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Archive for ‘Barcelona’ Category

Nov
20

Hotel Review: Grand Hotel Central, Barcelona

by Holly Maguire November 20, 2009, 11:27 am

Ana’s trip to Barcelona took her through the huge, original doors of this 1926 building and up into the avantegarde contemporary luxury of the Grand Hotel Central, an oasis of calm in the higgledy-piggledy chaos of the city.

Hidden behind an impressive façade on the Via Laietana near underground station Jaume I, the Grand Hotel Central is a surprisingly relaxing retreat bang in Barcelona’s centre. The hotel has an excellent reputation for culinary genius with its Restaurant Ávalon run by chef Ramón Freixa and is perfectly located for cultural indulgence, shopping sprees, strolls to the port and wining and dining. The hotel’s famous rooftop swimming pool, with views over Barrio Gotico just puts the icing on the cake. Or indeed the dollop of vanilla on the crème catalan.

For short city trips to Barcelona, this is the perfect starting point for a walking tour of the city. It’s just minutes walk from the Mercado Santa Caterina in the La Ribera district, one of the most colourfully food-tastic markets in the city. In operation for over 150 years, it was recently brought into the 21st century with a multicoloured, ceramic-tiled wavy roof – embodying the stylish fusion of history and post-modernism which characterises Barcelona. If you’re really short on time, the hotel offers electric bikes to buzz around the city on.

Extended stays in Barcelona are more than catered for in this contemporary hotel – orchestra musicians performing in the nearby Palau de la Musica often choose to stay for a guaranteed good night’s sleep – it is seriously peaceful here. It’s easy to see how they’d feel perfectly at home thanks to the super professional (and attractive) personnel, the discrete yet friendly concierge and bellboys who endeavour to explain everything about the surroundings and historyof the hotel in the lift up to the room. After a restful nights sleep, guests wake up to a tasty breakfast including a glass of sekt and tomatoey bread. Those who’ve slept too well to need a siesta can take time out in the little library complete with a coffee machine and Barcelona guidebooks.

But come on, who needs a break from Barcelona…?!

Views from the Grand Hotel Central rooftop Grand Hotel Central Barcelona

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Category: Barcelona, Hotel Review
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Nov
05

Hotel Review Chic & Basic Born: Barcelona, Design and Pintxos

by Holly Maguire November 5, 2009, 10:17 am

Our little Spanish estrella Ana escaped to the Iberian Peninsula to soak up some autumn sun, get her tapas fix and visit some of our top hotels in Barcelona, the Catalan capital. Everyone loves Barcelona – its colourful flair sweeps first time visitors down Las Ramblas and up the Sagrada Familia, and it’s truly one of those cities you can return to time and time again, refreshing, surprising, flirtatious, fun. Luckily Escapio has stylish Barcelona hotels dotted all over the city to satisfy the wildest of tastes and budgets – so you can return again, and again, and again… and keep your design desires more than satisfied.

Chic & Basic Born is situated in one of Barcelona’s hippest districts El Born (La Ribera) on Calle Princesa, near the lush Jardines de la Cuidadela and Barceloneta. This village-like neighbourhood is crammed with studenty bars and boutiques and couldn’t feel further away from the tourists – yet its only ten minutes from Las Ramblas. There are gourmet treats aplenty in the countless eateries. Ana recommends Basque styled “pintxos” tasty morsels of bread piled with cheese, chorizo or tomatoes. In Orio (Ferran 38), a divine restaurant named after a Basque town, the long ceiling has a rowing boat jutting out dramatically, there’s a constant supply of fresh oysters as well as a bar chock-full with exemplary pintxos (tortilla, Serrano, sweet pepper filled with crab meat…).

Barcelonas impressive Sagrada FamiliaPintxos, a Spanish delicacy

Calle Princesa’s historic façade hides minimalist design hotel Chic & Basic Born where guests claw through long, colour changing curtains to enter their designer rooms. Once inside, a remote control allows you to change the room’s colour and atmosphere to suit your mood. Original details of building retained such as ceiling stucco – all white washed and ready to reflect your colour choice. Breakfast is served in the White Bar next door – which is transformed into a chic hangout with DJ on Saturday nights.  The chic and unusual abode is gay friendly and perfect for young couples, and design lovers alike. Families, those wanting extra facilities or extended stays could opt for Chic & Basic Born Apartments down the street with stylish, spacious equipped accommodation.

Room at Chic and Basic BornWhats your favourite colour?

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Category: Barcelona, Uncategorized
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Jul
21

Hotels Spain: bargain flights, exclusive holidays

by Holly Maguire July 21, 2009, 11:10 am

Spain’s passionate culture, eclectic bustling cities, fiery flamenco and fantastic beaches are just a cheap last-minute flight away. Whether you daydream of the Sagrada Familia and Las Ramblas or olive oil, jamon serrano and paella, snap up a Spanish bargain by combining budget flights with one of our unique design and boutique hotels…

Alicante is on the Costa Blanca not far from Valencia. With bustling clothes and food markets and plenty of green parks, a beautiful harbour and beaches stretching for miles offer entertainment for families, couples and party loving friends. Barcelo Asia Gardens has to-die-for views of the Mediterranean, excellent cuisine, a range of sports and activities and stunning oriental architecture and exotic room furnishings to whisk you away.

Part of the Balearic Islands cluster Majorca (Mallorca) is a much-loved retreat. Fly directly to Palma de Mallorca for worlds away beaches, sea, sumptuous cuisine and Hispanic passion.
Soups and sauces burst with fresh seafood, whilst Mallorca’s take on Paella, Arroz brut, washed down with a hierbas de Mallorca a tasty schnapps or a cheeky glass of Sangria will be the perfect evening meal. We recommend the rustic Can Bonico in Ses Salines for typical cuisine in a 13th century mansion and the luxury Hotel Port Adriano in Calvia (near Palma) for 5 star treatment and golf paradise by the ocean.

And anyone like me who dreams of sauntering through Barceloneta, Park Guell, and the Barrio Gotico, the Catalonian capital has the international cosmopolitan touch which sizzles in summer and is surprisingly quiet… land up in luxury Grand Hotel Central, with panoramic city views from the rooftop pool akin to Kylie Minogue’s Slow video (filmed in the Olympic pool) and mouth-watering cuisine from Ramon Freixa.

Barcelo Asia GardensHotel Port Adriano

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Category: Barcelona, Designhotels, Hotels Spain, Mallorca Hotels, Uncategorized
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Apr
17

by Gesa Noormann April 17, 2009, 10:03 am
Category: Barcelona, Designhotels, Luxushotels
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Apr
14

Barcelona dreams and boutique hotels with flair

by Holly Maguire April 14, 2009, 10:27 am

Barcelona is the ultimate city for a short break at any time of year. I’ve been in the heat of summer, soaked up the atmosphere of the Christmas markets and ventured out of the Catalonian city to the picturesque mountain town of Vic as well as revelling in the Carnival craziness in Sitges, a classic gay beach hangout.

Sitges carnival madness

Montjuic

For Easter Egg hunts, Parc Guell is the obvious choice, but to get away from the tourists, Montjuïc is a great inner city retreat. This is where the Olympic stadium sits high above Plaça d’Espanya and with fabulous views across the whole city, making for a great afternoon strolling through tropical gardens. Stay until the evening to have a picnic and sangria-fuelled Botellón on the steps, enjoying the Font Màgica – a stunning display of bubbling fountains, striking lighting and music.

Passeig de Gracia is a wide avenue branching off from Plaza Cataluña. Stay in the sleek design hotel Prestige, or, if you like to indulge, the luxury Hotel Majestic with its art nouveau balconies and rooftop pool is another great option. Drop off your shopping bags stuffed with unique wares from Desigual and the likes before hitting the town for a fantastic slap up meal or a boogying the night away.

Rooftop with a view @ Hotel MajesticLounge in Prestige Hotel

If you’re done with bocadillos and tapas and craving the exotic flavours of lands afar, grab a bite to eat in the Asian restaurant of Murmuri Hotel. If you fancy a good beer to wash down your meal (and you’re not perturbed by the potential indigestion brought on by unlikely food & beverage combinations), make the Oveja Negra, tucked away in the Barrio Gótico, your next stop. Wherever you end up, the excellent night buses will get you home to any of the Barcelona hotels you’re staying in – ¡que te disfrutes!

Passeig de GraciaSuite at the Murmuri

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Category: Barcelona, Boutique Hotels, Designhotels, On tour, gay hotels
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