- Spain
- (1856)
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Great food, nice affordable lunch menu with top quality food, nice atmosphere and quite relaxed.
Stumbled into this place after visiting the Santa Maria del Mar church in the Born area of Barcelona.
Enjoyed it so much went back for dinner and surprisingly the menu was quite broad with various European dishes. Service was excellent which I found slightly lacking in other restaurants in Barcelona.
Carrer abaixadores 10, about 30 metres from the Santa Maria del mar church.
Restaurant serving dishes from the País Vasco
(Basque) region of northern Spain.
Brilliant food, and that's why I am taken here by my hosts in Madrid who seek a change from the usual.
The most popular delicacies are patatas con bacalao, cocochas de merluza y centollo, zortziko de almejas, solomillo dantxari -al vapor, bacalao al pil-pil, con aceite de oliva virgen y pimiento, and tarta fina de manzana.
You could avoid these and try the more innovative dishes. I appreciated the excellent use of seasonal products and dishes such as 'pil pil' and their cod croquetas.
Ventura Rodríguez 8, 28008 Madrid
Tel: 915 423 524
www.dantxari.com
A place to remember for the wrong reasons! A lesson learned... don't always trust your guide! This is the sole reason I decided to add a profile to the Been there travel site.
Where to start? Imagine, it's the final night of your holiday and you have an early flight the following morning...
What you want is preferably quiet accommodation with easy access to your chosen airport transport (in this case the shuttle bus). Something simple and clean is fine as it's only an overnighter.
We booked on the phone the night before from Cordoba based on the above needs following the review in the usually trustworthy TimeOut guide.
True, as most of these things are indeed facts, but in my mind this place should never have been recommended.
This is what they wrote...
"A friendly hostel with cheap, cheerful rooms. The best is number 15, with windows giving fine views over the port. There's also a communal balcony."
It should read...
"A friendly-ish hostel (on the 4th floor of an office block, with nighttime skinhead bouncer for the night shift who locks everyone in the hotel over night... eek), very cheap, cheerless rooms with paper-thin walls. The worst would be number 15, with windows giving fine views over the noisy/busy road. There's also a communal balcony (and lounge which stinks of fag smoke)."
What you get...
Communal toilets (communal showers if you're on a stupidly tight budget and really can't afford one in your room) - all complete with 80s plastic concertina doors. Super thin walls - chatty neighbours optional. McDonalds - on the corner full of local teens until the early hours with obligatory noisy Vespa.
Don't waste your cash... it should be turned into a museum; it's exactly what I imagine early 90s Malaga was like (which is perhaps when the review was written).
Frustratingly it's probably always fully booked in high season due to the volume of holidaymakers in the city, and therefore will never clean up its act.
Hostal Derby - "Don't forget your ear plugs, nose plugs..."
Slightly off the tourist trail situated just off the 'Plaza Trinidad' below the Cathedral (so no snappers on the doorstep).
Yes, the decor a is a little OTT including the large basket of faux fruit, (check the web link) but it made for an amusing start to the holiday.
We only stayed for two days (late Feb 2008) so didn't spend much time in or around the hostel but the location was perfectly within walking distance of the Cathedral (2mins), the Albaicin quarter (3/4mins) and the Alhambra (10/15mins to the ticket office); however, if your holiday party includes people not as fit as most then something a little closer to or in the Albaicin might be better as the city is sited on a gradiant with the hostel at the bottom.
Some of the rooms (and the one we stayed in) are situated in a building two doors from the main hostel with the reception.
We had the apartment, but looking back this was perhaps a waste of 20 euros per night as the only things (I imagine) we gained was a flight of stairs to reach our room on the top floor, a tiny 'kitchen' food prep area and tiny terrace with no view.
The kitchen wasn't much use due to the lack of pans (for the two-plate hob) or kettle so no night-time cocoa or early morning tea. Only coffee drinkers were catered for with a stove top coffee pot, but all they provided was clean etc.
Everything in the apartment was clean, tidy and hygenic however the notice in the bathroom reading 'Please do not flush towels, use the bin provided'; with a rather dubious looking open-topped wastepaper bin beside the toilet was a little offputting...
Overall, I'd recommend a stay because the owners are so nice and friendly, making no fuss over the fact we were a gay male couple... but perhaps not in the apartment as it wasn't much use in the end. Save those additional euros for some tapas or drinks in the bustling bar on the plaza instead or the fantastic veggie restaurant Botanico on C/Malaga round the corner.
www.hostallimagranada.com/en/index2.htm
travel.nytimes.com/travel/guides/europe/spain/andalusia/granada/restaurant-detail.html?vid=1154654636214
Notes from Madrid is a blog about Madrid written by a bunch of city-savvy expats. It includes everything from where to shop, eat, drink, and go out (neighborhood by neighborhood) to information on museums, parks, excursions outside the city, even what to avoid in the city.
La Sella is a really upmarket golf resort on the Costa Blanca. It's at a small place called Jesus Pobre, which is about half-way between Valencia and Alicante. If you're looking for a really luxurious resort that genuinely specialises in golf, then you wouldn't go far wrong with this place.
It's not cheap and it's full of Brits, but the standard of service you receive is second to none. It's got a five-star hotel, holiday apartments, lots of restaurants, and a course that was apparently designed by Olazabal.
c/Alqueria de Ferrando,
03749 Jesus Pobre,
Espana
+34 96 645 4054
www.lasellaresort.co.uk
The best beach on the east coast. A nearby beach bar serves veg, beef, and chicken kebabs, has cans of frozen Mountain Dew under the counter (possibly the most dangerous substance sold on this coastline), and lets regulars use the parasols for free.
Other interesting attractions include the sight of a miniature forest on a dune, clean sand and cool water to play in and for the adults, a team of male and female diligent lifeguards who are as stunning as the view. Plus it's quiet every month of the year apart from July, so it's the ultimate half-term destination.
Guardamar lies about 15 kilometers north of Torrevieja. Following the national road N332 up in northern direction.
If you have a hire car and are coming to San Sebastian for more than a day, park your car for free at one of the car parks off Avenida de tolosa next to the University (to the west of the city centre) and get the 5 or 25 Donostia Bus service into town (€1.20 /single). Otherwise 24hr underground garages in the centre cost about €13/day and there is no long term street parking anywhere near the city centre.
Universidad del Pais Vasco, Avenida de Tolosa, San Sebastian-Donostia
Coastal suburb of Bilbao, great place to stay if you have a car, easy parking yet only 20 minutes on metro to centre. A lot cheaper than city centre places. Has lovely beaches and excellent base to wander further afield eg Gernika and beaches at Plentzia/Gorliz/Vizcayan coast.
Two town centres clustered around Las Arenas and Algorta metros, Pension El Abra is good place to stay near Arenas. Try out Ereaga beach and walk to cute whitewashed Puerto Viejo for eats at lunchtime. Get a Creditrans for the metro, almost halves cost of tickets and is also valid for city centre funiculars and 'hanging' transporter bridge across the river to Portugalete - worth seeing in its own right!
Getxo, Vizcaya, nr Bilbao. Metro: Las Arenas/Algorta
David is an experienced walking leader and expert history and wildlife guide with great personality. Offering day walks, tours and holidays from Yunquera, hidden in the unspoilt Sierra de las Nieves, close to Ronda and only an hour from Malaga airport, yet it seems a different world to the Costa del Sol. Fantastic value - David walks and guides for the joy not for profit. Check out the website...
www.walkspain.com
1hr Malaga Airport.
Information about the airport, which is undergoing an expansion process.
Comillas in the region of Cantabria, northern Spain, is a gorgeous little cobble streeted seaside town, loads of lovely cheap family friendly places to eat, a fab fun family atmosphere in the square at night (sometimes there is even a free outdoor cinema) and the most perfect beach and sea.
The very basic campsite is within walking distance of both the town and the beach - so no worries about evening drinking. The huge beach is great for swimming, bodyboarding, rockpooling and sandcastle building. In Comillas, you can get up late, have late lunches and late dinners, just really chill out - and there's not too many British travellers! The climate is perfect for camping - you won't be boiled out of your tent in the morning!
Get the ferry to Bilbao or Santander and drive there - the ferry journey is great fun - kids love it and it's so relaxing! There is plenty to see and do in the area apart from just lazing on the beach. You can visit the fantastic nature park of Cabárceno, palaeolithic rock art caves, the Guggenheim in Bilbao, the oceanographic museum and aquariums of Santander, Gaudi's only building outside of Barcelona or the perfectly preserved medieval village of Santillana del mar - there really is something to please everyone in this area of Spain.
Just don't everyone rush there and spoil it!
www.campingcomillas.com/
www.comillas.es/
english.turismodecantabria.com/default.asp
I had to arrange a 20-person minibus to take my group from Girona airport to our Barcelona hotel, and after looking around to find the best deal, I called an airport transfers company called Suntransfers - and I'm glad I did. The price was the cheapest I could find, and the British guy I dealt with (Bob, I think) couldn't have been more helpful. The minibus was modern and arrived on time, with the child seats I had asked for already installed. Recommended!
Very good tapas in the best restaurant atmosphere. We really enjoyed it. The food was delicious. Grilled king prawns, steamed mussels, roast lamb, fried and crispy artichokes, patatas bravas. The setting on Rambla Catalubya was beautiful. They have another very lively restaurant in the Born area which was very welcoming and fun. We didn't try the other two but have heard good things about them.
Taller de Tapas
Rambla Catalunya, 49 (Eixample)
93 487 4842
C/ Comtal, 28 8 (Via Laietana)
93 481 6233
c/ Argenteria, 51 (Born)
93 268 8559
Plaça Sant Josep Oriol, 9 (Plaza del Pi)
93 301 8020
www.tallerdetapas.com
Wawas Barcelona is a small shop near the Picasso Museum in La Ribera which offers souvenirs, with a twist. Far from your average trinket shop, it is run by two local sisters whose product is a refocused view of the city's architecture and tradition. Their postcards, trays, and mugs bear images of a the less traditional - but still adored - Barcelona.
Most unique is their collaboration with Xocoa - the gourmet chocolatier of Barcelona. Wawas offers chocolate bars wrapped in their images, known as Barcelona Bombons. Without a doubt, the Barcelona souvenir you can find for friends, family, or 'novios'!
Definitely a must go!
WAWAS SHOP
C/ Carders 14
08003 Barcelona
(around the corner from the Picasso Museum)
T (+34) 93 319 79 02
At the time of this post, this shop did not have their own website, however they referred me to the following link to view their images:
flicker.com/search/?q=wawas+barcelona
My first tip is general and simple: wherever you're going, give your child a small digital camera they can call their own.
Then when you visit somewhere like Lorca Park in Granada, with its fantastic gardens and play equipment, and as an adult find yourself compelled to have a go on everything, your child will have a great time snapping away as you giggle hysterically on the revolving see-saw.
Granada, not far from centre, bus routes aplenty
Murcia San Javier airport is brilliant for speed.
Marisqueria in Madrid, best restaurant to eat fish. Not very stylish but really good food.
Tribunal
I recommend when you are traveling by train in Spain that you request four seats with a table between them, so that the family can talk together or play games.
Alcossebre is a lovely town with three lovely beaches (all blue flag) and lots of quality restaurants that cater for those wanting romance, family or tapas-style food. Although Brits are finally discovering the town and the surrounding area, Alcossbre still retains its Spanish roots.
It is ideally located to discover the wonderful Costa Del Azahar - the larger holiday resorts, Peniscola and Benicassim are about 20 mins drive away. You can relax, play golf, scuba dive and cycle to your hearts content.
Costa Del Azahar (approx 70km north of Valencia, 65km south of Reus)
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