November 17, 2011 at 7:56 am (Car Hire, Luxury Hotels, Mallorca, Spanish Island)
Palma Airport is one of the busiest airport in Europe, around 20 million passengers pass through the airport terminals, which only confirms Majorca´s popularity as a holiday destination.
Majorca, or Mallorca which is the Spanish spelling, has only one airport – Palma which is set to expand its capacity to over 30 million passengers by 2015.
As a winter sun destination with a 2.5 hour flight from the UK it´s an ideal base with summer temperatures in the high 20s C and the nights are long and warm. In winter the daytime temperatures can reach the lower 20s with cold mornings and evenings. Inland is of course colder than on the coast.
But where to stay on Majorca?
The 5* Son Brull Hotel & Spa is the one that ticks all my boxes for luxury, quality and service. The hotel will arrange any activity from horse riding to hot air ballooning and hiking to flying a helicopter flying. Or a sedate spot of golf on one of the two nearby courses, which a discount for guests of course.
Wherever you choose to stay a car will be indispensible to make the most of your visit to this unique island where charm and uniqueness, simplicity and luxury, relaxation and activity go hand in hand. For car hire at Palma airport there´s no need to look further than Blue Valley Car Hire.
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July 29, 2011 at 3:33 pm (4* Hotels, Andalucia, Exclusive Weekends, Gastronomy, Historic Hotels, Luxury Hotels, Paradors, Seville)
This Parador on the edge of the picturesque and monument-rich town of Carmona in the province of Sevilla, Andalucia has a fine heritage. The 14th century Arabic fortress has been restored, modernised and added to creating the luxurious feel with its modern amenities it offers today.
Carmona Parador Parking
The original fortress build by the Moors was on the site of an earlier fortress built by the Iberians and Carthaginians later to be altered and increased in size by Rey Don Pedro.
Dining Room at the Parador de Carmona
Stuffed with leather work, wood, ancient rugs and antiques means a huge choice of seating areas, the lovely terrace overlooking the plains beyond, the colonnaded cloister, gardens complete with a Mudejar fountain and swimming pool or the welcoming lounge.
I visited in June 2011 and this is definitely in my top five list of Paradors in Andalucia.
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May 2, 2011 at 1:33 pm (Andalucia, Designer Goodies, Family, Gastronomy, Historic Hotels, Honeymoon, Luxury Gifts, Luxury Hotels, Private, Private pool, Rental Accommodation, Romantic Hotel, Rural, Seville, Small Hotels, Unique, Wine)
Bring a touch of Spain in the UK with these classy hampers from George Scott. The best Jamon Iberico de bellota is chosen by George himself a born in Spain of English parents bilingual guy who travels regularly between the exquisite family-run hotel Trasierra and London.
There´s a range of jamons and smaller hampers available in gorgeous hand weaved picnic baskets via the families hotel website.
Visit the Trasierra hotel website and feel the pull from the touches of pure Englishness in a historic 16th century house in the heart of the mountains of the Sierra Morena to the north of Seville.
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March 29, 2011 at 10:38 am (4* Hotels, 5* Hotels, Hotels, Spas)
Tripadvisor´s most recent list of the top 10 hotels in Europe contains two in Spain the La Villa Marbella in the south and Can Furios Hotel in Palma de Mallorca.
- Golden Well (U Zlate Studne), Prague, Czech Republic
- Anastasis Apartments, Imerovigli, Greece
- Al Ponte Antico Hotel, Venice, Italy
- La Villa Marbella – Charming Hotel, Marbella, Spain
- Hotel Prinsenhof Bruges, Bruges, Belgium
- Britania Hotel, Lisbon, Portugal
- Hotel Albergaria Dias, Funchal, Portugal
- Hotel Davanzati, Florence, Italy
- Hotel Palazzo Zichy, Budapest, Hungary
- Can Furios Hotel, Binibona, Spain
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March 24, 2011 at 8:34 pm (4* Hotels, 5* Hotels, Destinations, Granada, Hotels, Madrid, Spas, Wedding)
The Autograph Collection launched last year by Marriott is coming to Europe with four new hotels in Spain. The collection has been described as as “distinct” and “independent…representing upper-upscale and luxury properties with distinctive personalities.”
The first four Autograph Collection hotels in Europe are:
• AC Santo Mauro, Madrid
• AC Palacio del Retiro, Madrid
• AC Palacio de Santa Paula, Granada
• AC Baqueira Hotel & Spa, Baqueira
By May this year these hotels will join the Autograph Collection as part of a recent joint venture with AC Hotels and its portfolio of 9,100 hotel rooms in Europe. The venture includes the launch of the new brand AC Hotels by Marriott.
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March 11, 2011 at 8:46 am (4* Hotels, 5* Hotels, Andalucia, Choice of restaurants, Destinations, Exclusive Weekends, Gastronomy, Golf, Helipad, Historic Hotels, Hotels, Luxury Hotels, Resorts, Seville, Spa tub, Spanish Horses, Spas, Vehicles)
The sumputuous Hacienda La Boticaria near Seville in Andalucian style retreat is to become a Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts property under a new title of Waldorf Astoria Sevilla at La Boticaria. The hotel will open this summer and is Waldorf´s fifth property in Europe.
Located in Alcalá de Guadaíra 20 minutes from the regional and provincial capital city and Seville´s San Pablo airport, the 133-roomed La Boticaria opened originally in 2004. Lounging majestically in its 40 acres the hotel has its own helipad. It also boasts six different private courtyard gardens in Andalucian, Egyptian and Arabian style and a golf practice range.
More of its claims to fame are that it has one of Europe’s largest hotel spa facilities, an equestrian centre with 16 thoroughbred Spanish horses and an antique carriage museum.
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February 24, 2011 at 8:57 pm (5* Hotels, Private, Romantic Hotel, Trains)
The new train-hotels which run several routes through northern Spain are luxurious, with great food and plenty of culture and history. La Robla and El Expresso are restored coal-carriers, modelled on the Orient Express, that ran from the Picos de Europa mines a feat that made the Basque industrial revolution possible.
The Histórico train has only three carriages that date from 1929 to 1960 and can carry 105 people. The carriages have been luxuriously restored which air-conditioning, a public address system and background music. One of the salons had been equipped for meetings with cafeteria service. This train covers two routes in the Basque Country and two in Cantabria.
The Estrella del Cantábrico also has three carriages and a capacity for 120 people. This train offers two routes in Asturias. The Costa Verde has five cars and a capacity of 290 people and runs from and back to León a twelve hour trip.
Read more.
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February 10, 2011 at 9:11 am (4* Hotels, 5* Hotels, Andalucia, Designer Goodies, Destinations, Hotels, Luxury Gifts, Luxury Hotels, Resorts, Romantic Hotel, Spas)
Sol Melia one Spain’s most popular resort hotel companies and one of the largest in the world is to open it’s sixth hotel in Valencia, Spain. Sol Melia founded in the Spanish Island of Palma de Mallorca in 1956 has formed an alliance with another Spanish company Natura Bissé whose products are to be used by YHI Spas, the brand created for Sol Melía in 2006.
YHI Spas using Natura Bissé products in Spain include the resorts of:
• Meliá Palas Atenea – Mallorca
• Meliá Valencia – Valencia
• Meliá de Mar – Mallorca
• Melia La Quinta – Malaga
• Meliá Royal Tanau – Lleida
• Gran Meliá Palacio de Isora – Tenerife • Meliá Sol y Nieve – Granada
• Meliá Barcelona – Barcelon
• ME Barcelona – Barcelona
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January 20, 2011 at 8:36 pm (Exclusive Weekends, Luxury Hotels)
Top 25 Hotels in Europe as published by Trip Advisor, only Italy tops Spain´s four listed hotels. Time to explore…
Golden Well (U Zlate Studne) Prague, Czech Republic
Anastasis Apartments Imerovigli, Greece
Al Ponte Antico Hotel Venice, Italy
La Villa Marbella – Charming Hotel Marbella, Spain
Hotel Prinsenhof Bruges Bruges, Belgium
Britania Hotel Lisbon, Portugal
Hotel Albergaria Dias Funchal, Portugal
Hotel Davanzati Florence, Italy
Hotel Palazzo Zichy Budapest, Hungary
Can Furios Hotel Binibona, Spain
Sirkeci Konak Hotel Istanbul, Turkey
Mauro Mansion Amsterdam, The Netherlands
AVA Hotel Athens Athens, Greece
Park Hyatt Hamburg Hamburg, Germany
Hotel 41 London, United Kingdom
Grand Hyatt Berlin Berlin, Germany
Villa Spalletti Trivelli Rome, Italy
Hotel Montecarlo Barcelona Barcelona, Spain
Best Western Hotel La Solara Sorrento, Italy
Eastwest Hotel Geneva, Switzerland
Hotel Rathaus Wein & Design Wien Vienna, Austria
AlmaSevilla – Hotel Palacio de Villapanes Seville, Spain
Hotel Luxembourg Parc Paris, France
Puding Suite Antalya, Turkey
Park Hyatt Milan Milan, Italy
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November 19, 2010 at 1:29 pm (Uncategorized)
Why not Christmas and New Year at the Finca Cortesin Hotel, Golf & SPA
On the stunning Mediterranean coast Finca Cortesin is one of Spain´s most charming hotels nestling in the rolling Andalucian landscape just half a mile away from the sea.
They are offering a 3 night or 5 night package which include
- Daily a la carte Breakfast
- Christmas Eve Dinner
- Christmas Lunch
- One Green Fee per person or a Relaxing Massage of 50 minutes per person per stay
Check out Finca Cortesin Hotel, Golf and SPA.
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