Barcelona to Granada
 

We will be driving from Barcelona to Granada and we're looking for an interesting spot to stopover for one night. We will be taking the coastal route toward Valencia on the way to Granada. Any ideas?

Ellen, I am traveling the opposite route, and will be very interested to read your responses, it will depend where you are going and how directly you wish to get there, but there are some nice hotels along the way, I have loaned out my book on spain, but seach for Paradors of Spain on any search engine an stay in very old buildings, the road is supposed to be good on your journey (now) but you should also look into that. <BR> <BR>good luck

Ellen, <BR>Along the coastal route there are 3 Paradors that Bill mentions: in Jávea, Valencia (El Saler) and Benicarló, but they're modern beach hotels rather than historic (some Paradors are restored palaces, convents, castles). The Parador on El Saler beach just south of Valencia is the most upscale, a self-contained resort, really, with its own golf course. You could visit Valencia's new futuristic City of Arts and Sciences complex (the Hemisferic planetarium and Museo de Ciencias, both gigantic, amazing designs by native son architect Santiago Calatrava, are now open) <BR> <BR>If you want to press on down the Costa Blanca beyond Valencia , you might enjoy Denia or Villajoyosa, two upmarket coastal resorts (skip Benidorm!), and the city of Alicante has a very pleasant seaside promenade that makes for interesting people watching during the evening "paseo", great paellas (at Restaurante Dársena or Delfín) and lively nightlife. <BR> <BR>Hope this gives you some ideas. <BR> <BR>

I would recommend you Hotel Melia Alicante for a one night stopover on your way south. It is really well situated just by Alicante Esplanada ( the famous promenade ). You have lots of restaurants and places to have an "horchata" ( typical sweet drink in Valencia-Alicante coastline ). <BR> <BR>www.solmelia.com

Thanks for all your suggestions. I had heard of the paradors along the coast, but felt they were just modern (not interesting)beach resorts. Has anyone heard of Hotel El Frares in Quatretondeta? It's supposed to be about an hour inland from the Costa Blanca coast. It's featured in Sawday's "Special Places to Stay in Spain?.

Ellen, <BR>I have the Sawday book but am not familiar with the Els Frares. The Michelin red guide lists it in the bottom "simple/comfortable" category. Sawday's selections tend to vary greatly, from simple B&Bs to 4 star resort hotels (a few), and it sounds like it's a quaint, cozy, inexpensive but somewhat modest village inn. If you're only stopping for one night, you may (or may not ?) want to venture that far inland.