Plans for an August in Madrid

There are no infinite beaches, the frenetic pace of life that characterises the city calms down and yes – it's hot. Those are the three dominant facts that describe Madrid during the month of August, but the truth is that the most sweltering month of summer is an ideal time to enjoy the capital of our country without crowds and crazy prices.

As we are well aware, there are many of you who have chosen to reward yourself with a holiday or a long weekend in Madrid. So this month Your Hotel Destination will offer you a list featuring the 'must-do' things that you can't miss during your visit. Grab your backpack, put a cap on and let's go!

Calm descends on the museums of Madrid

Even if there are still tourists all around the city this part of the year (because there are, don't be tempted to think otherwise), the amount of visitors here and there definitely decreases quite a bit. This means that apart from giving you a little peace and quiet as you stroll down mythical streets such as Gran Cía, Fuencarral or Princesa, it's a perfect time of year for those who want to visit the main museums in the city without being annoyed by tourist crowds.

It's also a great way of escaping the high temperatures of the capital in summer, and your best bets would be visiting the Thyssen Museum, the Prado (always crowded during the winter months) and the Reina Sofia.

August festivals fill the capital

August is the month of festivals in Madrid and just like in so many other parts of the peninsula they celebrate the so-called 'Virgin of August'. So, what events will fill the city districts with local cuisine, music, coloured lanterns and the classic 'chulapos' with their 'chulapas'? Take note:

• From the 2nd to the 8th of August: the San Cayetano festival, en event held between El Rastro and Embajadores.
• From the 9th to the 11th of August: this is when the San Lorenzo festival is held in the famous Lavapiés district.
• From the 12th to the 15th: Fiesta grande in the La Latina district. Why the big party? These are the Paloma festivities, the most authentic and fun-filled festivals in the entire capital.

Hotels in the centre of Madrid

Even if you could choose anywhere in the city there is nothing quite like waking up in the morning, opening up the door to your balcony and seeing that you're right in the centre of Madrid itself. Apart from being only steps from the main places of interest you can also rub shoulders with the locals and enjoy the coffee, the vertical terraces and all the tapas and beer taverns on offer.

Our recommendation for this month would be an urban hotel in the centre of Madrid, such as for example the Petit Palace Cliper Gran Vía, the Petit Palace Arturo Soria or the Petit Palace Savoy Alfonso XII. Three flagships of the Petit Palace chain that offer outstanding value for money.

Barcelona in October: appointments and events featured

One of those destinations that seems to come to life with the arrival of October is Barcelona. A naturally vibrant city, Barcelona offers a thousand and one different things to do such as a visit to the temple of the Sagrada Familia, the Paseo de Las Ramblas, neighborhoods like the Gotico or the Borne and coastal areas such as Barceloneta.

To truly enjoy Barcelona we should go a little beyond the purely monumental and the guidebook highlights. How can we do this? We can invest a few hours of our trip to savor the outstanding leisure events listed in the city’s Autumn program. Do you plan to give yourself a quick break to the Catalan capital and want to enjoy the best concerts and theater? We list below the most important events of the coming weeks:

International Manga Fair in Barcelona (picture: frikisviajeros.com)

Manga de Barcelona

Lovers of this genre will find the best Manga movies, the most legendary books or even unique gods for Cosplay fans in the Salón del Manga de Barcelona. This event, which takes place between October 29 and November 1 in Fira Barcelona is the perfect excuse to visit the other most authentic and personal side of Barcelona.

"Father" by Ernesto Alterio

One of the most important theater works taking place this October is presented by Ernesto Alterio in the Romea Theater. Entitled "The Father", this play is directed by Florian Zeller and other top actors take part.

The Gastromic Fòrum of Barcelona

If you love fusion cuisine and the most avant-garde recipes you can’t miss a date with Barcelona’s gastronomic Forum, ​​an event that will take place in Fira Barcelona from the 23rd to the 26th October and which will include everything from competitions to themed workshops including tastings, live cooking shows and courses taught by expert chefs and winemakers.

Hotels in downtown Barcelona

• Petit Palace Barcelona: Petit Palace Barcelona  is a charming hotel located a few meters from Paseo de Gracia and perfectly connected to the main areas of Barcelona. Ideal accommodation for those traveling solo, as a couple or with friends.

• Petit Palace Boquería Garden: One of the most prominent urban hotels in central Barcelona is the Petit Palace Boqueria Garden and yes ... it’s just a few meters away from the legendary Boqueria market.

• Petit Palace Museum: La Casa Garriga Nogues is home to the Petit Palace Museum, a hotel which is part of the Petit Palace chain and which offers WiFi, free bicycles and iPads for guests in every room.

Seville, the perfect setting for a unique romantic trip

There are few national destinations as romantic as Seville. Seville, located in the south of our country and with a unique and unmistakable character, is the perfect place for a romantic trip full of stolen kisses, walks hand in hand and charming candlelight dinners inundated with the aroma of the orange blossom.

This city, setting of important films and some of the most famous series, has endless places where you can celebrate your love. Do you want to find the most romantic side of the Andalusian capital? We give you some hints: 

Triana Bridge

Triana's innate romanticism

The neighbourhood of Triana, as Santa Cruz, is romanticism in its purest state. A place where you will enjoy flamenco and the essence of Guadalquivir like never before. The same essence that characterises the city and its residents.  The best moment to visit Triana is from 11 am onwards, when the tapa bars of the area open their doors.

A walk around Maria Luisa Park and Plaza de España square

Although both Maria Luisa Park and Plaza de España square (setting of the most important scenes of Star Wars - Episode II) are some of the most visited places by tourists who choose the Andalusian capital as their destination, they are perfect places for a romantic promenade under the shade.

An afternoon in the Guadalquivir

The fact that Seville does not have sea is not a hindrance for lovers who visit the city and want to enjoy a romantic, intimate and charming afternoon.  Although you can contemplate the Guadalquivir from high above (going up to the popular parasol in Encarnacion square), the best option is to enjoy the sunset on the eastern shore of the river, with Triana neighbourhood as a backdrop.

A dinner in Santa Cruz neighbourhood

Back to Seville's main shore, it is time to choose a place for dinner and for a cold chamomile. Although you can choose some of the restaurants on the river shore, the best option is to have dinner in Santa Cruz neighbourhood (what about the famous Italian restaurant San Marcos or some of the tapas taverns?), in order to enjoy an after-dinner walk around beautiful areas like Santa Cruz, Callejón del Agua or Doña Elvira square.

Charming and romantic hotels

There are many areas in Seville where you can find hotels offering endless quality services, but the best option is to choose the offers for romantic trips of Petit Palace Hotels.

In the ranking of the best hotels in Seville, the hotel chain has a high position, with hotels at competitive prices and of high quality. But the hallmark of these hotel is their unbeatable location (in fact, two of the chain's main hotels are located in the heart of Santa Cruz neighbourhood and less than 100 metres away from the main entrance to the popular Giralda).

Madrid travel recommendation: activities and accommodation

The Spanish capital is one of the richest cities in the world and welcomes lots of tourists and visitors, whether they come from Spain or abroad. This city offers them lots of different places where enjoying the natural environment, but it’s also the perfect place for shopping, business travels or romantic getaways.

It’s one of the most visited cities, where you can find lots of monuments and places, icons of the international architecture and culture. A place where all cultures play a leading role and business and leisure opportunities are guaranteed.

Activities in Madrid

If  you travel to Madrid, you should visit a nice café, drink a delicious milkshake and then visit the places below:  

·       Museo del Prado

·       Parque del Retiro

·       Puerta de Alcala

·       The symbolic Cibeles Fountain

·       Angel Caido monument

·       Museo del Traje

·       Templo de Debod

·       Almudena Cathedral

·       Jardines de Sabatini

If you like football, you should visit at least one of the 4 stadiums of Spanish FIrst Division in Madrid, which are also headquarters of the 4 teams playing in the gold category: Real Madrid, Atletico de Madrid, Rayo Vallecano and Getafe.

Where to stay in Madrid?

Madrid offers a wide range of hotels, but we just mention the best ones in this article. We emphasize the 4 best hotels in Madrid that you should choose:

·       Embassy Serrano: located in Calle Serrano at Salamanca neighbourhood, this boutique hotel with its own restaurant is perfect for couples and business travels.

·       Lealtad Plaza: this impressive hotel in the heart of Madrid’s art Triangle, between Parque del Retiro and Paseo del Prado is perfect for romantic escapes.

·       Cliper Gran Via: 3-star hotel with familiar rooms in Madrid in Gran via. It’s designed for you to enjoy the Spanish capital, without difficulties.

·       Savoy Alfonso XII: next to Puerta de Alcala and in front of Parque del Retiro, we can find this 4-star renewed which has become one of the most desired 4-star hotels in Madrid,                        A perfect hotel for business or couple travels to enjoy a relaxing  experience.

Bilbao, Beach and City

Bilbao is one of the touristic destinations that has grown and it has been modernized over the past years. Yes, even in the middle of the crisis it hasn't stop advancing in this field turning into one of the main Spain capitals more connected to art, alternative music, youth, gastronomy, nature and last but not least,the beach.

Its ria and its spectacular natural environment along with a frenetic cultural life has been its fundamental pillars since the beginning. All of this bounded to the kindness and hospitality of its people, its modern touristic service and the increased air connections with most of the spanish airports.

Nowadays, Bilbao appears as a perfect weekend plan for a short break but its shows as a destination to spend a one or more weeks comfortable, close to the sea or in the mountains.

Hotels in Getxo, with bedrooms with a view to Ereaga beach, the accommodation in the historic centre in Bilbao -next to the famous 7 streets of tapas and bars- the rural houses, the apartments, the red of bedrooms and hotels to stay in Bilbao is huge and its prices are pretty affordable. The most expensive are in the centre, but thanks to the good public transportation it's not important, all that matters is to enjoy everything you can find in Bilbao and its surroundings.

The clock at the Puerta del Sol

Few are the tourists that visit Madrid that leave without taking a picture next to the clock from Puerta del Sol, that every 31st December marks the end of the year and welcomes the new year, surrounded by crowds, scrutinised by millions of spectators from their homes across the country.

The clock in the Puerta del Sol is an undisputed symbol of Madrid, and one of the elements that make up collective imagination of all Spanish people. However, its origin are not in Spain but in London.

The famous pealing clock was fabricated by Spanish exile in London, José Rodríguez de Losada, a soldier who carved out a successful career in the City creating accurate clocks, it is estimated that he created around 6,000, engineering gems that have rolled from pocket to pocket, generation after generation.

Some of his works were intended as important gifts, sent from London to Spain, as lavish gifts to the monarchs in the nineteenth century. It is believed that this was the case of the clock in the Puerta del Sol, a mechanism that the watchmaker would have created in honour of Elizabeth II and sent to Spain back in 1860. The clock, unique in Europe, was placed in the building of the Casa de Correos, the Post Office, and inaugurated in 1866.

Since then it has never stopped working. Accurate and precise, it is one of the few clocks that feature a 3 metre pendulum and a manual mechanism ball, that currently is only used once a year. It slows just four seconds a month and is always exactly coordinated with the National Astronomical Observatory.

The watch is serviced weekly by the famous Casa Losada watchmakers and remains the meeting place for many locals and tourists visiting the capital of Spain.

To all who wish to see it, there are a number of hotels near the Puerta del Sol, some with balconies offering exceptional views of the square and the clock:

· Hotel Petit Palace Posada del Peine

· Hotel Petit Palace Puerta del Sol

· Hotel Petit Palace Mayor Plaza

· Hotel Petit Palace Londres

· Hotel Petit Palace Arenal

Petit Palace Londres: dominating the centre of Madrid

The Basque hotel chain Petit Palace is once again the subject of our hotel recommendations for the 2013 holidays as it is one the hotel chains with the largest number of 3 and 4 star hotels in Madrid with excellent prices. The hotel we discuss today is the Petit Palace Londres, a gem in the centre of Madrid, for its quality and location and its price.

One of its main attractions is that it is a hotel in Preciados street of Madrid, a well known shopping street in the Spanish capital, where a large number of clothing brands, accessories and technology prêt à porter are located.

Just steps away from Puerta del Sol, this hotel offers rooms in the centre of Madrid with all types of comforts: computer, wifi, hydromassage shower... Which makes it a good place to discover the main attractions of the city without losing the comfort of having your accommodation always at hand.

Guests can enjoy every day a breakfast with natural light and terrace with exceptional views of Madrid, on the top floor of the building.

The Petit Palace Londres is also, a hotel with an arranged parking in Madrid, in the Plaza del Carmen. Thus, all those who organise a trip to the capital by car can park safely and at a very good rate cost in the heart of Madrid.

Highlights:

· Hotel in Madrid that is pet friendly.

· Next to the Puerta del Sol, Gran Via, Callao ...

· Hotel with free Internet in Preciados Street.

· Hotel with arranged parking in the centre of Madrid.