Our rooms were of the usual high standard and overlooked the courtyard.

Both dinner and breakfast were more than enough for us and well presented.

There was no noise as the hotel seemed very quiet. Unfortunately we were only staying one night and did not have time to explore the town or surroundings, but we will certainly look forward to staying here again. A thoroughly enjoyable experience

In reply to the negative comments about the staff we found them to be friendly and helpful, we were taken to our room by the receptionist, who gave us a mini tour on the way, and we were greeted with a friendly hello every time passed any of the staff. As for their intolerance of people who don’t speak Spanish we found this was not so, the lady in the bar kindly offered to bring me an English menu after noticing me trying to translate the menu with my phrase book.

After reading the comments about breakfast I have to say it was more than we could eat! When we sat down we were given plates of three different cooked meats, three different cheeses, melon, pineapple and kiwi, muffins, danish pastries, croissants and bread rolls, and a jug of the most delicious freshly squeezed orange juice, then to our surprise the waitress came and asked what we would like for breakfast? My husband and daughter both asked for bacon, when the plate came it was stacked high with no less than fifteen slices! She also brought us two fried eggs each (which we don’t remember ordering) a plate of churros and fried peppers, WOW!! Was this a poor breakfast? The next morning it was the same again except we had omelette and black pudding rather than fried eggs, and yoghurt rather than churros. We didn’t need to eat for the rest of the day! The waitress was very attentive and gave the people at the next table some tin foil to wrap rolls and cheese in for their lunch.

Our room was very comfortable, and we were thrilled to have an actual arrow slit as a window along with a window seat. The decor was perfect and very fitting for a medieval castle, and despite being there in February and it being cold outside the castle was warm and cosy inside.

We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves, although I have to say it was very quiet in February, there weren’t many guests in the castle, and places in the guide book were closed at that time of year. However the service, friendliness and attentiveness of the staff and the breakfasts, oh! and the hot chocolate in the bar after out walking in the wind more than compensated!!

I had previously stayed in Cuenca and cancelled one night to stay an extra night in Siguenza and I was overjoyed from the moment I arrived.

The sunny courtyard on a late October afternoon was stunningly pleasurable for sitting and taking an afternoon drink. The only downside was the service, it was quicker to go and buy a drink at the bar and bring it out yourself. Although the reception staff were very helpful, some of the bar-staff and restaurant staff seemed to be in a very bad mood but strangely we found this quite amusing. I also observed this with the people in the village. I said, “Buenos Tardes” to several people and expected at least a smile of acknowledgement but just got snubbed. Also, when we were leaving a cafe in town, we got a stare like daggers from this local man for leaving the door open too long while waiting for my wife. Although no smoking is allowed in many areas of the Paradors, in the village even in the Michelin Star restaurants smokers sit alongside no smokers so beware.

A useful tip to remember if you are in the Parador bar: If you want a herbal tea for two people, order two different flavours. Otherwise you will get the same pot with two cups and end up paying double, which is approx £6.50, effectively for a single tea bag and hot water. Other than that and it is a brilliant Parador with a really interesting Don Quixote footpath walk just yards away behind the castle at the foot of a steep bank.

Brian and Beryl Foster. England.