Nights 1 & 2: Le Méridien Barcelona Barcelona, Spain Located in the very center of Barcelona on world-famous Las Ramblas, Le Méridien Barcelona is convenient to many of the city’s most intriguing sights. Long a favorite of celebrities, its guests have included the likes of Pavarotti, Rostropovich, Bruce Springsteen, Madonna and the Rolling Stones. A newly redone and fully equipped fitness center and an Internet center are available for guests’ use. Le Patio restaurant evokes the atmosphere of a peaceful Catalan patio and offers Mediterranean-style cuisine.
Nights 3 & 4: El Castell de Ciutat Seu d'Urgell, Spain A member of the prestigious Relais & Châteaux, this small, elegant hotel occupies a hilltop in the heart of the high Catalan Pyrenees, thus providing commanding scenic views from its Panoramic Terrace. Guest rooms are spacious and comfortable. El Castell de Ciutat offers an elegant fitness complex with facilities that include an outdoor swimming pool, a beautiful indoor swimming pool, an outdoor Jacuzzi and hot tub with stunning views of the region and a gym equipped with cardiovascular and weight machines.
Nights 5 & 6: Hotel Maria Cristina San Sebastian, Spain Hotel Maria Cristina is a most impressive Belle Époque beauty located in the city center, just blocks from the beach. Beautifully appointed guest rooms offer every amenity that sophisticated travelers expect. An indoor swimming pool and the Hydra Wellness Center & Spa beckon during leisure hours. The beautiful Easo Restaurant offers classic Basque cuisine while the Café Saigon features a Vietnamese-styled menu. The readers of Condé Nast Traveler have awarded the Hotel Maria Cristina a place on the 2008 Gold List.
*Sheraton Bilbao Bilbao, Spain At the Sheraton Bilbao Hotel, with its wonderful collection of contemporary art and Spanish ship models, you’ll be right in the heart of vibrant Bilbao’s leisure and cultural center on the banks of the Nervion River. Guest rooms feature Sheraton Sweet Sleeper® beds, air conditioning, 25-inch color TV with cable and satellite channels, high-speed Internet access (at a fee), mini bar and a marble bathroom with bathrobes and hairdryer. A heated outdoor swimming pool and a well-equipped Fitness Facility are available to hotel guests. The Café Chillida offers light fare throughout the day and the smart-casual Aizian Restaurant features a menu of regional and local Basque cuisine. Enjoy your favorite beverage on the outdoor terrace overlooking the Doña Casida Park at the Café Chillida Bar. *Tour of September 18 will stay at the Sheraton Bilbao
Night 7: Parador de Fuente Dé Fuente Dé, Spain This fine mountain retreat is nestled in the foothills of the Picos de Europa and is the terminus for a mountain cable car which travels up to the Aliva viewpoint high above. Surrounded by forests and scenic hillsides, its décor of warm wood and leather furniture creates a welcoming ambiance. Its restaurant offers traditional Cantabrian cuisine. Guest rooms are well appointed and most comfortable.
Night 8: Parador de León León, Spain Gracefully housed in a monastery dating back to 1515 when its room sheltered pilgrims traveling to Santiago de Compostela, this luxurious five-star hotel shelters today’s sophisticated travelers in stately surroundings, filled with paintings, tapestries and carvings. Its impressive Gothic architecture, and its wealth of ancient carpets, clocks and furniture create a museum-like ambiance that is sure to please. Museum lovers will enjoy the easy access to both the Provincial Archaeological Museum and the Fine Arts Museum, which lie within its walls. All guest rooms have air conditioning, radio and satellite TV, telephones and a safe. A bar/café and a lovely terrace garden beckon during leisure time.
Night 9: Parador de Santiago de Compostela Santiago de Compostela, Spain Having first opened its doors to shelter pilgrims in 1499, the Parador de Santiago de Compostela is reputed to be the oldest hotel in the world. Enjoying a superb location next to the glorious cathedral of St. James, today this Santiago landmark retains much of its medieval magnificence while offering every comfort and amenity that 21st-century travelers demand. Lovely guest rooms, elegant living rooms, four extraordinary cloisters and a wonderful dining room surround today’s guests with beauty and luxury at every turn.
Nights 10 & 11: Sheraton Porto Hotel & Spa Porto, Portugal The stunningly modern Sheraton Porto Hotel & Spa offers the convenience of being just a short walk away from the Modern Art Museum and the Casa da Musica in the heart of Porto. Spacious guest rooms feature TV with cable channels, air conditioning, hairdryer, in-room safe, mini bar and the Sheraton Sweet Sleeper Bed®. Take a dip in the indoor swimming pool, keep up with your workouts or soak in the hot tub in the Fitness Facility or enjoy a pampering spa treatment during leisure time. Relax over a casual meal in the Restaurant Porto Novo, sip your favorite beverage in the New Yorker Bar or refresh yourself with something tasty at the Juice Bar
Nights 12 & 13: Tivoli Lisboa Lisbon, Portugal Located in the very heart of Lisbon, the prime location of the Tivoli Lisboa makes it the ideal address from which to explore this fascinating city. Comfortable guest rooms feature individual air conditioning, satellite TV, video channels, mini bar and in-room safe. A heated swimming pool awaits at the Tivoli Club set in hotel’s gardens and there is a gymnasium available to guests. The Terrace Restaurant offers both superb views of Lisbon and an intriguing menu. Welcoming guests with warm and genuine hospitality since 1933, the Tivoli Lisboa has earned a place on the prestigious Condé Nast Traveler Gold List.