Hospes Amerigo

Spain holidays are the perfect escape in the summer, as there is a city or resort to interest all types of travellers. Whether your trip is a city break, culture tour or relaxing beach retreat, Spain has it all. Here is a guide to Chérie City’s favourite Spain holidays…

Barcelona

Barcelona is one of Spain’s most vibrant major cities with the added benefit of a beach, making it a perfect summer destination. Upper Ravel is known as the arty neighbourhood with the renowned museums MACBA and CCCB, El Born is the place for high end boutiques and fine dining while Gracia has a laid-back boho vibe.

Don’t miss the Antoni Tàpies Foundation, lunch at Santa Caterina Market and the twinkling outdoor terrace at the Fashion and Textiles Museum Cafe in the evening.

Valencia

Valencia is a city of huge contrasts – the picturesque old town with churches, fountains and historical monuments aplenty and the futuristic City of Arts and Science. Look for street art by graffiti artists such as Julieta in the rebellious Barrio El Carmen and stroll around the parks on the old river beds where you can pluck Valencian oranges straight from the trees.

The city is famous for its paella and of course, the freshly squeezed orange juice. Don’t forget to try horchata, the region’s traditional drink at Horchateria de Santa Catalina.

Alicante

It may not be an obvious choice for a beach holiday, but Alicante is full of hidden gems. Stay at the stunning Hospes Amerigo and let them guide you through the ‘art of sleep’, after a day of sunbathing on the private rooftop terrace and pool. Adjoining tapas bar Monastrell is an absolute must, especially for the insanely good chorizo in honey and crystal bread.

For the best beach experience, walk straight past the over-crowded beaches in the main town and take the air-conditioned tram just 20 minutes up the coastline. There you’ll find secluded pale sand beaches with crystal clear waters and tiki bars. Why not make use of Spain’s excellent railway and combine with a city break in Valencia.

Alhambra, Granada

Alhambra in Granada, Andalucia, is one of the most spectacular sights in Spain. An emblem of Moorish culture in Spain, Alhambra dates back to the ninth century and is made up of exquisite palaces, towers, patios and idyllic gardens. You could spend a whole day exploring the different areas and marvelling at the craftsmanship and Arabic patterns.

A visit to Alhambra can be coupled with a relaxing stay in nearby Malaga or summer hiking in the mountains of Sierra Nevada (also a sunny, enjoyable ski resort in the winter).

Benicassim

If you can’t bear the thought of your tent washing away on a tide of mud, go for the beach and sun festival experience at Benicàssim. The festival starts late in the evening, so the day is free for relaxing on the beach or enjoying a cold beer at a terrace bar in town.

Brave the heat and pitch up your tent or rent a room/apartment on the beach front or nearby town, Castellón. If you really want to be close to the bands, splurge on one of the cool beach hotels with a pool.

This year’s line-up includes The Stone Roses, Florence and the Machine, New Order, Bob Dylan and many more…

For my next Spanish adventures, I’m tempted by Madrid, Seville and the foodie delights of San Sebastian and Bilbao. Which is your favourite Spanish destination?

All photos by Cherie City

Location

Tucked away just one block behind the promenade and two minutes from Postiguet beach, the five-star Hospes Amerigo is a luxury design hotel housed in a renovated 17th century Franciscan monastery, complete with arched windows.

The hotel is easily accessed from the airport, within around 20 minutes on the Alicante Airport bus, and stops on the Rambla de Mendez Nunez, just around the corner from the hotel.

The Room

On arrival we were greeted with an ice cold glass of aromatic home-made lemonade and were offered a complimentary upgrade to a Deluxe room (room 125).

The bedroom was absolutely stunning and included a king-size bed with sumptuous Egyptian cotton sheets, a mezzanine seating area with designer furniture (we have the same Eileen Gray side table at home), a cool digital screen print, an LCD TV and DVD player, a stylish writing bureau and a juliette balcony overlooking the atrium.

The Bathroom

Behind a Japanese-style door partition was the marble bathroom with the longest bath I’ve ever seen, a fantastic shower, separate toilet and Korres toiletries, including Guarana Exfoliating Body Soap, Rice Protein Shampoo and the most gorgeous Vanilla and Cinnamon Bath and Shower Gel.

The philosophy of the hotel is to provide the best possible sleep and on the coffee table, there were two hard-back books dedicated to the science of sleep. The beautiful, soft sheets, fluffy pillows, powerful air con, lack of noise and good food and wine also contributed to us drifting off easily (admittedly pretty late) every night.

If you’re really serious about tackling your sleep issues, the hotel can provide a full DIY programme and suggest methods of relaxation. However, not all guests were staying at the hotel for its soporific benefits and were dressed in their finest for a night out in the Old Town.

The hotel really pays attention to small details to make the stay more enjoyable, such as a complimentary DVD library, a laptop with free internet access in the lounge, realistic wardrobe hanging space and extra beach towels on request to use at the roof top terrace.

Rooftop

Each morning after a late breakfast, we went up to the rooftop solarium-terrace and baked under the sun on the chic wooden, cushioned sun loungers with a drink (two Coronas from the bar came to 8 Euros) and relaxed in the swimming pool.

While the pool was too shallow for a proper swim, at a depth of under one metre, it had excellent hydrotherapy facilities – three spa water jets and two jacuzzi sections. The only heating seemed to come from the sun, but once you acclimatise to the temperature, the pool is very refreshing and relaxing.

The rooftop terrace offers panoramic views over the city and the imposing 16th century Castillo de Santa Barbara, perched on the top of the Mount Benacantil.

Dinner at Monastrell

One the first night, we ate at Monastrell, the tapas bar and restaurant connected to the hotel and had a few plates of excellent tapas and chilled Spanish rose wine.

We didn’t have breakfast at the hotel, but we found a great cafe/ice cream parlour called Antiu Xixona, just a few steps away from the hotel on the promenade, where they served a breakfast menu for just 3.80 Euros. It consists of a coffee, freshly squeezed orange juice and a cake, pastry or a toasted baguette with a choice of toppings.

My magdalena cake came with a pot of melted dark chocolate and on the second day, the lovely waitress brought us a complimentary cup of melon ice cream.

It was an absolute delight to stay at the Hospes Amerigo and with such excellent facilities and well-designed room, it was much more than just a base for going to the beach or exploring the city.

The Hospes Amerigo offers affordable luxury, superior service and an unbeatable location, with rates from 100 Euros per night in the high season and depending on the room type.

We booked a Dreamers double room at Hospes Amerigo through a Private Sales on Tablet Hotels and got an excellent rate of just 250 Euros for three nights.

The Best Destinations to Visit in Spain