Hotel Castillo Bosque de la Zoreda, Spain

Located near Oviedo, Spain,  Hotel Castillo Bosque de la Zoreda, ensconces you in the kind of upscale experience that you will never forget.

Hotel Castillo Bosque de la Zoreda, Oviedo, Spain.

Hotel Castillo Bosque de la Zoreda, Oviedo, Spain.

The building is a modern interpretation of a castle with all the modern conveniences.

Hotel Castillo Bosque de la Zoreda, Oviedo, Spain.

Hotel Castillo Bosque de la Zoreda, Oviedo, Spain.

From the moment you enter the reception area, you know you are in a special place:

Central foyer Hotel Castillo Bosque de la Zoreda, Ovideo, Spain.

Central foyer Hotel Castillo Bosque de la Zoreda, Ovideo, Spain.

My stay was in a standard room that was far and above standard.

Room at Hotel Castillo Bosque de la Zoreda, Oviedo, Spain.

Room at Hotel Castillo Bosque de la Zoreda, Oviedo, Spain.

The bed in the photo above is one of the most comfortable I’ve ever slept in. The bathroom you see next came with Bulgari toiletries.

Bathroom at Hotel Castillo Bosque de la Zoreda, Oviedo, Spain.

Bathroom at Hotel Castillo Bosque de la Zoreda, Oviedo, Spain.

The double sink makes it easy to get ready for that special evening out. On the main level you’ll find several dining rooms, including this one:

Dining room at Hotel Castillo Bosque de la Zoreda, Oviedo, Spain.

Dining room at Hotel Castillo Bosque de la Zoreda, Oviedo, Spain.

As well as a very pleasant bar:

Bar at Hotel Castillo Bosque de la Zoreda, Oviedo, Spain.

Bar at Hotel Castillo Bosque de la Zoreda, Oviedo, Spain.

Perhaps the most enticing feature is the spa where you can enjoy all the body rejuvenating treatments you’d like or just relax in the pool:

Spa at Hotel Castillo Bosque de la Zoreda, Oviedo, Spain.

Spa at Hotel Castillo Bosque de la Zoreda, Oviedo, Spain.

Staff here are professional in every way. They gave me excellent directions into the center of Oviedo, including the best places to park as well as suggestions for sights to see and restaurants. The information was spot on. Since this hotel is located just a few kilometers away from Oviedo, please follow the directions carefully. It is worth the short journey for a charming experience.

 

 

Published in: on July 3, 2014 at 12:05 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Hotel Museo Los Infantes, Spain

Located in Santillana del Mar, Spain, Hotel Museo Los Infantes welcomes you to that rare place that is much like a home away from home. Surely it is a hotel, but it is more than a collection of rooms.

Facade of Hotel Museo Los Infantes, Santillana del Mar, Spain.

Facade of Hotel Museo Los Infantes, Santillana del Mar, Spain.

This is a charming establishment with true character. The many gathering areas show a personal style as you see in the next several photos:

One of the lounges at Hotel Museo Los Infantes, Santillana del Mar.

One of the lounges at Hotel Museo Los Infantes, Santillana del Mar.

This is not just a corporate-type of place, but rather like the home of an uncle who wants you to be comfortable.

Upstairs gathering area at Hotel Museo Los Infantes, Santillana del Mar, Spain.

Upstairs gathering area at Hotel Museo Los Infantes, Santillana del Mar, Spain.

After a day of seeing the sights you can take a break here and share the many stories with your traveling companions or new people you’ve met along the way.

Library at Hotel Museo Los Infantes, Santillana del Mar, Spain.

Library at Hotel Museo Los Infantes, Santillana del Mar, Spain.

As for the rooms, I chose a junior suite, which consisted of this ante-room:

Ante-room in junior suite at Hotel Museo Los Infantes, Santillana del Mar, Spain.

Ante-room in junior suite at Hotel Museo Los Infantes, Santillana del Mar, Spain.

The desk on the left gave me a convenient place to set up my electronics and do some work without disturbing the sleep in the adjacent bedroom that you see in the next photo:

Bedroom in junior suite at Hotel Museo Los Infantes, Santillana del Mar, Spain.

Bedroom in junior suite at Hotel Museo Los Infantes, Santillana del Mar, Spain.

And the bathroom had all the conveniences you need as well:

Bathroom in junior suite at Hotel Museo Los Infantes, Santillana del Mar, Spain.

Bathroom in junior suite at Hotel Museo Los Infantes, Santillana del Mar, Spain.

You might have noticed the door to the balcony in the photo of the bedroom. Well, here’s a look at the balcony itself:

Balcony at Hotel Museo Los Infantes, Santillana del Mar, Spain.

Balcony at Hotel Museo Los Infantes, Santillana del Mar, Spain.

You can step out there and get a deep breath of fresh air. Finally, here’s a look at the reception area:

Reception are at Hotel Museo Los Infantes, Santillana del Mar, Spain.

Reception are at Hotel Museo Los Infantes, Santillana del Mar, Spain.

And the dining room where you can enjoy a local-style meal.

Dining room at Hotel Museo Los Infantes, Santillana del Mar, Spain.

Dining room at Hotel Museo Los Infantes, Santillana del Mar, Spain.

And the bar on the first floor:

Bar on ground floor at Hotel Museo Los Infantes, Santillana del Mar, Spain.

Bar on ground floor at Hotel Museo Los Infantes, Santillana del Mar, Spain.

There is convenient parking for a small fee immediately across the street from the hotel, or you can park a few hundred yards away in a municipal lot. Breakfast is served buffet style downstairs. The staff here are friendly and helpful. Simply ask them for information or help with your bags and you’re on your way to pleasant stay in this town, which serves as a good base to explore the Altamira Caves and many other attractions in this area of Spain.

 

 

Published in: on June 30, 2014 at 11:05 am  Comments (1)  
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Hotel Villa de Ábalos, Spain (2014)

Hotel Villa de Ábalos has been among my favorite places to stay in Spain. It is located in the center of a small village with tiny streets and an almost medieval atmosphere.

Facade of Hotel Villa de Ábalos, Spain.

Facade of Hotel Villa de Ábalos, Spain.

However, the hotel is decidedly modern within its historic shell. You’ll have all the modern conveniences in every room. Here’s a look:

Room 12 at Hotel Villa de Ábalos, Spain.

Room 12 at Hotel Villa de Ábalos, Spain.

The bathroom features everything you need to be comfortable:

Bathroom of Room 12, Hotel Villa de Ábalos, Spain.

Bathroom of Room 12, Hotel Villa de Ábalos, Spain.

You’ll also find inviting common areas where you can gather with fellow travelers to relax and share stories from the journey:

Second floor common area at Hotel Villa de Ábalos, Spain.

Second floor common area at Hotel Villa de Ábalos, Spain.

And another similar space on the ground floor:

Salon at Hotel Villa de Ábalos, Spain.

Salon at Hotel Villa de Ábalos, Spain.

I stayed at this hotel four years ago, and it was a pleasure to return. They added a small bar in the reception area where you can enjoy a glass of wine and various tapas. Locals from the town stop by and it was fun to chat with them, learning a bit about life in the Rioja area. The owner of this hotel makes his own wine, which is not yet available in the United States. While there, you definitely want to try it because it is among the best I’ve had in Spain. I’ll post more about that and the meals at Villa de Ábalos soon. Check back frequently so you don’t miss anything.

Published in: on June 25, 2014 at 10:24 am  Leave a Comment  
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Hotel Marques de Riscal, bar

Hotel Marques de Riscal, located in Elciego, Spain, is quite a sight to see. There’s also a bar there where you can taste various wines and enjoy the surroundings. Here’s a look at the bar itself:

Interior of the bar at Hotel Marques de Riscal, Elciego, Spain.

Interior of the bar at Hotel Marques de Riscal, Elciego, Spain.

And here’s a small selection of wines available:

Wines available at the bar in the Hotel Marques de Riscal, Elciego, Spain.

Wines available at the bar in the Hotel Marques de Riscal, Elciego, Spain.

Naturally, you’ll want to have a little snack with your wine, and here’s a good example:

Snacks with wine at Hotel Marques de Riscal, Elciego, Spain.

Snacks with wine at Hotel Marques de Riscal, Elciego, Spain.

There’s comfortable banquet seating on the other side of the room with evidence of past enjoyment on the wall.

A wall of wine at Hotel Marques de Riscal, Elciego, Spain.

A wall of wine at Hotel Marques de Riscal, Elciego, Spain.

Plenty of bottles there! You may want to step out to the terrace for a view of the town of Elciego and the adjacent vineyards as you see in the next photo:

Terrace at Hotel Marques de Riscal, Elciego, Spain.

Terrace at Hotel Marques de Riscal, Elciego, Spain.

If you’re passing through the La Rioja region of Spain, this is a must see place. Take the tour of the “Ciudad de Vino,” have a glass on wine, and make the most of it.

 

Published in: on June 24, 2014 at 9:35 am  Leave a Comment  
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