Hotel Alonso De Monroy

“** Very good stay – but am saluting a truly Exceptional staff member **”

I am an American (female) traveling with my own vehicle in Spain and this hotel was well-reviewed and on my route to Madrid. Upon my arrival, the hotel itself was quite high-end looking which was a pleasant surprise, and my room was well-appointed, and was also beautifully clean. While the bed and … Plus

I am an American (female) traveling with my own vehicle in Spain and this hotel was well-reviewed and on my route to Madrid. Upon my arrival, the hotel itself was quite high-end looking which was a pleasant surprise, and my room was well-appointed, and was also beautifully clean. While the bed and bedding chosen could have been more comfortable, overall it was an excellent value, directly off the motorway, with an adjacent petrol station, 24-hr. restaurant, plus well-stocked shop with a host of practical supplies on offer. However I am particularly motivated to write this review because I arrived at this booking directly after discovering my car had been broken into and ALL my valuables stolen during my stay in Seville -- after which I had a 3.5 hr. drive to this hotel, having prepaid for 2 nights. It was 11 p.m. by then and I was utterly exhausted. It looked like a bomb had gone off inside my vehicle so, first thing in the morning, I needed to head to the parking lot and begin assessing the actual damage and restoring order to the large amount of clothes/shoes, etc. that had mercifully been left behind by the thieves (my SUV had been outfitted like a “closet” for this journey). A young man named Esteban (I believe his last name is Emgon) was asked to assist me when I requested a broom for the broken glass, some cardboard boxes, etc. He worked in the restaurant but was summoned because he has some limited English skills, even though we mostly relied upon Google Translate. I just want to publicly honor this employee of Hotel Alonso de Monroy’s as he truly went “above and beyond” in his helpfulness to me over the ensuing 24 hours. Not only did he check on my progress multiple times + interact with me in the café, but his warmth and humanity on the heels of this nightmare I’d endured were particularly impactful as I grappled with the enormity of the destruction + heavy lo$$es I had suffered as a result of this theft. Because of his proactive outreach – repeatedly – I wanted to document herein this extraordinary assistance he provided me…especially as someone in this hotel’s management should recognize and cultivate/mentor this young man who clearly has the potential to be a first-rate hotelier. Given my firsthand experience with Esteban, in my opinion his true value is not being fully utilized “just” working in the on-site café as he is clearly management material. Travelers experience many things while on the road – some completely Horrific. And, alas, that’s what befell me this past week. But arriving thereafter at a welcoming, well-run hotel -- and especially being treated to the noteworthy efforts of ONE empathetic, proactive, and obviously very gifted staff person -- made a world of difference to this road-weary American visitor. Muchas, MUCHAS gracias to Esteban and Hotel Alonso de Monroy for so thoroughly delivering the true essence of “hospitality.”

Moins