ME Madrid Reina Victoria
What's so special?
If you're looking for a trendy place to stay in the Spanish capital, MEcould be the place for you. It is in a prime location on the Plaza de Santa Ana in downtown Madrid at the heart of the Barrio deLas Letra (Literary Quarter), known for its bars and restaurants.
How they rate it
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"The ME brand is all about making the whole hotel experience more fun, which comes as quite a relief if you have had enough of scarily silent beige temples," says Annie Bennett in The Daily Telegraph. Inside, the rooms have beds that are "sumptuous with duck feather pillows and duvets".
The bathrooms have "hydromassage showers". And alongside the usual individual soaps and shampoos, the rooms come with "love kits" the less said about those the better and "hangover kits" which you "may well be grateful for after a night giving it your all in the bars and clubs, which is sort of obligatory in Madrid".
The menu
"There is something for everyone on the menu, which ranges from tasty grilled kid goat chops to tangy Thai monkfish green curry."
The cost
Prices from £104 for a double room. See melia.com, or call 0808-234 1953.
Only You Hotel and Lounge
What's so special?
Only You is a similarly trendy hotel, located in Chueca, "Madrid's hippest district, with its independent shops and distinctly metropolitan vibe", according to Cond Nast Traveller. The hotel's bar is "filled to the brim with locals" who have given this hotel their seal of approval.
How they rate it
The hotel was formerly a 19th-century townhouse and was a run-down apartment building until it was redeveloped just over a year ago. Now, it is "a boutique property with real cojones".
The interiors are "vibrant", with a mix of "straight elements hand-painted tiles, wing-back chairs, vintage prints and maps with a slightly kooky blue, white and orange colour scheme and an unabashed passion for mirrors (the central atrium and restaurant twinkle like a matador's bejewelled costume)". Only You is both "accomplished and handsome a real city slicker".
The menu
The restaurant has a "tasting menu of succulent surprises, including miniature helpings of marinated Iberian pork shoulder bladeand tuna tataki".
The cost
Doubles from £125. See onlyyouhotels.com, or call 00 34 91 005 2222.
Avoid the brats with these blissfully child-free hotels
The highlight of the Hotel Reserva del Higuern in Fuengirola, Spain, is the "fantastic infinity pool on a longthin terrace surrounded by double daybeds in private alcoves", saysTom Chesshyre in The Times.
The hotel, on the Costa del Sol, is only for over-16s, and is a "grown-up enclave with cool cocktail bars and whitewashed rooms with splashes of modern art".
B&B doubles from £95 (hotel.reservadelhigueron.com).
The Canaves Oia (pictured) in Santorini, Greece,is a "stunning hotel spread across a clifftop with brilliant sea views across the old caldera". Cave houses dating from the17th century have been transformed into "minimalist modern rooms with whitewashed balconies and lavender and white interiors". A sandy beach isn't far away and it is also possible to hire a yacht with crew. The hotel has a no-under-14s policy, and the vast majority of guests are 20 or over.
Prices from €365 (canaves.com).
The Pelican Beach Resort & Spa in Sardinia, Italy, is just a few steps away from a beautiful white sandy beach, and has its own well-kept garden lawn and swimming pool. The Pelican is a great spot for a relaxed, child-free break. No guests are permitted under the age of 16. The rooms are "simple but comfortable" and a spa opens in the summer.
Prices start from €248 (thepelicanbeachresort.com).
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