A family-friendly hotel at an altitude of two thousand meters and suitable for all budgets

The 2024-25 season ended on May 4th, but the fact that skiing is no longer possible—there's still some snow left, enough for snowball throwing and all that—doesn't mean the Sierra Nevada loses its attractions. Nor are there places to stay. There's both.

The main attraction of summer is the virtual absence of heat. In Granada , temperatures frequently rise above 40 degrees Celsius in July and August. However, as is well known, the higher the altitude, the lower the temperature. It has been proven that the temperature difference between the capital and the mountains is about 10 degrees Celsius.

This means that in Pradollano , located at 2,100 meters above sea level, the temperature won't exceed thirty, which is quite reasonable, and also that at night, when the mercury drops, it will drop to around 14. And in that situation, even a little shelter is appreciated.

Pradollano is specifically mentioned not by chance, but because it's where activity is concentrated during the summer months, when most tourist apartments are unoccupied and many hotels have temporarily closed their doors. Those that remain, however, are quite upmarket. Among them, the Trevenque Aparthotel is the most established.

It reopens on July 12, a week before the ski lifts do so – a cable car and a chairlift – that allow you to climb to over three thousand meters, in a beautiful spot from which you can see the highest peak of the peninsula, called Mulhacén, and which allows, with little effort, to reach the second highest peak of the Penibética mountain range, the Veleta .

It's no exaggeration to say that the Trevenque is an institution in the Sierra de Granada. It's a hotel with classic features, with lounges with enormous windows overlooking a landscape that, at those altitudes, isn't snowy, but is green and beautiful . It also has direct access to the resort's public parking lot, which is free in summer.

It has 72 well-equipped rooms, which usually include a living room with a double bed, a bathroom, and a living room. However, many also have an extra bed for two more people and a kitchen, making the Trevenque an excellent place for a family weekend.

Excellent and not too expensive. Breakfast isn't a problem because it's usually included in the price and served at a nearby restaurant. But if visitors want to avoid eating lunch or dinner out, not only to save their wallet but also their stomach, they can use the hotel kitchen to prepare something. There's no need to arrive loaded with shopping bags, as there are a couple of supermarkets in Plaza de Andalucía, literally a stone's throw away.

Next to the aparthotel is a swimming pool that is covered at night to keep the water from getting too cold. It's a great place to spend a couple of hours relaxing on the sun loungers in the garden and taking a dip from time to time. Be careful with the sun: at 2,100 meters above sea level, it can get quite hot, even though the temperature doesn't feel too hot. The pool is supervised by lifeguards, so you don't have to be too careful if you're traveling with children.

The surroundings are magnificent and full of possibilities. Those who want more than just a climb to Mount Veleta have the opportunity to discover gems like Laguna de las Yeguas , accessible via a trail that takes just over half an hour from the chairlift stop. Everything there is lush green, the atmosphere is peaceful and quiet, and you can see cows grazing in astonishing tranquility.

Even further afield are the so-called Lagunillos de la Virgen, including the Misterioso Lake, from which the Dílar River flows. The path to get there is rockier and less accessible. These are just a few of the hundreds of trails—no exaggeration—that can be followed, and which actually take you as far as Trevélez , in the Alpujarra region. If you want to plan your trip ahead, it's a good idea to spend a night in a shelter to avoid being exhausted.

As the police chief in the classic TV series "Hill Street Blues" used to tell his subordinates, be careful out there. Or up there, whichever you prefer. Even if it's a beautiful day and there isn't even a cloud in the sky, you always have to be prepared. At 3,000 meters above sea level, the changes in altitude can be very abrupt . It's essential to bring a hat, sunscreen, water, a charged cell phone, and some warm clothing.

It's terrain for those who like to walk, but also for those who prefer to run and for bike enthusiasts. In fact, in the summer, mountain bike championships abound, events in which running or cycling is almost never done on flat terrain. Aside from that, without competing, many cyclists love to reach the very top and then take advantage of the enormous gradients to put their machines—thankfully silent—to the test and reach dizzying speeds.

After all that activity—or even without it, for some people simply want to relax—Pradollano offers an interesting culinary offering suitable for everyone. There are tapas bars like Bodega Casablanca (the Russian salad is highly recommended); popular establishments serving mixed dishes like Vertical, which also has trampolines ideal for children and very comfortable armchairs for adults to enjoy after-dinner conversation; and pizzerias catering to all ages like Ci vediamo.

All of this can be achieved from Trevenque, which is considerably cheaper in summer than in winter. A weekend in a three-person room with a kitchen, breakfast included, and the pool available for a small fee, costs just over 250 euros , a price that's frankly hard to find on the coast. Cheaper and less crowded, that's Trevenque.