Only Spain ~  Boutique Hotels Blog – Quick Bits

 

So where to next?

We’ve a couple of lovely stays lined up for early September if you want an early peek here goes……..

Atelier 88 – a gorgeous little arty boutique B&B which runs various art courses in Alcala la Real in Jaen province and the Almazara de Paulenca with machinery and flamenco shows in the near the troglodyte town of Guadix in Granada province.

 

Have you seen our latest lovely addition – the Posada de Quijada in Granada city? The Posada is in a traditional Granadino house around an open air patio. It only has six rooms and is on a quiet back street in the narrow, steep streets of the famous Albaicin. A great place to stay and explore the city.

Our Latest Addition – Hacienda El Santiscal
As the oldest Hacienda and longest running rural hotel Hacienda El Santiscal on the outskirts of Arcos de la Frontera in Cadiz province is a lovely hotel in a stunning piece of architectural history. Read about it on my Luxury Spain blog or here on Only Spain Boutique Hotels.

Award for Hotel Los Castaños near Ronda
The lovely owner-run Hotel Los Castaños in Cartijima near Ronda has won the Inland Hotel of the Year award by the Academia Malagueña. Why not try out the hotel and it’s home cooked Mediterranean/North African cuisine it’s in a rural village which is great for walking in the Serrania de Ronda mountains and relaxing in the peace and quiet of this small rural village. Hotel Los Castaños

Road Trip Around Andalucia Staying at Boutique  Hotels

If you fancy exploring Spain’s back roads then why not take a road trip around inland Andalucia staying at some lovely boutique hotels on the way.

This is a post I wrote for my Luxury Spain Travel blog recently Road-trip Boutique Hoteling  in Andalucia.

Trip Planning & Hotel Visits

It’s that time of year again when hotel visiting trips are being planned. I almost love the planning stage as much as the actual visit. Discovering a lovely hotel, checking out its website social media sites, what others say about it and deciding whether it’s one for me to visit or not.

Of course you know that we do Bespoke  Trip Planning and love helping people plan their ideal trip and stay in some gorgeous place as much as we enjoy organising my own jaunts. around our adopted home country. Can we help you with Trip Planning in Spain.

So what trips have we planned so far? Well at the end of May we’re off to the fabulous city of Granada again and at the beginning of June it’s the lovely, little town of Arcos de la Frontera and the Hotel Hacienda El Santiscal see it on Booking.com or check back at the end of June to see it here on Only Spain.

Hotel Breakfasts 

For me the breakfast a hotel serves can make or break my opinion and usually it’s the last thing before leaving, an even more important reason to do it well.

Have you seen my post on Luxury Spain – Hotel Breakfasts are very Important

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Only Spain on Social Media

Only Spain is on Instagram – We have a joint Instagram account with  our sister site Luxury Spain Travel – have you seen it? @rachelspaniola

Only Spain on Facebook – Have you seen it? Only Spain Boutique Hotels

Only Spain Board on Pinterest – Have you seen our Only Spain Board on Pinterest?

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Castle Hotel – Hotel Castillo de Monda

Castles in Spain are certainly not uncommon, but there aren’t all that many intact or that you can stay in. Here’s one of our recommendations.

Castle  hotels are less common, a lot that do exist are state-run Paradors. Recently I had the pleasure of re-visiting the town of  Monda and staying for the first time at the Castillo de Monda under new and very good management.

About 15 minutes from Marbella and 40 from Malaga this is a great place to stay. Views galore, interesting architecture, salt pool with pool where you feel like you’re swimming in the mountains and the food – absolutely lovely. One of the best meals I’ve had in Spain.

Be the Queen of the Castle with a four poster bed and double jacuzzi bath, wine and dine extremely well – feel and be on top of the world!

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Castle Burgalimar, Baños de la Encina, Jaen

The incredible huge Castillo Burgalimar is Arabic in origen, its oval-shaped and has fourteen towers which are still intact. It overlooks a reservoir and endless olive-tree views across Jaen province.

Which Only Spain hotel is nearest? Hotel Palacio Guzmanes

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World Heritage in Andalucia – The Antequera Dolmens

The Dolmens in Antequera have been inscribed as a  World Heritage Site by  Unesco.  They are interesting to visit and near the incredible surreal scenery of El Torcal also near Antequera in  Malaga province, Andalucia.

 

The 6,000 year old burial chambers, Viera, Menga and El Romeral,  have become the first megalithic complex in continental Europe. While visiting the dolmens Antequera town also makes an interesting visit.

 

This World Heritage Site joins  four other  in provinces in Andalucia  – Cordoba with the Mosque-Cathedral and its historic city centre. Granada with the Alhambra, Generalife and Albaicin district. Jaen has the twin Renaisssance towns of Ubeda and Baeza. Huelva, with the Donana National Park and Seville has a cathedral, Alcazar palace and Archive of the Indies.  Now Malaga can join the list with its first Unesco site – the Antequera dolmens.

Which is the nearest Only Spain Hotel?  Hotel La Fuente de Sol

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Hot Air Balloon Flights in Andalucia

If you fancy combining your staying with a balloon flight  GloventoSur fly over Granada as well as from Ronda, Antequera, Arcos de la Frontera and Cordoba. I flew with them from Guadix, the famous cave dwelling town, over the desert area known as the ‘badlands’ with views of the Sierra Nevada mountains, which are usually capped with snow.

 

Read a fuller trip report – Hot Air Balloon Flight Over Granada

Which is the nearest Only Spain Hotel? Hotel Boutique Gar Anat

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Hotel Los Castaños

Just wanted to pen a few words about the latest hotel visited and one with the most incredible far-reaching views of mountains in southern Spain. Andalucia is a very mountainous area which produces stunning views, sunrises and sunsets and fabulous star gazing country.

 

Hotel Los Castaños is just such hotel, small, owner-run, rural, charming, eco-friendly, child-free and beautifully decorated with lots of lovely details and plants in pots, private terraces, shared patio and sooo relaxing.

 

If you want to visit the lovely but touristy town of Ronda but not stay in the bustle – stay here  Hotel Los Castaños.