Barceló Montecastillo Golf Hotel

Barceló Montecastillo Golf is an all-inclusive 5 star rated hotel, completely renovated and designed with all the services you can need to enjoy relaxing golf days in a beautiful place surrounded by nature.

Barceló Montecastillo Golf Hotel  is located in Jerez de la Frontera, Cádiz, in a peaceful area adjacent to the racing circuit. Its main attraction is its magnificent golf course designed by Jack Nicklaus, to where hotel guests have unlimited and free access.

This golf course in Jerez de la Frontera has different types of accommodations such as superior rooms, some of them with amazing views of the golf course, deluxe rooms, junior suites and suites. In addition, lovely villas where you can stay with your pet: the ideal option for groups and families. Can be booked with 1or 2 bedrooms (and 2 bathrooms), and even private garden!

Both rooms and villas are equipped with all the services, such as bathroom amenities, pillow menu, free wifi, tea and coffee, Smartphone dock, 42’’ HD satellite TV, among others. Apart from that, villas have an equipped kitchen, fridge, independent living room and terrace.

And... to ensure an unforgettable experience in this all-inclusive hotel in Cádiz, the Barceló Montecastillo Golf offers complete services with two exterior pools for kids and adults, children's miniclub, spa with sauna, free gym, Turkish bath, football fields, 4 paddle courts, 1 tennis court and free car park.

Barceló Montecastillo Golf is also a perfect hotel for organisation of different types of events, since it possesses a superb meeting room equipped with up to date technology and business services. Besides, a space with beautiful surroundings for wedding receptions and banquets.

Prince Park Hotel: Benidorm with a view of l’Aigüera park

The Prince Park Hotel next to l’Aigüera Park in Benidorm is the star of this review.  It is a hotel under constant renovation, experienced in the sector, with homely and versatile spaces specially made for couple's or family holidays.

One of its main attractions is its privileged location next to l’Aigüera park, just one step from Benidorm Council and the great amphitheatre of the city. It is not right beside the beach, but offers the advantage of having a cosmopolitan and relaxing  environment 1 km away from the historic centre of the Costa Blanca capital.

Modern facilities and simple design, without being so luxurious but very functional, specially the rooms: all of them have a wide bedroom with big windows and a wonderful panorama of the city.  Even some of them have their own terrace.

Prince Park hotel in Benidorm

You can not miss the exterior pools with solarium areas, the buffet restaurant and its out of door terrace.  One of its key strengths is having a free car park, except from June 15th to September 15th.

We missed services focused on children, since, although the hotel has a special family accommodation in Benidorm, its programme of activities is notably centred on live music and has not mini-club or specific entertainment for kids.

The keys:

·       · Hotel in the centre of Benidorm, next to l’Aigüera park.

·       · Modern and comfortable spaces.

·       · Free car park, except in high season.

·       · Triple and family rooms.

5 places to visit in Medellin

I have been writing a list of Medellin places that I really appreciate, and I have decided to share with you those leading it. If you wish to get away from the hubbub, to enjoy the nature, breath clean air and know the wealth of Colombia, and... If you are also looking for party, if you want to know people, to taste the delicacies of the Colombian cuisine, to enjoy day and night, Medellin is the city!  Here goes my list:

1. Parque Arví:

The Arví ecological park, with an area of 4351 acres, is located in the small town of Santa Elena, in the highest part of Medellin, from where you can look at one of the most wonderful views of the city. It has a great wealth of flora, among which you can find the well-known orchids, an incomparable diversity of mosses and beautiful old trees.  Likewise, a wide variety of fauna, birds, butterflies, mammals, reptiles, all the colours in the middle of the green, so typical of this place and, of course, of Medellin. The best option is asking for a guided tour to know the park curiosities and enjoy a hike in group. Arriving is really easy, on horseback, by bicycle, car or by the known Cable Arví, an air cable from where you can appreciate the Medellin mountains while you get into the forest. 

2. Botanical Garden

Another recommended place is the Botanical Garden of Medellin, although it is smaller, it is closer to the city centre without stop being a peaceful corner where you will bump into an amazing nature.  It is common that while sitting on the park enjoying the beauty of the trees, you suddenly see a squirrel approaching you or an iguana leisurely walking.  You can visit the collections, among which stand out the Butterfly House and the Orquideorama.  Besides, it is situated in a strategic point: next to it, there is the Parque Explora, Parque de los Deseos, Parque Norte and the University of Antioquia. It is a perfect place to spend the afternoon in the City of Eternal Spring and know the natural wealth of our city. 

3. Parque Explora

One of the most important interactive science parks of Colombia dedicated to spread the technology and the science. It stands out for its modern and quite interesting spaces, among which should be noted the Planetarium, a spot to know more about our planet and the space, the Aquarium, where you will know more than 150 species and the biggest collection of fresh water fishes in Latin America.  If you go to Medellin, you can not miss the Parque Explora.

Double room in Medellin

4. Parque Lleras

If you look for nightlife, the Parque Lleras is the ideal place for you. Located in El Poblado neighbourhood, also known as the Gold Mile, it is without a doubt the most tourist park of the city. There are found the best hotels of Medellin and an incredible variety of restaurants, bars and discos that allow you to enjoy the best of the Colombian cuisine, drinks and parties, it is the perfect place to stay in Medellin. Right in this park you will find The Charlee Hotel with its wide offer of possibilities: from gazing at art exhibitions to relaxing in the top of the hotel while you look at the sky, the mountains and the night lights, swim and, why not, dance.  It is just a matchless hotel.

5.  Parque de los pies descalzos

One of my favourite ones for offering a cosy atmosphere where spaces for all tastes converge: guadua forest, Zen garden, water fountains, sandy area, restaurants, bars, café bars.  The idea, as its name suggests, is that you walk barefoot on the sand or on the grass while you enjoy the nature.  It is next to Plaza Mayor, a well-known convention and exhibitions centre of Medellin, to the Metropolitan Theatre and the Edificio Inteligente, and very close to La Alpujarra, the administrative centre of the city.  So that, without going too far, you will know one of the most important areas of the region.  

Beach days in the Doñana National Park

Matalascañas and Caño Guerrero, in the Huelva coast, form a heavenly natural space at the seashore and one step from the marvellous National Park Doñana. We could say that, as summer destination, Matalascañas is the beach area of this important Spanish natural reserve, a perfect place for the active tourism lovers: hiking, water sports, golf, touring by bicycle…

Matalascañas, whose name marks the unique vegetation of its landscape –mainly reeds and canes– is a meeting point for tourists from all over the world that look for peace, nature and sun.

The housing developments and hotels in Matalascañas are concentrated around its beach, with a very urban nature with more than 5km of length. It is a beach with white and fine sand, typical of the Andalusian coast, keeping some corners with an almost unspoilt appearance, especially the closer to the National Park area.

Hotel Prince Park in Benidorm

The whole area has magnificent views to the Gulf of Cádiz and is divided into protected areas by the National Park, just some minutes away from the wonderful ponds and lakes as the Zahillo or Sanguijuela. Inside the urbanized area, there are golf courses, playgrounds and gardens, shopping 

centres and interesting tourism points as the Torre de la Higuera of the Mundo Marino Museum.

The Matalascañas beach is one of the most appreciated in this coast of Huelva, since it has all kind of services adapted to the traveller, from traditional bars to restaurants with excellent connections by road with the rest of the Costa de la Luz and the Seville and Huelva cities.

It is very recommendable if you travel with family. In the surroundings you can find complete hotels where you can lodge at a good price, some of them with All Inclusive service and even aparthotels with free wifi next to the beach, as the Flamero hotel or the Dunas de Doñana Golf Resort, both beside the Matalascañas beach. 

Confortel Atrium: design hotels setting destinations apart

Today's review is dedicated to those new hotels that have bet on giving to the visitor more than just a lodging. It is about those design hotels that make you feel in another dimension, where services, attentions and facilities converge to warrant comfort with a touch of exclusivity. It is the case of Confortel Atrium, a hotel near to IFEMA and the Madrid airport, made for  business travellers and for all those design, urban and avant-garde art lovers.

It is a business hotel in Madrid with 195 rooms and good connections with the centre through the M-30 motorway. It is located in the Ciudad Lineal area, just a few minutes from the convention and exhibition centre and the business area of this part of Madrid, maybe too far from the city centre to be a escape hotel, but this is counterbalanced by the good public transport connections and, above all, by the services offered by the hotel unlikely to be found elsewhere in the centre of the capital. 

If you look for double rooms in Madrid with luxury design and all kind of amenities, Confortel Atrium is a good choice: open areas, a bit small rooms but well appointed and comfortable, equipped wardrobes, free wifi, bathroom with hairdryer, minibar, wide area for desktop and office, natural light...

In addition to an elegant design, for those who want to turn the hotel into your business centre during the stay in Madrid, general hotel services are an excellent complement: gym, living room, coffee bar, free newspaper, continental breakfast... 

The highlights of this hotel in Madrid are the business service, state-of the-art technology, restaurant for business lunch and perfectly equipped halls for events. Likewise, anyone who wants can ask for professional advice from the hotel staff for organisation of events in Madrid in several languages.

The keys:

·       Rooms: comfortable and well designed for business trips.

·       Free wifi in the entire hotel.

·       Gym, small but ideal for relaxing.

·       Its nearness to the airport and to IFEMA.