Lonely Planet

October 2017 Lonely Planet Traveller 39EASY TRIPSPHOTOGRAPHS: JUAN CARLOS ROMÁN ÁLVAREZ, ROYAL HIDEAWAY LA BOBADILLAR E V I E W O F T H E M O N T HLOJA, SPAINLa Bobadillabeing stuffy – all stone flag floors, four-poster beds and creamlinens. If money is no object, book in to the exclusive Rey Boabdil,a 200 square metre apartment complete with a huge sittingroom, hot tub and a sundeck, and a favourite with King JuanCarlos of Spain when he’s passing through.``````WHAT AM I EATING?The hotel has two restaurants: gourmet La Finca, one of the bestrestaurants in Andalucía for its refined and creative dishes, such asour favourite, succulent braised Iberian pork cheek with Oportosauce; and El Cortijo, serving rustic regional Spanish cuisine –expect dishes such as gazpacho, or ham and cheese croquetas.``````WHAT’S IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD?La Bobadilla sits in a triangle between the regal cities of Granada(one hour’s drive), Seville (two hours) and Málaga (50 minutes).The nearby national park of Torcal de Antequera is a great place tospend a day walking among limestone peaks and cactuses.``````GOOD TO KNOWLa Bobadilla is a good 20 miles from the closest town. If you planon exploring further afield, you’ll need to hire a car.``````WHAT’S THE DAMAGE?Rates at Royal Hideaway La Bobadilla start at £145 per nightfor a Deluxe Superior Room. The Junior Suite costs from £268(barcelolabobadilla.com).``````WHY NOW?The area around Seville and Córdoba in Andalucía is known locallyas the sartén (frying pan) for the unrelenting 40°C heat over thesummer. Far better to visit when the season is on the wane, and thepan has been taken off the fire and cooled to a more bearable 30°.``````WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT?Blissful seclusion. Royal Hideaway La Bobadilla has the feel of arambling ancient Moorish palace or a pueblo blanco: a mass ofwhitewashed, red-roofed buildings and turrets, surrounded byolive groves and the sun-parched Loja mountains. It’s a surprisethen, to discover the hotel was converted from a modest finca inthe 1980s. The lobby evokes Córdoba’s 10th-century Mezquita –marble colonnades linked by brick arches soar up to a double-height ceiling. Elsewhere, fountains trickle in courtyards anddark-wood furniture dots the corridors. There’s plenty to do,with a huge pool, spa, tennis courts, and miles of marked walkingand bike routes (bikes and helmets are available for guests). Weenjoyed a run through the olive groves, following a trail to hilltopviews of La Bobadilla with the holiday sounds of cicadas and bees.``````WHAT’S MY ROOM LIKE?The 70 rooms and suites are each unique, and many have agarden, terrace or balcony. Even the hotel’s most basic categoryof room – the Deluxe Superior – is luxurious, with large woodenshuttered windows, a whirlpool bath, fluffy bathrobe andbeautiful-smelling toiletries. The décor is traditional without``````CLOCKWISE FROMTOP LEFT TheAlhambra suite atLa Bobadilla; thesun terrace, part ofa Junior Suite withspa access; a viewof the hotel fromone of the markedwalking trails;roasted young goatleg, glazed withsugar-cane honeyon a yucca andquinoa puréeserved at La Finca10%OFF YOUR STAYQuote ‘Lonely Planet Traveller’when booking a stay atLa Bobadilla, a Royal HideawayHotel, by 31 October for10% off your stay