Category: Hotel / Parador

Spanish Hotel Renovations

Several of Spain’s well-loved classic hotels are planning temporary closure for extensive refurbishment during the next two years. One is Seville’s Alfonso XIII Hotel (operated by Starwood), which is aiming to reopen in March 2012 in time for Holy Week and the Spring Fair.  In Granada, the Alhambra Palace Hotel will be closing for its…

What's the "new" Mamounia like?

To many, Marrakech’s La Mamounia is Africa’s most renowned hotel. Sir Winston Churchill spent much of his retirement time here and for decades it was an international “IN crowd” destination. The hotel re-opened in the fall of 2009 after a 3-year total makeover. Here is a first-hand account of our recent inspection.   The avenue in front of the hotel is now off limits to…

Recent Hotel Inspections in Barcelona

Felíz año nuevo! Happy New Year! We’ve carefully checked out two newly opened hotels in Barcelona:  Hotel Mandarin and Hotel Palace Barcelona. -The Mandarin Oriental in Barcelona has two outstanding features, in addition to its great location on Paseo de Gracia;  the spa is the best in town, especially for honeymoon couples. Their restaurant is run…

Hotel Palace in Barcelona Renovation

It began in 2007 and is expected to end by the end of 2009. The long-awaited refurbishment of the Hotel Palace (formerly Ritz) in Barcelona is almost there. This historic property, in the most central and prestigious part of Barcelona, includes an “optimization” of its architectural infrastructure and soft redecoration of public areas maintaining the…

18th C Palace Reopens Hotel in Sintra

The Palacio de Seteais reopens its doors in March 2009 after complete renovation and updating of its installations while closed in 2008. This fascinating example of Neoclassic residential architecture from the 18thC and all of its furniture from the same era have been completely restored thanks to the work of the Fundacion Ricardo Espirito Santo…

Paradores Update

One of our favourite historic properties within Spain’s government run chain of hotels, Paradores, is scheduled for a complete renovation. The Parador of Caceres (south-western Spain) will close in September 2009 and is expected to reopen one year later with 7 more rooms (for a total of 40), after a complete renovation that is expected…

Orient-Express Hotels Sells Lapa Palace Hotel, Lisbon

Orient-Express: Owners and managers of 51 luxury hotels, restaurants, tourist trains and river cruise properties operating in 25 countries, sold Lisbon’s Lapa Palace hotel to a private Portuguese investor for 41.8 million USD. Orient-Express Hotels‘ President and Chief Executive Officer, Paul White said, “We have previously stated our intention to dispose of non-core assets. Lapa…