Logroño, and Zaragoza, where to stay.
 

We are arriving by car to Logroño from Madrid, and staying two nights, and then to
the Basque country. We need help in orientation as where to stay in Logroño, and in
Zaragoza, we already booked in Hondarribia and Pyrenees.
We would like a nice hotel or Parador, with breakfast included, and we have a 30% discount for the Golden Age, in the Paradores.
We are day people, so it doesn't matter if is quiet by night.
We would like to spend around $200.00 w/brkfst.
Thanks for the suggestions.

Is there a reason why you are staying in Logrono versus a smaller (and more atmospheric) nearby village? I generally only stay in Logrono if it's during the Wine Harvest festival (San Mateo) in September when all the activity is centered in Logrono. There are many small wine villages scattered in this area. Laguardia comes to mind first - just because it's near Logrono and I've personally stayed there.

http://www.laguardia-alava.com/

The 2 hotels I've stayed at and would recommend are the Hotel Villa de Laguardia and Hotel Castillo el Collado.

The Hotel Villa de Laguardia is at the bottom on the hill a short walk up (5 minutes) up to the village. It is larger and has a new spa. If you're into spa treatments when we were there in September they were offering numerous specials that included room, breakfast buffet (which was excellent) and spa treatments. They also have an excellent restaurant.

Hotel Castillo el Collado is much more intimate and unique - quite an experience. It's located just next to the city walls. Even if you don't stay there I can highly recommend the restaurant. They offer a menu del dia that is excellent. The owner is also the chef and will serve you dinner - very charming.

http://www.euskalnet.net/hotelcollado/
http://www.hotelvilladelaguardia.com/esp/index_esp.html

http://www.hotelvilladelaguardia.com/esp/index_esp.html

There are numerous options in this area. If you haven't seen Maribel's guides they are excellent with all kinds of ideas for hotels and dining - all on the mark.

http://www.maribelsguides.com/

As for Zaragoza, I've only stayed overnight there once (for 2 nights). Looking back it could have probably been fine for one night. I stayed at the Hotel Catalonia Zaragoza Plaza. It wasn't particularly charming or historical. However, it was more of a business (and 4*) class hotel. Large rooms and bathroom, nice amenities, great location and very good prices. I'd stay there again.

http://www.hoteles-catalonia.com/es/...laza/index.jsp

THANK You Cathy M. for your suggestions, and for you help!!
I am going to look into the hotels you recommend and maybe
stay there, we are completely ignorants in that region, and
I thought of Logroño, because it was in the wine country, and
thought about convenience for day trips.
Our schedule, from Madrid to Logroño, and then Hondarribian, 4 days to do the day trips to San Sebastian, Bilbao, Biarritz, etc.. then to the Pyrenees, for two days, and Zaragoza two days.. and drive back to Madrid. Any suggestions?

You will feel more the taste of the wine country in Laguardia than in Logroño. Any of CathyM suggestions is very good. For cozy, very comfortable lodging in the Basque Country you may want to look in www.nekatur.net, a wide choice of rural housings at very good prices (and backed by the Basque government).

And you may want to check my blog on the Basque Country, http://mugalari.wordpress.com, some suggestions may be of interest during your visit.

Thank you mikelg, I am going to go to the website, and
decide, but I will follow your advise and CathyM. also.
You have been very helpful.

Is there a reason why you want to stay in Zaragoza for 2 nights? Honestly, I'd consider skipping Zaragoza this time round or at least only staying one night. I enjoyed Zaragoza but was underwhelmed (my opinion only, I'm sure others would disagree).

If I'm reading your itinerary correctly you're driving from Madrid to Logrono (or surrounding area) then staying 2 nights. This means you'll really only have one full day. I'd add a least one night in Logrono (or surrounding area). This will give you time to explore the quaint wine villages, visit the wine museum in Briones along with a couple of bodegas. If you drop both nights in Zaragoza you could add both nights to Logrono or one night in Logrono and an additional night in Hondarribia (4 nights seems like a long time but this area is not large geographically with plenty of places to keep you occupied).

Just thought I'd throw out another option.

What time of year is your trip?

I reserved at Villa de La Guardia, for two nights.
Thank you CathyM.
Know what about Zaragoza?
Thanks

I was in Logrono in April 2009 and stayed at the marvelous Marques de Vallejo hotel - rates were cheap and the furnishings clean and modern. The bathtub was AMAZING. We booked directly off their website. Staff could not have been more gracious and it is a very short walk to Calle Laurel and the tapas bars. Spent about 60 euros for one night. Would have happily paid twice as much.
http://www.hotelmarquesdevallejo.com

Then we went to Haro, also in La Rioja, and stayed here. http://www.hotellosagustinos.com/. One of the most memorable experience of my life. And we got it for only 60 euros a night.

Regarding the Villa de LaGuardia, if you didn't opt for a spa package you may want to inquire at the desk about specials. We hadn't planned on the 90 minute spa circuit (which has the best massage jets in their pool I've even felt!) but they were offering a 20 euro special AND 2 for 1. We had the place to ourselves - sitting in the spa pool with a view of the mountains and vineyards nearby - it was so relaxing and envigorating. I'm already thinking about returning in September....

Plenty of free parking at the hotel also - always a plus. It can cost upwards of 20 euros to park in some cities and adds up quickly.

Laguardia and Logroño are just 20´away by car. Laguardia is a mediaeval town that can be seen in just one day, but you can take wine excursions from there very easily. La Rioja wine region does not coincide with the Rioja political region. La Rioja is one autonomous community of the 17 in Spain (kind of "states"), whose capital is Logroño (a very small and walkable capital). Rioja wine region is divided into Rioja Alavesa (Basque Country), Rioja Alta (La Rioja) and Rioja Baja (mainly Navarra).

Regarding Zaragoza, in my opinion there´s only the Pilar Church to see and the fine buildings downtown. Scorching hot in summer, freezing cold in winter and in the middle of nowhere...Tudela, which is just a few kms away, is more worth the visit...Or Uncastillo, or Sos del Rey Católico.

Thank you mikelg, and usernameistaken, and CathyM., What
would I do without you guys.....?
I reserved the Spa at La Guardia, and I am going to look at
Tudela, and Un Castillo and the Parador Sos del Rey Catolico,
and decide, maybe from there I can do a day trip to Zaragoza.
THANKS again for your help.

For Cathym, you said you'd stayed at the Hotel Catalonia Zaragoza Plaza. We were considering booking there for our one-night stay en route from Hondarribia to Cuenca but read from one review that the hotel has neither a carpark nor valet parking. As I'm disabled (I can walk with a stick but cannot carry any cases), being able to either park under the hotel's auspices or through a valet parker becomes essential.

When you stopped there did you have a car and, if so, how did you handle it. I understand from a review that there isn't even a loading zone.

Thanks,
BigBlue

Blue: In such circumstances it might be worth contacting the hotel directly to discuss possibilities.

BigBlue-
Sorry but I did not have a car when I was in Zaragoza. I didn't pay much attention to the loading zone or parking situation. I agree that the best approach is to contact the hotel directly.

jubilada, my long experience has told me that if I want answers to such questions I stand a far better chance of getting accurate information from someone who has been to a place recently. On far more occasions than one I've been assured in writing by various properties of someone available to assist with cases when, in fact, they were not when I needed them: on my actual arrival well within their normal hours.

I see. Hope you can find the info you need.

Logroño is a great place to stay, and there are some really nice hotels which as quite affordable and quite central, too. We stayed there recently and got a great deal from www.logrono-hotels.com (I think that's the correct site). Anyway, you'll have a brilliant time if you taste the wine and the pincho's, which are both famous throughout Spain (and the world)!