Quick Tips

The best way to enjoy and appreciate a place like Pensión Córdoba is by managing expectations regarding the room. If possible, ask for one of the rooms with a balcony facing the street. Apart from making it noisier, this provides good ventilation (in summer without AC, yes!) and an interesting real view of rooftops and streets below. In case you are a light sleeper, then try getting an inside room; most probably these face some small lightwell or courtyard- they will be stuffy as well as dark but scooter’s noise together with all other street life craziness outside at night will be safely locked out.

Shared bathroom hygiene and logistics are all about the routine. Pack shower flip-flops, plus a bathrobe or acceptable hallway loungewear. The place is kept spotlessly clean by the staff, but prep as if for a hostel/dorm stay makes sense. Also, with no breakfast, fall into the local rhythm of a day-two-minute walk to Café Fútbol or some nearby churreria for your morning meal. In Granada, breakfasts are both cheap and good-there’s actually an opportunity because it isn’t at the hotel!

Most probably this is a small family-run place, so the person at the desk is either the owner himself or some member of his family. Ask them about tapas rules specifically: In Granada you get one free tapa per drink everywhere but with great variance in quality between tourist traps and more local places frequented by actual Granadinos themselves Pension Cordoba staff will direct you to bars on Calle Navas or hidden spots near Plaza de Pescaderia where portions are huge and food is genuine They can also tell you whether there are any tickets left for Alhambra since while they cannot print out tickets for you like some five-star hotel concierge they do know when last minute cancellations happen