Hotel V
Vejer de la Frontera, Costa de la Luz, Spain
Reviewed by
Guy Hunter Watts
When faced with the makeover of a 17th-century Vejer townhouse, Jean Van Gysel gave free rein to his love of eclectic interior design. Whilst many of the building's original features were kept in place - arches, beams, bannisters and wafer bricking - walls were rendered in eye-catching Venetian stucco, muted grey tiles laid in and out, and state-of-the-art bed and bathrooms created. Indoors, antiques from Goa sit alongside funky black and white photos on glass and PVC: this is a hotel that aims to surprise at every turn.
It's the roof terrace that gives this place that extra punch: the views across the city's roofscape are simply stunning and on a clear day you can see all the way across the glittering Atlantic waves to the Moroccan Rif. With genuinely friendly staff, a one-of-a-kind spa located down an ancient water-well, and spoiling bedrooms set around an attractive courtyard, Hotel V more than earns its place in the boutique-is-beautiful rankings.
It's the roof terrace that gives this place that extra punch: the views across the city's roofscape are simply stunning and on a clear day you can see all the way across the glittering Atlantic waves to the Moroccan Rif. With genuinely friendly staff, a one-of-a-kind spa located down an ancient water-well, and spoiling bedrooms set around an attractive courtyard, Hotel V more than earns its place in the boutique-is-beautiful rankings.
Highs
- Beautiful hotel, beautiful town, close to beautiful beaches... what more could you ask for?
- Evening drinks up on the roof terrace with the twinkling lights of Vejer spread beneath you is romantic with a capital R
- V is an amazingly quiet retreat, particularly given that you're at the heart of the old town, and the central courtyard with climbing plants and tweeting birds is an oasis of calm
- Lovely staff who feel more like old friends: the service here was a highlight of our latest revisit
- Spa treatments take place in a subterranean cave!
Lows
- The hotel isn't the easiest to find, and you can't park outside, but staff will assist you with your bags from the square or town car park if you call ahead
- Some of the rooms are a little dark, and only a few have views
- Space for breakfast in the courtyard is limited, and there's a lack of tables and chairs on the roof terrace for dining up top
Best time to go
Vejer is worth a visit at any time of year, and its proximity to the sea means that even in summer, it rarely gets unpleasantly hot. The beach season normally kicks off around mid-May and extends until early October. The annual two-week feria begins around 10 August when party people would be in their element.
Our top tips
If you're heading for the beach in July or August get going fairly early: the Spanish don't so you'll have much more space on the sand for the first part of the day. And you can then spend the latter part of the day chilling up on Hotel V's roof terrace.