The ones in Spain are awful. Uncomfortable beds, tiny, barren, boring rooms with no comfort. The rooms are clean though which is a huge plus. The only other positive is the staff genuinely seems to want to do their best (not always common in Spain, even in luxury hotels). AC hotels are really just a step above an IBIS hotel (maybe two or three steps depending on how many steps there are in total because IBIS is so awful it's painful ).

Thanks to all for the comments about CY. Will give it a try.