Hotels in Nijar

Staying in Níjar is not the same as staying on the coast of Almería, and it's worth being clear about that before booking. The municipality is large and encompasses everything from the white village of Níjar to the beaches of San José, Agua Amarga or Las Negras, including inland areas such as Fernán Pérez or Huebro. If you're looking for peace and hiking trails, the town centre or the scattered farmhouses suit you well, but if what you want is to swim every day, it's better to look at accommodation in the coastal villages. The main difference is in the services: in the village you have supermarkets, a pharmacy and bars with long opening hours, while on the coast the atmosphere is more seasonal and in winter many establishments close completely.

As for prices, the range is wide. The cheapest accommodation you'll find right now on HotelsCasa is 75 euros per night, and the average is around 130. That said, those prices are for low or mid season. If you can, avoid July and August, because villas and apartments near the Cabo de Gata skyrocket and it's hard to find availability. May, June, September and October are the best months: the weather is still good for the beach and prices drop considerably. To get there, the most practical option is to fly to Almería (about 30 kilometres away) and rent a car. Public transport between the villages is scarce, so without your own vehicle you'll miss most of the coves and viewpoints. From the airport, the main road is the AL-3108 towards San José, and then secondary roads that are well paved but winding.

Before booking, take a good look at the exact location of the accommodation, because there are houses advertised as "in Níjar" that are actually 40 minutes from the beach. Check whether the price includes bed linen, towels and final cleaning, because in holiday homes that's usually an extra. Also check whether there's a pool or just a garden, and whether access is via a dirt track, which in winter can be tricky. Among the 85 available accommodations, there's everything: 31 holiday homes, 27 apartments, 12 villas, 9 hotels, 3 private houses and 1 guest house. The average rating is 3.3 stars, so don't expect great luxury, but rather functional establishments. Real examples you can find are La Casilla del San Antón, the Bayo Lirola Hotel Balisa, the Hotel Venta del Pobre or the Casita Las Eras in Villa de Níjar with a pool. Each has its own character, but they all share the fact that you're in an uncrowded area, so consider whether you prefer the bustle of San José or the solitude of Agua Amarga.