Destinations

Seville receives many tourists; especially around the celebration of Feria de Abril which is two weeks after Easter You should consider booking your hotel well in advance. There is a shortage of budget hotels as many have been refurbished and they now have a license which allows them to charge more. The best tourist hotels in Seville are:

1. Seville Suites is a great option for a family since you can have a small kitchenette in each room or suite.
2. Alminar Hotel is a modern hotel inside of a traditional house. You will be in the middle of the tourist center so you will find limited parking here.
3. Hotel Amadeus is a converted 18th century mansion and it is run by a musical family. There are 14 wonderfully designed rooms in this hotel and, if you are a musician, you can practice using their sound proof rooms.
4. Hotel Puerta de Sevilla is a small hotel in a great location. The rooms are well-equipped with plasma televisions.
5. Hotel Alcantara is a small friendly hotel with just 21 rooms. You will overlook the hotel’s patio so the hotel should be nice and quiet.
6. Un Patio en Santa Cruz is full of the Andalucian décor. The rooms are simple, yet stylish and the view from the roof terrace looks over Giralda, it also have great decoration and furniture, including a perfect state of the walls and roofs.
7. Apartmentos Murillo is another hotel which has other amenities including a full kitchen which might be handy if you are bringing your family here.
8. Alcoba del Rey de Sevilla is a hotel which is best-suited for those who want a romantic getaway. It is small, with just 19 rooms, but that means you will get a more personal service. If you book the Abenamar room you will experience the Islamic influence in the design and a Jacuzzi to relax in each day.
9. Becquer Hotel has been created from a former mansion. You are three blocks away from the bullring, center and cathedral.
10. Dona Manuela is in the middle of Santa Cruz and it is a perfect location if you want to see the attractions. If you are bringing your family to Seville then this is a hotel you definitely should consider.
11. Las Navezuelas has a wonderful view from the private terrace. If you book a studio room, then you will have a kitchen; as well as a bedroom/lounge. It is a family-run hotel with the family pets being around for you to enjoy.

Gone are the days when hotels in Madrid were boring…a new range of hotels have now been opened in the city. You will find buildings from modern to traditional and the inside of the hotel reflects the outside building.

There are many hotels for those on a budget since there are many new hotels which can accommodate them. Some of the mid-range hotels have taken historic buildings; as well as modern buildings. And for the tourists who are not looking at cost as a factor, you will find some superb hotels which were previously palaces.

Some budget hotels for you to consider:-

1. Los Amigos Backpackers’ Hostel is the place to head for if you want company. This hostel is full of students and you will share dorm-rooms with them. The staff speaks English which is useful if you don’t speak Spanish.
2. Hostal Orly is a 19th Century building and it has great views. For the best view, try to get Room 11.
3. Hotel Macarena is near the Plaza Mayor. The rooms are clean, spacious and well-decorated.

Some mid-range hotels for you to consider:-

1. Hotel Senator has one room on each floor which doesn’t face the street. The views down the Grand Via are excellent from the corner rooms. Each room has wi-fi access if you need to access the internet from your room.
2. Hotel Plaza Mayor is just across from the Plaza Mayor. The building is 150 years old and the staff is very helpful at this hotel. If you have an attic room you will have a little terrace with wonderful views across central Madrid.
3. Hotel Meninas is the place to stay if you want minimalist luxury. You will have flat screen televisions, internet access and some rooms even have a laptop computer.

One the best hotels that has opened in recent years is the Petit Palace Posada del Peine. It is located just 50m from the Plaza Mayor. The building is an older building which has a great location. Even though the hotel building is historic, you will find a very modern interior. The rooms are spacious and the staff and service are exceptional.

When looking for a place to stay in Madrid you have the cheapest hostel which is perfect for backpackers, to the most luxurious hotel which is perfect for a couple celebrating a special occasion.

With so many choices in accommodations, how do you find the best tourist hotels in Barcelona? The first thing you will need to do is decide on your budget and then you can see which hotels will meet your needs.

In Barcelona there is no shortage of hotels but you should book in advance if you want to use the main hotels in the city.

Depending on the type of hotel you are looking for, you can find some classic hotels like Hotel Continental where George Orwell stayed during the Civil War. This a typical hotel for those looking for a romantic place to stay.

Hotel Oriente was built in a former convent and the rooms are simple but the cloisters are now a spectacular restaurant.

If you are looking for a budget hotel then there are a few which can be recommended.

1. Hostal Campi which is basic, but has its own toilet and shower. The rooms are clean, roomy and bright.
2. Hostal Levante where the rooms come with or without your own bathroom. The best rooms are the double rooms with a balcony.
3. Alberg Hostel Itaca is near the Cathedral and has lots of dormitory rooms which sleep anywhere from 6 people up to 12 people. If you want more room then you can book a double room. You are also able to use the kitchens in this hostel.

If you are in the mid-range prices then you can also find a number of hotels.

1. Hotel Jardi is a good place and if you stay here, you will want to book the double rooms with balcony. These overlook the square in the city.
2. Hotel California is a hotel in the center. It is kept spotlessly clean, with good sized rooms.

If you have more money available for your hotel then you can look at the top end of the market.

1. Hotel Neri used to be a medieval mansion. Here you can enjoy stunning rooms which includes Plasma TV’s.

You might want to consider looking for accommodations in other regions of Barcelona.

Some areas to consider are:

* El Raval
* La Ribera
* Port Vell and the Coast
* L’Eixample
* Gracia
* Tibidabo

In these areas you can find anything from a youth hostel to the top of the line hotels. As you decide what will make the best tourist hotel in Barcelona for you and your family, you will find a lot to choose from; including some of the well known hotels which are seen worldwide.

When you go to a foreign country, you should immerse yourself in their food and culture. You could look for restaurants which serve the food you are used to at home or you could go to one of the many fast food restaurants, but you would miss out on a great culinary experience. If you have never tried foreign food, then you might be wondering what Spanish foods you should taste. Where do you begin when it comes to Spanish foods?

Spanish cooking is simple, with a lot of bread, olive oil, wine and garlic as the basics of many dishes which date back to the Roman times. From the Muslim rule you will find spices including saffron and honeyed desserts. From South American colonies, potatoes and tomatoes are used.

Tapas is an essential dish on any Spanish table and if you don’t want to have a large meal, then find a Tapas bar where you can enjoy these with a drink. Tapas can be a complete meal and you could have many different foods served. Olives, ham or cheese on bread, tortilla which is a potato and onion omelette, white anchovies, meat balls, green peppers, prawns with garlic, squid, deep fried calamari rings and many other bite sized foods.

Jamón ibérico is the best ham from Spain. It is made from the hindquarters of a wild pig that is fed on acorns.

Chorizo is a highly seasoned sausage, again made from pigs fed on acorns.

Paella is a traditional dish that you will find in all restaurants but there is a lot more to Spanish eating habits. Paella is a rice dish, usually cooked with seafood, pork, rabbit or chicken and seasoned with saffron. You will find that fish and seafood is very high on the list of foods eaten in Spain. Some of the favorites are tuna, sardine and anchovies. These can be cooked simply with some garlic or herbs.

Suquet is a tomato stew with fish, shellfish and potatoes. This is cooked with wine and seasoned with saffron.

Another dish to try is fritura de pescade which is a fish and squid dish.

It won’t matter whether you are a meat or fish lover, you will find fresh food to enjoy. Clean, fresh flavors are seen in most Spanish cooking, with influences from many countries.

Golf has become one of the fastest growing sports for non- professionals and many golfers will want to continue playing golf when they are on vacation.

Even though there are plenty golf courses in Spain, you will want to know the best golfing holiday destinations.

Some cities that have great golf courses are Cadiz, Girona, Valencia, Murcia, Madrid, Almeria and Alicante.

Le Manga Club in Murcia has three golf courses and it has been named the best golfing destination in Europe. They have other sporting facilities to keep the rest of the family occupied while you enjoy a round of golf. Here you will find a putting green and a driving range; as well as bars, restaurant, and many other facilities. You can rent your golf clubs and also arrange for some lessons from a professional golfer.

San Rogue Club has both an old and a new course. The old course opened in 1989 and the new course opened in 2003. Both courses are very well designed and they are just a couple of the many courses found in Cadiz.

Montecastillo golf resort is also in Cadiz and it has 18 holes and is around 160 hectares.

Real Club de Sotogrande Golf Course again is in Cadiz, and it was built around 1964. This golf course is seen as a difficult course and a good challenge to any golfer. The course was designed by an American. They have won an award for being 7th on the Golf World list.

PGA Gold de Cataluna is in the Northern Spain in Girona. This course was designed with 18 holes and each hole has 5 different tees so that people with different handicaps can play together.

El Saler Golf Course, Valencia is a spectacular golf course. Many people believe they could be on the Scottish coast because of the surroundings and how close it is to the sea.

Real Club de la Puerta de Hierro is in Madrid and this course has a beautiful oak forest in the course. This course was built at the start of the 20th Century.
Desert Springs Golf Course in America has won various awards since it opened in 2000. It is one of the most prestigious golf courses in Spain and is also in one of the driest areas which allows for golfing all year around.
Bonalba Golf Course in Alicante offers classes for children who would like to take up golfing. Many professional golfers use this course because of the views and climate.

These are some of the best golfing holiday destinations where you will be able to enjoy a great golfing vacation while in Spain.