Hospes Palacio de Arenales & Spa

Hospes Palacio de Arenales & Spa is a seventeenth-century residence built as a country retreat for the noble Golfín family, in the countryside 3 km from Cáceres. The palace stands on an estate in the Extremaduran dehesa, among centuries-old olive trees and gardens.

Next to the historic building are the outdoor pool, the terrace and the spa with its indoor pool. Cáceres' UNESCO-listed old town is a few minutes' drive away.

Parking is free and there is an electric-vehicle charging point. The hotel arranges walking and cycling excursions, horse riding and transfers; there is an outdoor play area for children.

Pets are allowed on request. Rooms are non-smoking.

Rooms are spacious and bright, in a contemporary style, many looking out over the olive groves. Categories range from Double to Deluxe rooms, the Junior Suite and the Suite; triple rooms and family suites are also available.

All have air conditioning, flat-screen TV, minibar and a private bathroom with bathrobe and toiletries. Each night includes one hour of access to the spa circuit, subject to booking.

Las Corchuelas restaurant works with local, seasonal produce from the dehesa: Iberian ham and pork, cheeses such as Torta del Casar, and wines from the Ribera del Guadiana.

Breakfast is served in the dining room or in your room; in summer there is a poolside bar. Children's menus are offered and, on request, menus for special diets.

The Bodyna spa, open all year, includes an indoor pool with hydromassage and waterfall, sauna and hammam, with personalised treatments and rituals.

Cáceres' old town, with its walls, towers and noble palaces, is about 3 km away. Around the hotel stretch the Llanos de Cáceres and the Sierra de Fuentes, a protected area for steppe birds.

Trujillo is about 45 minutes by car, Mérida and its Roman theatre about an hour, and Monfragüe National Park an hour and a quarter.