Hi<BR><BR>I just checked out www.solmelia.com. The only hotel I recognized from previous postings is the Tryp Ambassador in Madrid. I am looking at Madrid, Barcelona and Sevilla or San Sebastian (that's another posting altogether).<BR><BR>Is this chain of hotels recommended? thanks

Jerry: If you are not getting responses, it is probably because most people would know this chain as Melia hotels (Sol prefix is, I believe, for their resorts, not so familiar in North America). <BR><BR>I have stayed at a few of their hotels (not in the cities listed) and would recommend the chain - have always been very satisfied).<BR><BR>The following websites will give you access to a selection of hotels in various price ranges for Madrid and Barcelona (better than focusing on one chain).<BR><BR>http://www.softguides.com/madrid_guide/accommodation/accommodation.html<BR>http://www.softguides.com/barcelona/accommodation/accommodation.html<BR><BR>Also suggest, if you have not done so already, search on "Barcelona hotel" on this site. Once you have narrowed the choices down to 2-3 interesting propects (and have confirmed with the hotel that they have rooms available for your dates) repost asking for personal experiences.<BR><BR>Regards ... ger

I've stayed at one of their resorts in Mexico and liked it a lot.

Jerry<BR><BR>I have stayed frequently in Sol Melia Hotels. They are very professional, with good breakfasts, clean rooms with many of the hotels having recently undergone refurbishment. They are a very large chain - a sort of Spanish Holiday Inn and in the worlds top ten. I have stayed at The Melia Madrid Princessa, Melia Barcelona, and Melia Sevilla and would throughly recommend all of them.

There are many hotels that belong to Sol Melia in Sevilla, Madrid and Barcelona, not many in San Sebastian as it is much smaller. I have stayed sometimes at SolMelia always being satisfied. In Sevilla Melia Sevilla is well located between Viapol business area and the old city, it is modern and its service good. Tryp Colon is a classic hotel, probably with Alfonso XIII the most elegant and also enjoys a good situation by La Magdalena church in the city centre. Melia Lebreros is a business based hotel just in front of El Corte Ingles and Nervion Plaza Shopping Centre. For a honeymoon I would probably stay in one of the hotels mentioned in the other post. I also stayed at Tryp Ambassador some time ago and have good memories about it, its comfort, location, service and decoration.

I've stayed at the Tryp Ambassador in 1996 and we liked it. It's a great hotel in a really good location. I've also stayed at Sol Melia hotels in Mexico and they were really nice too. Good luck!

http://www.solmelia.com/cgi-bin/solmelia/dirdinamic/hotelhtml?12804<BR><BR>will take you to site for hotel in Madrid great place

The Sol-Melia hotel we use most frequently for business in Madrid is the "Melia Confort Galgos"-hard to beat their great wkd./holiday/July 15 thru Aug. rates and huge buffet brk. and quiet location in the pleasant Salamanca shopping/upmarket residential district. <BR>In Barcelona, the "Melia Barcelona" is located off the upper Diagonal in the norhtern business district, not at all convenient for quick sightseeing. I would check <BR>www.nh-hotels.com (click on the flag for English), and choose specifically the NH Calderon, in a great location on upscale Rambla de Catalunya in the attractive Modernist architecture-filled Eixample neighborhood. It's also within easy walking distance of Las Ramblas and the Barri Gotic. The NH is Spain's fastest growing chain (for the present just in Spain/Portugal), and most of its properties are kind of sleek and hip (postmodern furniture, lighting), very up to date, lots of in-room amenities, lots of bathroom "goodies" (even with specially chosen give-aways for its female guests), they're smoothly, efficiently run and have good wkd. and "book way ahead" rates. When traveling for business in Spain's major cities, we often use a mixture of Melia and NH chain hotels. We also like the Madrid 3 star NH Lagasca (Salamanca district)and the 4 star NH Abascal (very, very nice).<BR><BR>For San Sebastian, though, we prefer the Best Western Europa, just a block from La Concha beach or the Hotel Costa Vasca (with pool) right above Ondarreta beach. The NH Aranzazu is on Ondarreta but the Costa Vasca has a garden, larger rooms and more spacious grounds. But for luxury in S.S, I'd choose the Westin Maria Cristina (part of the Starwood group). Off season (not summer or during the Sept. film festival), they have surprisingly affordable rates.<BR><BR>Hope this helps.<BR>Maribel