My friends and I will be traveling to Spain this summer. I would like your advice about the following hotels in Barcelona, Madrid, Seville &amp; Marbella. We are looking for a nice clean hotel in a good location &amp; in a safe neighborhood. We have narrowed it down to the following, but feel free to add your recommendations. Thanks!<BR><BR>BARCELONA<BR>Hotel Millenium<BR>Hotel Splendid<BR><BR>Hotel Gran Via?<BR><BR>MADRID<BR>Hotel Arosa<BR>Hotel Persal<BR><BR>SEVILLE<BR>Silken Al Andalus Palace Hotel<BR><BR>MARBELLA<BR>Westin LaQuinta

ac2003,<BR>Could you tell us what price range you're seeking? Your list seems to vary from upper budget with the Hostal Persal and Hotel Gran Via to deluxe, Westin La Quinta. Were you thinking, perhaps, of economizing in the cities to end with a splurge in Marbella?<BR>

Our range for hotels is $150-$200. We figure we aren't going to be spending much time in our hotel in Barcelona &amp; Madrid, but we would still like something descent accomodations (clean &amp; comfortable). Also, there are 4 of us staying in one room, but we do have 2 rooms booked at the Arosa and Silken as they only have two twin beds. And yes, we are going to end our trip with a splurge in Marbella!<BR>Thanks!

ac,<BR>Of the deluxe, splurge properties in Marbella, the La Quinta and the Meridien Los Monteros are the most reasonable in price, but the Westin is on a golf course rather than on the beach. The 4 star El Fuerte on the beach in downtown Marbella is also quite nice but not in the luxury category.<BR><BR>Am I correct in understanding your budget is a max of $200 for 4 per night?<BR><BR>For Barcelona, I personally prefer to stay in or near the upscale Eixample district, so the Splendid on Muntaner would be my choice rather than the Millenium which is close to the port. The Gran Via is a more simple, upper budget property at under 100 euros, but it has many loyal fans on this board.<BR><BR>In Madrid, the Best Western Hotel Arosa right off the busy Gran Via also has a loyal following here. The Persal is again a basic, budget property. Clean and well located off the lively-at-all-hours Plaza Santa Ana but no frills. Not a hostal, despite the name, but not a 3 star hotel either. <BR>My favorites closer to the Prado that may be under $100 double on wkds. or July/August include the 4 star Hotel Green Lope de Vega and Hotel Suecia. Check the discount hotel booking sites or<BR>www.hotellopedevega.com<BR>www.hotelsuecia.c om<BR><BR>In Seville, I haven't seen the Silken Al Andalus Palace, but from the pics on www.hoteles-silken.com, it looks very comfortable, even with pool and low rates, but the disadvantage here is the location- a full 2 km. from downtown.<BR> A cute, highly recommended new upper budget place in the Santa Cruz quarter is the Hotel Amadeus, but it has no pool. (www.hotelamadeussevilla.com) <BR>From here most all the sights of the city are within easy walking distance. <BR><BR>Everyone's favorite here in the Santa Cruz quarter, the Casas de la Juderia, would be over 100 euros double, even after June 30, when low season begins.<BR>Just some thoughts to consider...

We just returned from Spain. I highly recommend Hotel Becquer in Sevilla, $100/night. Exceptionally clean, quiet, very nice staff. I also visited Hotel Amadeus as I had read it- it is charming but the rooms may be dark, I would ask about that and it is not as upscale as Hotel Becquer. However, it is in a great location.<BR>

Thank you Maribel. We have decided on the Hotel Splendid in Barcelona and as for Madrid, we are trying to decide between Hotel Suecia &amp; H10 Villa de la Reina. Has anyone stayed at these hotels? What did you think?

ac2003,<BR>Both are fine 4 stars and very comfortable. The Suecia is closer to the Prado and the Museo Thyssen on a narrow back street which makes it quiet, while the new H10 Villa de la Reina (a really nice conversion of a turn-of-the-century bank building; they kept the original pillars in the lobby and the cage elevator) is on the busy lower Gran Via near Plaza Cibeles, the section of the Gran Via that is prettier than the upper stretches. The H10 rooms have very spiffy baths, robes, lots of toiletries, a scale, make-up mirror, minibar, safe, alarm clock, pillow menu, turn down service, and all H10 hotels offer a very nice breakfast buffet. If the rate for your dates isn't significantly higher for the H10, I'd go with it, but the Suecia is perfectly nice as well, just not quite as many extras.