Hotel de Londres y de Inglaterra, San Sebastian, Spain

San Sebastian, or Donostia in Basque, is a synonymous of a glamorous lifestyle in which the “Hotel de Londres y de Inglaterra” plays a quite important role.

Like in many other coastal towns, the origin of San Sebastian is related with fishing activities and the “La Concha” bay acting as a natural safe haven for traditional local fishing boats ultimately explains the success and prosperity of the town.

However, when we look around we mostly see buildings dated after the 1800’s and one can wonder why.

The reason, although not obvious, is not rare on this part of the world. After a siege that took place in 1813, where the combined Portuguese and English troops successfully fought against the Napoleon army, the city was almost completely destroyed by the winners.

As you can imagine, San Sebastian had to be rebuilt after that sad event.

It also happen that the Queen Maria Cristina had to spend some time in the city recommended by her doctor due to her health condition.

The queen enjoyed so much the town that started to spend more time around here and that alone attracted other aristocratic members and European wealthy people in general.

Was in this context that the building that today we know as the “Hotel de Londres y de Inglaterra” was constructed in the middle of the XIX century.

Initially was a private own palace and at a certain moment became an hospital, during one of the Carlistas wars.

During the beginning of the XX century was adapted to become an hotel.

Today we can find a hotel with an elegant classic decoration although very modern in all the ways you can think about.

The Hotel had many distinct guests until now. Anyway, in its long list there is one that, in my opinion, stands out and completely fits the hotel’s environment, I’m referring to the famous and mysterious spy Mata Hari.

The hotel rooms are very elegant and classy, the restaurant has an excellent service with very nice quality/price relation in what concerns dinner and lunches. Breakfast here is a treat, the proper way to start your day.

The best of the hotel is the their staff, no doubt about it.

In these years I’ve been staying here with guests, as you can imagine, many situations occurred that I needed their help … in fact at the end is always the guest that has the need and the hotel staff always faced the problems with a tender smile and a eager to help.

If you stayed in this hotel please let me know your opinion. My opinion is clear, is an excellent hotel.

David Monteiro

Please check the original article at my blog in Wordpress

Casas do Côro at Marialva, glamorous village hotel - Portugal

Some places deserve to be referred and Casa do Côro is certainly one of them, a glamorous village hotel in a spectacular landscape.

Most of the times, when I think about traveling, I will first think about where to go and then where to stay. However, in some cases is totally the opposite.

With Casas do Côro (http://www.casasdocoro.pt/), the lodging itself is the destination and around it there are plenty of things that can be done like countryside walks, ride a mountain bike, a guided castle visit and also visiting other small historical villages.

Casas do Côro is located in Marialva which is one of the twelve Portuguese historical villages as you can  check at http://www.aldeiashistoricasdeportugal.com/en/. It worth  visiting all the historical villages and Marialva is no exception.

Marialva is a village older than Portugal, isn't that funny? Portugal was founded in the XII century AD and Marialva was founded by the Romans probably during the II century AD.

But, if you think that you will go to Marialva and you will find there a building with a sign saying "Hotel" you couldn't be more mistaken.

When visiting Marialva you will notice that a certain part of the village is better preserved and has some kind of harmony even in the chaos of the narrow streets of the village. This newer area is the hotel.

Casas de Côro is composed by an increasing set of rebuilt stone houses and there is a bigger house where one can find the restaurant, a living room, kitchen and breakfast area … lovely concept, a village hotel.

In each stone house you will find a complete house, I mean with rooms (with private bath), living room, kitchen and even a small yard.

The decor is absolutely fabulous but never ostensive. If I need to find only one word to describe it I will say elegant … yes, very elegant.

This is the kind of place a Tour Leader loves because everything works like a Swiss watch, the service is as good as everything looks like, just perfect.

One starts to wonder about the reason behind the success and the elegance until talking with the owners Paulo and Carmen Romão. You will feel they live the hotel and consequently the hotel mirrors them and it's their heart and soul.

I know the place since 2010 and I've been there in many different occasions, in all the stations of the year.

Although I can say that it was always good independently of the time of the year, is with bad weather conditions that I prefer the place.

Several times I returned to the hotel with the guests, all of us completely wet from the rain and cold from the hard wind after a walk in the woods and the people there had lighten the fireplace thinking about us. Upon our arrival we were greeted with a "Would you like some hot tea to warm you up?" … this is pure gold.

If you have an opportunity visit the place and enjoy yourself.

David Monteiro

Location: Marialva, Portugal

Article source: http://www.iberactive.com/2016/01/casas-do-coro-at-marialva-portugal/