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The "Habitaciones Unicas"  or "Unique rooms" are a series of specially designed rooms in selected Paradors. The designs are of a high standard and the locations of the rooms always interesting and sometimes breathtaking. The package offered includes more than just a special room, rather a VIP package. We have done this five times. Given the high cost (not that much cheaper than a night at El Bulli hotel) we set our expectations high and assume that customers will be celebrating a special occasion and therefore the day must always work well to be considered a viable option. 

Quoting from the Paradors website (2008) the "programme" is:-
Day 1 
    Arrival
    Tasting Menu Dinner
    Accommodation in the "Unique Room"
Day 2
    Special Breakfast served in the room.
    Check-out

 VIP Treatment
 Tasting Menu Dinner for 2, including coffee and drinks
 Special Breakfast
 Bottle of Cava
 Fruit Basket
 Daily Newspapers

Our experiences (from the start of the scheme to 2008)

Alcaniz - perfect, best table reserved for whenever we wanted it, flowers, cava and fruit bowls in room, presentation painting of the parador, menu in room.

Oropesa - perfect, as above.

Zafra - this visit was near the beginning of the scheme, they seemed unaware of it and nothing happened for a while when we arrived. A little later a member of staff found us and presented us with a timetable. Soon, what seemed like the entire staff, arrived at our room bearing gifts and food and drink of all kinds imaginable. As they were clearly unprepared the chef gave us samples of everything on the menu for dinner, which of course we could not eat! But she was good enough to come and ask us about it in person. In the morning a massive breakfast was delivered to our room, which again we could not eat after the previous nights excess. So I will call Zafra a draw, they were clearly willing but unprepared.

Alarcon- the room was superb, dinner was nothing special and there was no breakfast in the room although the breakfast in the dining room was more interesting than the usual buffet and charmingly presented. We just got the feeling that not everybodys' heart was in it.

Granada- very disappointing. Here in particular, any idea of VIP treatment was lacking. It took several conversations to establish breakfast was in the room (in fact we had already had to queue at reception for quite a while) and when it arrived it was ill planned (no rolls and no cooked dishes offered) , the welcome "fruit basket" was frugal compared to the other paradors (this was for two, not one). No newspapers were offered and several minor things like the TV guide amd the bathroom "goodie bag" were lacking. Even the bath robes were of inferior quality to other parador suites. The other paradors provided bouquets, Granada seemed to have cut a couple of roses from the garden. Nothing was massively wrong but we were left feeling unwelcomed and with a lack of confidence anything was going to work out.
When we arrived at dinner we were wondering if there would actually be a special dinner at all, (no advance menu or information pack had been provided) but the restaurant staff were prepared and charming.  Dinner was good but on leaving we found we were being charged for coffee and drinks on top of the all in price. It required reference to the Paradors website on our webphone and summoning the manager before this was corrected. Not a good ending.
 

Our conclusion is that the "unicas" concept does not sit well with some parador staff. Where it worked it worked wonderfully, where it didn't (except Zafra) we felt there was possibly an attitude of resentment at people spending so much money on a room? The rooms themselves are wonderful but we cannot justify the expense for service which is so uncertain. At Granada we would recommend booking a suite with a view of the Generalife, much better value. 
We would like to hear of others experiences, good and bad and will be happy to post others comments on this page if jointly agreed. (there is an email button, top left of page). 
Generally we think the Paradors deserve the many accolades they receive, however the "unicas" need more quality control and staff training to deliver a consistent standard.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Historical Paradors
A journey through spanish hotels
29 of the historic paradors described in words and quality photographs.
Hondarrabia, Olite, Leon, Santiago, Villalba, Pontevedra, Baiona, Zamora, Cuidad Rodrigo, Jarandilla, Oropresa, Cacares, Trujillo, Guadalupe, Merida, Zafra, Carmona, Granada, Jaen, Ubeda, Almagro, Alarcon, Cuenca, Chinchon, Avila, Siguenza, Cardona, Tortosa and Alcaniz.

Paradors official website