Rick Steves' Europe: Sleeping in Salamanca

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Sleeping in Salamanca

(€ 1 = about $ 1.20, country code: 34)

Sleep Code: S = Single, D = Double/Twin, T = Triple, Q = Quad, b = bathroom, s = shower only, no CC = Credit Cards not accepted, SE = Speaks English, NSE = No English. You can assume credit cards are accepted unless noted otherwise.

To help you easily sort through these listings, I've divided the rooms into three categories, based on the price for a standard double room with bath during high season (breakfast and seven percent IVA tax not included):

<$$$> Higher Priced — Most rooms €70 or more.

<$$> Moderately Priced — Most room between €40-70.

<$> Lower Priced — Most rooms €40 or less.

Salamanca, being a student town, has plenty of good eating and sleeping values. All but one of my listings (Le Petit Hotel) are on or within a three-minute walk of the Plaza Mayor. Directions are given from the Plaza Mayor, assuming you are facing the building with the clock (e.g., 3 o'clock is 90 degrees to your right as you face the clock). The seven percent IVA tax generally is not included.

<$$$> Petit Palace Las Torres, on Plaza Mayor, is a newly-remodeled place with 44 modern, spacious rooms and all the amenities. Its rooms with Plaza Mayor views cost the same as viewless rooms (Sb-€67, Db-€80, Tb-€105, Qb-€115, 30 percent more Sept 1-Oct 12, air-con, elevator, parking-€10/day at nearby Lemans lot, hotel entry just off square at Consejo 4 or from the square at Plaza Mayor 26, exit the plaza at 11 o'clock, tel. 923-212-100, fax 923-212-101, www.hthotels.com, tor@hthotels.com, SE).

<$$$> Hotel Don Juan, a block off Plaza Mayor, has 16 classy, newly-carpeted, comfy rooms and an attached restaurant (Sb-€53, Db-€72, Tb-€97, 20 percent cheaper in Jan-Feb, air-con, elevator, valet parking-€10/day — give them 10 min to bring your car, exit Plaza Mayor at about 5 o'clock and turn right to Quintana 6, tel. 923-261-473, fax 923-262-475, www.hoteldonjuan-salamanca.com, info@hoteldonjuan-salamanca.com, David or Livia SE).

<$$$> Hotel Salamanca Plaza Mercado is a business-class hotel that rents 38 bright, shiny modern rooms across the street from the covered market (Sb-€49, Db-€88, Tb/Qb-€125, air-con, elevator, parking-€9/day, Plaza del Mercado 16, tel. 923-272-250, fax 923-270-932, www.salamancaplaza.com, reservas@salamancaplaza.com, SE).

<$$> Hostal Plaza Mayor, with 19 finely decorated but small rooms, has a good location a block southwest of Plaza Mayor (Sb-€36, Db-€60, Tb-€90, air-con, most rooms served by elevator, exit Plaza Mayor at 7 o'clock, Plaza del Corrillo 20, attached restaurant, tel. 923-262-020, fax 923-217-548, hostalplazamayor@hotmail.com).

<$$> Le Petit Hotel, while away from the characteristic core, is well located, facing a peaceful, well-tended park and a grand church 2 blocks east of Gran Vía. It rents 23 homey yet modern rooms. The rooms with views of the church are particularly bright; ask for a vista de iglesia (Sb-€34, Db-€42, Tb/Qb-€55, breakfast-€3.15, no CC, air-con, elevator, Ronda Sancti Spiritus 39, about 6 blocks east of Plaza Mayor; exit Plaza Mayor at 3 o'clock and continue east, turn left on Gran Vía, right on Sancti Spiritus — at Banco Simeon, and left after the church; tel. 923-600-773 or 923-600-774, no fax, www.lepetithotel.net, reserve by simply calling and leaving your name and time of arrival — no more than a month in advance, Hortensia NSE).

<$> Hostal Los Angeles , at about three o'clock, rents 15 simple but cared-for rooms, four of which overlook the square. Stand on the balcony and inhale the essence of Spain (S-€13, D-€25, Db-€32, T-€35, Tb-€42, Qb-€52, view rooms have full bathrooms, includes tax, Plaza Mayor 10, tel. & fax 923-218-166, Inma or Juan). To try for a view, request, " Con vista, por favor. "

<$> Hostal Las Vegas Centro is clean, bright, quiet, and cheap. This cozy 17-room place is owned by the same family that runs Hostal Los Angeles (S-€18, Db-€24-€36, Tb-€45, Qb-€60, 2 blocks off Plaza Mayor, toward cathedral at Meléndez 13, first floor, tel. & fax 923-218-749, www.lasvegascentro.com, lasvegas@usarios.retecal.es, José Antonio, SE).