Spain as a holiday destination

SO you have chosen Spain to be your holiday destination, and the next question is where to go?

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The country itself is so diverse and vast that choosing which places to visit itself can be stressful. Information overload is what a lot of travellers deal with and I am here to help you demystify your choices. One thing I will say from the outset is that Spain is very affordable in comparison to its European neighbours both in terms of accommodation and food. I know that most people’s first choice would be the Catalan city of Barcelona, however, I urge you to reconsider and make Madrid your alternative big city choice. Great museums, better weather and extraordinary food makes this capital hard to beat.

Where to stay

I would always say stay in the centre if you have a few days, this would usually mean near the Royal Palace of Madrid (Palacio Real de Madrid) and I found a gem of a hotel which is a four-minute walk to the Palace and its stunning gardens.

The hotel

Recently awarded 1 Michelin Key, the Gran Meliá Palacio de los Duques in the city centre. From the moment you walk in, the experience is impeccable; even serving you a crisp glass of ice cold Spanish cava whilst you check in. Everything in this hotel has been visually planned, it oozes 19th century aristocracy, adorned with art in every corner. The aesthetic seems to obsess over the paintings of Velázquez, so much so that our room was hidden behind a blown up print of his iconic painting, Las Meninas. Their commitment to this artist was interpreted sculpturally in the gardens as well which I thought was truly unique. This is a little on the pricey side but is fully worth the money. Every room has a luxurious bath and shower, heavenly bedding, cosy robes, slippers and a morning and evening turndown service. Tick tick tick.