(following on from my previous posting, perhaps It would be easier to split it into "things to do" and "places to stay", so here goes!)

I have around 150-200EUR per night to spend here. The Sheraton appears to be the only luxury property with a swimming pool? Comments, suggestions wanted! Thank you.

Find a hotel with a view toward the Gugginheim. What a fantastic piece of architecture!!!

Hoping for some more constructive responsives based on my criteria, I'm not going to spend my entire time there face glued to a window. Whilst a good view is obviously a plus, it is by no means essential that there is such a striking one! A spa, swimming pool, quality bar is much nearer the top of my list!

m_kingdom,
You really need cova's advice (our resident bilbaína Fodorite) on this one, but here are my impressions of the other luxury properties facing the Guggenheim, the Gran
Domine and the Miró-

Gran Domine
A new design hotel opened in ?02, a creation of Javier Mariscal (his first hotel project-the creator of the 92 Bcn Olympic mascot, "Cobi&quot and Philippe Starcke, plus other hot designers (Alvar Aalto, Arne Jacobsen, Ron Arad) who contributed the shower stools, sinks and scarlet sofas. Kind of whimsical, pop art-ish on the inside; the center piece of the atrium lobby is a 7 story wire mesh cage of stones (26 meters high) called the Cypress Fossil. A touch of Andy Warhol. 2 restaurants, the informal café with Bauhaus red and white chairs and the gourmet "Beltz the Black". Run by the Hesperia chain. For the full effect, I would book a Guggen view room. The Executive double 418 has a close up view of Jeff Koon's Puppy. The piece de resistance for me is the rooftop terrace for guests only overlooking the Guggenheim, where brk is served. Also has a gym. Rooms have wool-cashmere spreads, pillow menu, internet TV. Recently featured in the British Conde Nast Traveller?s "The Hot List: 50 of the Coolest New Hotels in the World". 145 rooms.
www.granhoteldominebilbao.com Read the Departures magazine review at www.departures.com/bb/bb_1102_bilbao.html

Hotel Miró
Another smaller boutique-designer place, member of Design Hotels, slightly below the Guggen (so no front and center Guggen views) and 1 block from Gran Domine, created by Barcelona's fashion designer, Antonio Miró. Rooms are done in minimalist style in beige, green and black and have mohair blankets on the beds, excellent bedside lighting and black marble baths, but no door btwn bedroom and bath-only a thick curtain, so lack of privacy. The designer didn't want a bathroom door. Upstairs reading area, downstairs bar with snack menu. Downstairs facilities for massages, his and her jaccuzzis and small gym.
Fantastic desk staff, superb service. Only 50 rooms with 5 semi-suites. When the ria renewal project is completely finished the hotel will have nice views. Now the views from the bedrooms face a construction site, or at least they did last Aug.
www.mirohotelbilbao.com

Hope this helps more.

Thank you for that helpful advice. I think I have now ruled out both of these properties, the curtain whilst stylish (or pseudo stylish) would irritate me. Gran Hotel Domine seems perfect bar the fact that they have designed a new build property with no swimming pool - nothing nicer than a private roof terrace, but with no water? Do they have a plunge pool or nothing at all?

Does anyone know about the Sheraton, Lopez de Haro, and the Carlton - the Sheraton has a pool, but is this a comfortable choice? The other two seem a little dated from pictures I have seen.

m_kingdom,

Can you wait until late March for a review? We've booked at the Sheraton mid-March, I'll post a review when we return. Cova did mention in an earlier post that the Sheraton is currently surrounded by construction. Expect that to continue for quite a while.

Absolutely - I'll be looking forward to it! I hope that you have good experiences to report, have an enjoyable holiday.

m_kingdom,
The Lopez de Haro doesn't have a pool or spa. We've stayed there. While the service from the front desk is superb, just couldn't be nicer and the location equally nice and cuisine at the Club Náutico first rate, the furniture in the guest rooms is a bit getting worn now, in need of freshening up, thus the internet discount rates.
The Carlton is a Grand Dame, classical Old European style, 1920's hotel located on lovely Plaza Federico Moyua, and it does take groups because of its large size. I know because I'm helping to arrange a small group tour which will be housed there in April. No pool.

If you want the very latest in amenities, design and high tech plus a pool and don't care that much about the Guggenheim views, you should probably keep your reservations at the brand new Sheraton.

m_kingdom, if you really, really need a swimming pool or a spa, your only options are the Sheraton or the 4-star Husa Jardines de Albia, with a good in-house spa.
I am afraid that we are not really into swimming pools, good restaurants and bars being more important ...

Bye, Cova