Hotel Crush: The 8 Rooms House, a stylish & affordable hotel in Tarifa, Spain
New to the hotel scene in Tarifa, The 8 Rooms House is an affordable, stylish surprise that Cheapos will love. This little minimalist guesthouse is a quick walk to the beach and Old Town and offers rooms starting as low as $64. If you’re looking for a cheap hotel in Tarifa, 8 Rooms is an excellent choice.
We checked in for a stay and came away very impressed. Read on to find out what we love about it, when to visit and how to book a room.
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Staying at The 8 Rooms House, a cheap hotel in Tarifa, Spain
As you might expect, the guesthouse, opened in March 2016 by a Catalan named Rodrigo Roses, has eight guestrooms. He had the idea to open the place after observing that the lower level of the building was unoccupied.
Windsurfing along the beach in Tarifa. Photo: Juan P.
Exploring Tarifa
Tarifa is Spain’s southernmost town, a port for ferries to Tangiers. But unlike nearby Algeciras, it doesn’t feel at all like a port city. It’s a beautiful little, tourist-friendly town, full of windsurfing agencies, cute boutiques, relaxed taverns, and lots of sun-starved, surf-crazed transplants from across Europe.
A stroll through the town or along the wide beaches reveals a demographic mix familiar to anyone who has spent time in surfing towns: fresh-faced jocks, wizened hippies, and preternaturally young-looking, slender 50-somethings with their 20-something kids in tow. At one or point or another in your stay, you’re guaranteed to see an old beat-up Volkswagen van.
Related: Search over 500 hotels in Tarifa
When to go
One fact of life in Tarifa is that the town needs more beds for visitors – the town’s hotels are overflowing in the summer. Thus far, most of Rodrigo’s off-season guests have come from northern Europe – Germany, England, Sweden — but also Italy. During the heart of the tourist season, he sees more local Spanish guests.
Room #3 at The 8 Rooms House in Tarifa.
Location
On foot, The 8 Rooms House is situated just three minutes away from Puerta de Jerez, the gate to Tarifa’s Old Town. It’s just off Calle Batalla del Salado, one of the main boulevards connecting Tarifa to the N-340 highway. It is very close to cafes and restaurants and about a 10-minute walk from the nearest beach.
The rooms
8 Rooms’ rooms are very attractive with a stylish decor. They have white walls and white bedding, while an additional blanket provides a flash of color. Wall-mounted flat-screen televisions are the only piece of contemporary technology in sight. My room’s “closet” consisted of clothes hangers cradling a wooden rod suspended from the ceiling by a coarse string – a simple furniture hack that is also beautiful. When minimalism is done right, as it is here, it is hard to beat aesthetically.
The lobby at The 8 Rooms House in Tarifa.
Design and style
Rodrigo has made an effort to furnish the guesthouse with local objects from Spain. AG New Use, a company focused on upcycling and reclamation made the sign outside, the reception desk and the lamps above the desk. It’s a nice touch, however, there are also some mass-produced items here. For example, I noticed an IKEA bedside lamp.
Just a two-minute walk from the hotel is Cafe Azul, a lovely spot for breakfast. Photo: Gaspar S
Breakfast options in Tarifa
The downside? There is no breakfast on offer, though coffee and tea are available in the reception area. There is also a vending machine stocked with bottles of water, cookies and other sweets. But don’t despair! An absolutely fantastic breakfast restaurant called Café Azul (Calle Batalla del Salado 8) is located a short walk away. Café Azul offers beautifully hearty breakfasts, strong coffee and fresh juices in a cheery space humming with locals and tourists alike. It also sells an absolutely delicious habanero-based hot sauce called Kema Kulo, which conveniently comes in 100ml bottles, small enough to transport home in your carry-on luggage without violating air travel liquid volume restrictions.
The final bill
So how cheap are the rooms? Expect to pay around €60 per night for a double room in low season and between €70 to €90 per night for a double room during the high season. That’s an excellent rate for such a popular destination by the beach. Note that Tarifa is fairly mobbed in the summer — availability can be limited, so book as far ahead as possible if you want to go in June or July.
Ready for a trip to Tarifa? Book a room at The 8 Rooms House.
The 8 Rooms House
Calle Otumbo 10
Tarifa, Spain
+34 649 26 40 09
Exploring Spain
On your way to or from Tarifa, you can visit more of Spain with the help of our Budget Travel Guide to Spain. After you read through these 50 tips, start planning your stay by looking at our favorite budget hotels in Madrid or Barcelona. Driving is a great way to see the Spanish countryside, read up on how to save on your rental car in Spain.
Have you been to Tarifa? Share your tips in the comments below!
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