Hotel Duque de Nájera: The Best Place to Stay in Rota, Spain

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View from above of the Hotel Duque de Najera pool
Photo courtesy of Hotel Duque de Nájera,

Do you want to stay at an outstanding resort-style hotel in a charming Spanish town, directly on a pristine beach, at an affordable price? Look no further than Hotel Duque de Nájera, the top hotel in Rota, Spain.

Rota is a hidden gem along Spain’s beautiful Costa de Luz. Unlike many well-known cities in Andalucia, Rota is not touristy and maintains a very strong local culture. It’s a popular destination for vacationing Spaniards during the summer months.

Hotel Duque de Nájera is the perfect place to enjoy everything Rota has to offer. Discover this picturesque town and plan your stay at its premier hotel!

A Great Deal With Full Amenities

Depending on the season, rates at this gorgeous high-end hotel are very affordable. During our December stay, standard rooms at the Hotel Duque de Nájera were as low as $72/night – for a 4-star hotel! December proved to be a great time to visit; due to the mild Rota climate, temperatures were in the mid-60s with plenty of sunshine!

Click here to check rates for your travel dates!

For military travelers visiting Rota, Hotel Duque de Nájera is conveniently located only a mile from the Rota Naval Base gate and about 2 miles from the Naval Station Rota passenger terminal. It’s perfect for anyone flying to/from Rota Space-A.

For much of the year, rates at the hotel will match or beat the price of base lodging, and you can enjoy the amenities of a luxury hotel.

The boardwalk along the beach in Rota, Spain

The Best Location in Rota

The Hotel Duque de Nájera sits on prime real estate in downtown Rota. It’s right on the beach and only steps away from Rota’s charming historic center. Directly opposite the hotel is Rota’s iconic castle, Castillo de Luna, which is surrounded by restaurants, tapas bars, and bakeries.

On the other side of the hotel are the beautiful marina and Terminal Maritima Rota (Rota ferry terminal), where you can catch the Rota to Cádiz ferry.

A red and white lighthouse next to Rota ferry terminal with boats in the harbor and Bay of Cadiz in the background
View of Rota ferry terminal and Bay of Cádiz from the Hotel Duque e Nájera solarium

Most importantly, Hotel Duque de Nájera offers excellent access to the best part of Rota: the beaches.

Rota, Spain beaches are among the most beautiful we’ve seen in all of our 7+ years of travel. More than nine miles of beaches with soft, golden sand span the coast of the entire town, and the city maintains them year-round. Playa de la Costilla, directly in front of the Hotel, is Rota’s crown jewel and easily rivals any beach in the world.

A long stretch of wide, sandy beach and palm trees in Rota, Spain
Playa de la Costilla, Rota’s crown jewel

The Hotel & Rooms

Hotel Duque de Nájera was built in 1998, making it a relatively “new” structure in a town that dates back to 1100 BC.

The hotel’s exterior wall formerly served as protection for Rota many centuries ago. The wall now offers privacy for guests at the hotel’s beautiful pool, as you cannot see inside the property when standing next to it on the promenade. Indeed, when viewed from the beach, the hotel looks like a fortress.

From the inside, Hotel Duque de Nájera has maximized its location with stunning vistas from every angle. The solarium on the 4th floor has 360 views of Rota and the Bay of Cádiz. Many rooms have sea views as well, and all have a balcony or terrace.

The spotlessly clean rooms come in three sizes: Standard Doubles (189 sq ft), Superior Doubles (280 sq ft), and Junior Suites (344 sq ft). All have large bathrooms and twin or double beds (note: if you are accustomed to an American King size bed, choose a room with twin beds).

A guest room at Hotel Duque de Najera with two beds and a large window leading out to a balcony
A sea view room with balcony (photo courtesy of Hotel Duque de Nájera )

The hotel has four floors. Top floor sea view rooms have a large patio with a table, chairs, and chaise lounge. Lower level sea view rooms have balconies, also with a table and chairs. City-facing rooms have French balconies, which means you can enjoy the view of Rota’s historic center, but there is no space to sit down.

Pro tip: For the best possible vistas from your room, request a sea view on the 3rd floor.

Click here to reserve your room!

In addition to the pool, Hotel Duque de Nájera offers other resort-style amenities, including a spa, a small fitness center with sauna, and bike rental. You can also use the tennis courts at their sister property, Hotel Playa de la Luz, which is less than 2 miles away.

A nice feature of the hotel is that check-in starts at 13:00, so you have time to fully enjoy the first day of your stay.

Dining at the Hotel Duque de Nájera

The hotel has two main restaurants: La Bodega and El Embarcadero.

La Bodega is where you can enjoy the hotel’s large breakfast buffet. The dinner buffet is available from April to October.

Pro tip: breakfast is €12 per person, and you can pay at the restaurant. When booking your room, don’t choose a rate that includes breakfast unless it’s less than €12 more than the basic nightly rate!

Terrace seating with an ocean view at El Embarcadero restaurant
The terrace at Restaurante El Embarcadero (photo courtesy of Hotel Duque de Nájera )

El Embarcadero is one of the best restaurants in Rota, Spain. Although it’s part of the hotel, many patrons are not hotel guests, as the restaurant is also popular among locals. The food is excellent, and you should definitely eat there during your stay.

El Embarcadero is a little more expensive than your average Rota restaurant, but it’s still a bargain compared to a similar restaurant in the U.S. The quality of food is well worth the price.

The Hotel bar, El Bergantin is open during the evening. It offers light fare, desserts, and drinks, including a Happy Hour.

All dining establishments at the Hotel Duque de Nájera offers outdoor seating with nice views of the pool or the Bay of Cádiz.

Book Your Stay at the Best Hotel in Rota

The next time you’re traveling to Rota, Spain, stay in the best location to enjoy the beautiful beaches, delicious food, and Rota nightlife. If you’re here in the off season, Hotel Duque de Nájera is a bargain, and for military travelers, it is a great luxury alternative to base lodging!

Book your room now!

Things to Do Near Rota

Need a few ideas to make the most of your time in the area? Here are a few suggestions:

The Best Things to Do in Rota: Here’s how to enjoy the best of Rota!

Cádiz Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour: This tour is a great place to start the first time you visit Cadiz. It gives you a fantastic overview of Europe’s oldest city. Plus, the ticket comes with two walking tours and reduced price entry to several Cádiz attractions. You can hop on this bus right outside the Cádiz ferry terminal (catch the ferry from Rota at the terminal across from the hotel). Buy tickets in advance here.

See the Andalusian Horses Dance: Visit the Fundacion Real Escuela Andaluza Del Arte Ecuestre in Jerez de la Frontera, and experience their famous equestrian ballet. This unique performance features the world-renowned Andalusian horses “dancing” to traditional Spanish music. Reserve your seats in advance – this show is very popular!

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2 thoughts on “Hotel Duque de Nájera: The Best Place to Stay in Rota, Spain”

  1. Maybe coming in via Space A March 27th. Will need to rooms. One room needs to be handicap accessible. 4 adults, non smoking, no children.

    What are your rates per night?

    Thank you.

    Pat

    • Hi Pat – You can click here to check rates for your specific dates via the website Booking dot com. The article is an independent review of Hotel Duque de Najera – Poppin’ Smoke is not an agent of the hotel.

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