chapla

Always hard to find hotels for a friend but you did come up with a good one, Vincci Soho!( my studio apt faces the back of this hotel!) Up a little on the same street is Hotel Catalonia Cortes.All great hotels and a couple of minutes from your apt.If he wants super luxury then there's the Westin Palace and Hotel Villa Real, about 3-4 minutes away from you!

dodi66

You are all so very helpful!! I eliminated the Santa Ana ones, and thank you for catching that one of the Lupe de Vega ones was ground floor...I also eliminated that one!! I can not find a listing on SpainSelect for Leon II. I haven't put any dates in (mostly because we don't have firm dates yet!)so that can't be why. Only ones I still have listed on the 2 Lupe de Vega ones....is there another area that would be nice? I would like to see the Leon II also, it sounds like a perfect area, with many rave recommendations....with 2 couples splitting the cost, we have more leeway with the budget.

BumbleB6

dodi66, depending on what your dates are, all of the rentals may not come up, if they are booked or unavailable. I only remember seeing the Leon 1 for my search...

weekender, thank you!! That looks very nice, and I think on par with what he's looking for. I will tell him about it. I also found the NH Paseo del Prado which is nearby...

Weekender

Bumble:

I have also recently stayed at the Villa Real which is just across the Plaza Cortes from the Westin. Very nice hotel and a great staff. Rooms are not as elaborate but very, very comfortable. Not as expensive either.

www.hotelvillareal.com

dodi66

We were confusing them, or, at least I was!! I thought you were referring to one called "LEON II"!! This one, Lope de Vega II, was my 1st choice....glad to hear that it is a GOOD choice!! On your post of Sept 15, chapla, you said that you "highly recommend Leon II". Was it actually LOPE de VEGA II that you were referring to? Are you as familiar with the areas of Barcelona, Seville, and San Sebastian? I'll be searching for apts there as well!

BumbleB6

Thanks again, weekender - that one looks nice as well. And these are all 5 min from our rental; ideal.

kimhe

<However, my friend is looking for something "luxurious>
Then maybe Reina Victoria right on Plaza Santa Ana:
http://memadridreinavictoria.madridhotels.it/
http://www.booking.com/hotel/es/meli...-victoria.html

Barcelona: Generally upscale Eixample or vibrant El Born.
Sevilla: touristy but beautiful Santa Cruz or much more local atmosphere and still central San Vicente/San Lorenzo.
San Sebastian: all of the central area in this small city, but stay out of the noisy Parte Vieja/Old town. Antything between the cathedral and the La Concha Beach/Old town is excellent, so are most things close to the Zurriola Beach in the Gros neighbourhood just across the city river Urumea.

chapla

Lope de Vega II it is! They are all so close in name and location, easy to confuse!I can't comfortably recommend any other apts in Spain but I'm sure there will be others posters who can.
Just be prepared for probably double prices in San Sebastian.Try to visit before or after the high summer season.I have visited SS a total of 5 times and can just warn you to try to find a place NOT in the old part of town-it's super noisy/crowded.I love the area near the FNAC store and supermarket a few minutes from the beach.Beautiful buildings from about the 1920's.I don't know how long you plan to stay in SS but I would suggest a hotel would be a better option.I have stayed at the hotel Zaragoza 3 times and it's clean,one block from beach and easy walk to town.
Goto booking.com to get some ideas for more hotels and apts.

cruiseluv

BumbleB,

For hotel, may I suggest Catalonia Las Cortes, on Calle Prado, a short block from Plaza Santa Ana and 2 mins walking to Calle Leon. I just stayed there this summer and found it a lovely boutique hotel. On a bit more upscale way I can recommend Villa Real and the Westin Palace. Enjoy!

BumbleB6

Thank you, cruiseluv!

dodi66

Thank you all so much! kimhe and chapla, the area suggestions and advice is very helpful. I will do some research and repost a new topic with some ideas for your input, please. Yes,chapla, I will go to booking.com for hotel and apt ideas...did not know that they do apts, but have used them for hotels. Chapla, why would a hotel be a better option in SS, over an apt? We will be in SS for 5-6 nights, in either Sept or April.

chapla

In April you may be able to find an apt for a more reasonable rate but when you start adding/buying food ..... I think in the end with a hotel you would be able to enjoy going out and having the great food experience that SS is famous for.
Be prepared for iffy weather in April-lots of wind/rain.
September would be a better weather choice but watch out for the San Sebastian Film Festival!

dodi66

That makes sense about the hotel in SS, but when we travel with another couple (as in this case), we like having the extra space that an apt provides, plus it is usually cheaper than renting 2 hotel rooms. We don't do real cooking, usually just breakfast foods and snacks and wine, it's just nice to have the kitchen sometimes, and I usually look for washer/dryer in the unit since we travel very light. Believe me, we will be having the "great food experience" of SS!!! I think for SS, I will check into both apt and hotel, and compare. Would like to go in Sept, not sure if we can get it all together by then, so then we would have to take our chances with April!! Thank you so much for all your input!!

chapla

http://www.rentalia.com/holiday-apar...stian-id22247/

I just remembered this website that I have used many times.It will give you a better idea of how the apt rates with the season in SS.

mamamia2

Check Eric Vökel apartments. They have 2 locations in Madrid (as well as in Barcelona and some other cities in Europe), we stayed in the Atocha location which is very close to the train station but also to some of Madrid's most famous museums, still on a quiet side street. The building is less than 2 years old, very modern, clean and well kept, and with all the appliances needed, even a washer-dryer...

http://www.ericvokel.com/hotel?id=madrid-atocha-suites

dodi66

Thanks, Chapla and mammamia2....nice sites, I will do further research...there are a lot to chose from!! It does seem that an apt in San Sebastian for 2 couples would be less expensive than 2 hotel rooms, chapla.

chapla

Have fun looking,always hard to know what someone's budget is but now you have some good leads. SS-lovely place and the tiniest airport I've ever been to-easy bus ride into town!

sandralist

But mammamia:

I was just reading another thread you said you didn't like Madrid and one of the main reasons you cited was that it was "dirty." Since that would not be most people's description of Madrid at all I asked you in that thread where you had stayed. Now I see here you stayed around the main train station -- which is almost always the shabbiest area of any city.

Whatever the amenities of the apartment I think the train station location might leave a lot of people with a distorted picture of a very elegant and sophisticated city.

mamamia2

Are you stalking me, Sandra?

Momddtravel2

Here is my review on TA

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserR...view_206155437