and its royal gardens almost adjacent to the cathedral.

Hint: On hot days, queue for major sights like the Alcazar while Spanish visitors are enjoying their mid afternoon big meal of the day. They may think you are crazy for being in the heat, but you will be far more likely to get in very quickly.

Hotel Simon negatives

Unless you are a travel writer, the Hotel Simon does not make an ideal business traveler hotel.

True, my room had a fine desk for working, but guest rooms have no Internet access.

On the other hand, you are about a ten-minute walk from the traditional retail heart of the city and the nearby metro takes you to some of the more important corporate centers. (The metro also accesses the very popular and modern Nervión Plaza shopping and entertainment area near the main train station.)

Rates

Expect under U.S. $75 for one or two people in a standard room during peak times, subject to exchange fluctuations.

The location and general welcoming nature of the Hotel Simon makes it a good value in a city always crowded with tourists, with hotel prices higher than average.

You should book ahead, even for weekdays.

• Hotels.com
• Priceline Hotels - Select your Exact Hotel or Name Your Own Price!