We had been bumped in advance from sister hotel Cuevas del Fraile (which we had explicitly chosen for its rural location) so we arrived ready to be further irritated. We received a warm, friendly, helpful welcome and were persuaded that there was a genuine and reasonable cause for the closure of the other hotel (probably not just scarcity of guests in this season). Our room in Leonor de Aquitania was simple but fine, and the price agreed for the other hotel was honoured with no quibble. After reading reviews of this hotel restaurant we chose to eat there with some trepidation. But the waiter was extremely welcoming, the menu choice was very interesting and the items we chose proved to be excellent. The pickled quails can be specially recommended and you may not find them in your home country! The local red wine included in the price was also excellent and suited our various dishes well. We were also worried about parking - it is so hard to visualise any strange town, and Cuenca really is an original. But there seemed to be no officialdom hampering short term parking in the small square opposite (long enough to unload and load again anyway) and the free parking up the street above the city gate, although competitive, was feasible and not really far away, certainly closer and easier than from some of the competing hotels. Buses seemed to be incredibly frequent for if you won't/can't walk that far. The late check-out time of 12 noon was a massive plus point - we did our "old town walking tour" on our own terms by 1130 a.m. with no problem (including a pleasant walk around the courtyard of the polite and welcoming parador across the gorge); the wooden deck of the footbridge was icy in the brilliant November morning, but that was obvious, so not really dangerous. The whole visit was totally satisfactory despite our irritations over the booking, and we would recommend the hotel, its staff and its food wholeheartedly.
- Leonor De Aquitania Hotel
