Hotel Duque de Najera

The hotel offers guests a prime location for relaxing at the beach or at the outdoor swimming pool. Unfortunately, the swimming pool does not face the ocean, but the upper-level sun deck surrounding it does. The property primarily attracts couples, but also draws sailors, marines, and their families because of the nearby U.S. naval base and naval hospital.

The lobby is traditionally decorated with marble tiles, coral sofas, and wood-beam ceilings. Families can make use of the children’s pool and game room, though the vibe is definitely more adult.

The biggest draw of the Hotel Duque de Najera is its proximity to both the beautiful beaches of Rota and the city center. Guests can easily walk down to the shore or around the charming town for ample shopping and dining. It’s situated next to the fishing port and sport marina and is a short walk to the harbor for ferries that go to Cadiz. The hotel is also near the Rota Naval Base and around a 35-minute drive from the Jerez de la Frontera Airport.

The rooms are decorated minimally with dark wood furniture, tan comforters, and blue chairs or sofas. The white walls have little art and the floors are pale marble, creating a bright, open room. The double beds are actually just two twin beds pushed next to each other, a common feature in Spain. The Junior Suite rooms are great for families, as they have a living room area with a sofa bed.

The spaciousness of the room carries over into the clean, modern bathrooms. All bathrooms, which are white and accented by colorful tiles, feature a shower and a bathtub. Rooms have a small balcony with either ocean or city views and also have a flat-screen TV, telephone, minibar and safe.

Although most guests will spend their time at the beach, the Hotel Duque de Najera has an outdoor pool and adjacent children’s pool. There’s also an upper-level sun deck with lounge chairs, umbrella shading, fake grass, a border of bright, potted flowers, and exquisite views of the ocean (the pool itself faces the wall that supports the sun deck). The hotel has an on-site sauna, tiny gym, Internet corner with two computers, and a game room. Meeting rooms of various sizes are also available.

For dining, guests can go to the nautical-themed Restaurante El Embarcadero, which specializes in seafood. The classically decorated La Bodega offers a breakfast and dinner buffet during certain months. The Arrecife Pool Bar, which is open during select months, has a simple beachy atmosphere with both indoor and outdoor seating.