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Save/ShareThanks to a vibrant design culture and growing tourism industry, Spain now has some of the best boutique hotels on the continent—including a recent wave of hotel chains that’s making chic accommodations affordable.
The real estate boom has been a key factor. Spying the potential, many entrepreneurs snapped up 19th-century residential buildings and converted them. Gat, a trailblazer, operates two hotels in Barcelona’s Raval, a multicultural neighborhood just off Las Ramblas. Both feature abstract art, acid green walls, and stylishly minimalist furniture. Book weeks in advance for the Xino (more appealing than sister hotel, the Raval). All its rooms have private baths, and you can admire the city skyline from the rooftop terrace (doubles from €70 ($110)).
The Room Mate chain is multiplying rapidly, with branches in Granada, Madrid, Malaga, Oviedo, Salamanca, Valencia, and counting. (It first caught our attention last year.) But don’t think chain-like conformity. Each property, named after an imagined roommate, has its own personality, as interpreted by a crew of hot young interior designers.
In Madrid, book Room Mate Alicia, a cultured, original, and slightly edgy creature, according to the owners. Near major museums, the hotel’s light-filled, airy rooms are stylish without going overboard on showy design elements. Ask for one that looks out over Santa Ana, the city’s hottest ‘hood (doubles from €100 ($157)).
Hot is regularly used to describe Madrid these days—and not just in reference to the climate. Finally stealing some of the limelight from Barcelona, Spain’s capital is going through a renaissance in food, design, and counterculture. Visiting creative types head for fashionable Chueca and check in to Colors Host, decorated in a chromatic riot of shades. Book rooms 1, 2, 10, or 11 for an enclosed balcony overlooking Calle Fuencarral (doubles from €45 euros ($71)).
At the other end of the spectrum, the Analina Rooms offers tastefully modernist brown-and-white interiors and breakfast next door at Maestro Churrero, a café famous for the quintessential Spanish snack, chocolate con churros (doubles from €65 ($102)).
—Suzanne Wales, reporting from Barcelona
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Good to know! I like it that the Room Mate hotels serve a delicious-looking breakfast buffet until noon.
Posted By Marilyn Terrell on July 10, 2008, 3:49 PM
I am going to Venice Italy with 19 friends and family for a cruise. Most of us are staying 1 night pre cruise and 2 are staying 5 days after the cruise. Our cruise is Oct 18 and returning on the 25th.
Any suggestions on where to stay on Oct 16-18 and again Oct 25-29th for budget friendly hotels,and closeto Marco Polo airport and Marattime Cruise Port?
Posted By JACKIE on July 11, 2008, 11:14 AM
When cooking brassicas (cabbage etc.) add a bayleaf this will reduce the smell during cooking and also give a subtle flavour.
Posted By foodlover on July 16, 2008, 9:44 AM
Check this place, we were there last year. The apartment rooms are perfect, big and clean with kitchen, living room also hostel. I love this place a lot and the owners are really friendly, make breakfast for us every morning. The link is not working so please email to Mr.Marco at alcampanielvenice@hotmail.com
Posted By Jes/Bkk on August 16, 2008, 6:20 PM
I agree with you that the rates of these hotels are affordable for tours.
Posted By Pakistan travel on February 3, 2009, 8:58 AM
I was thinking of what to do with my old three-dimensional devices
Posted By article on November 2, 2010, 6:49 PM
Hemos buscado a los proveedores más económicos y de mayor calidad
Posted By Buy Rent Properties US on May 9, 2011, 12:16 AM
Ich hätte nie gedacht, dass ich lesen Blogs genießen, aber dieser Artikel ermutigten mich. Thx
Posted By odszkodowania on March 5, 2012, 5:33 PM