Why can't more cities be like Barcelona

Barcelona – The Ultimate Short Break City Break

Barcelona, the capital of Catalunya, offers a wide choice of boutique and luxury hotels. Barcelona is a great choice for shopping, sightseeing, sipping Rioja, taking in a pintxos (Catalan version of a tapas) bar, seafood restaurants, bars, nightlife, beautiful people, beaches and some of the best hotels in Europe…so where better for a weekend trip to  the stunning city of Barcelona… Here are a few pointers to help your planning. Getting the location of the hotel right is essential in any city and choosing a boutique or luxury hotel in Barcelona is no different. Have a look at Eixample or the new area of @22, close to the seafront.

To orientate you around this city and to make sure you see as many sights and sound of this beautiful city either explore using the extensive Metro network, or jump on one of the hop on, hop off sightseeing buses, taking in all the key areas including Sagrada Familia, the Gaudi church, one of the longest running construction projects in the World, after work started in 1882. Gaudi’s finger prints are all over Barcelona, one of his other well-known project s is Casa Batlló…

Head up to the 1992 Olympic stadium, and take in the shops on Avenguda Diaganol, Gran Via and Placa Catalunya. One of the largest and most colourful markets in Barcelona is the Mercat de la Boqueria located right on Las Ramblas. Stroll down Barcelona’s most famous street and head out towards the sea and beach area via the modern promenade

Barcelona really comes to life at night and whatever your style of nightlife then Barcelona has it all:

Head to Passeig El Born in the El Born district for an authentic view of Barcelona at night.

Rambla de Raval is a bit more edgy, and if you are looking for a vibrant gay scene then look no further… plus in the summer months Sitges is about 30 minutes away

Last time we were there we found Poble Sec to be pretty hip and happening. If sipping cocktails is more your style then head over to Port Olimpic. Most clubs are open until 3am, some until 6 am... and if you a really need to cool off then head to the sub-zero temperatures in the Ice Bar… and don’t go to bed until you’ve checked out our favourite club ROW14 http://www.row14.es/webapp/agenda - if you spend your Summer’s in Ibiza and you are missing the White Isle then this venue might just help ease you through those long winter months

But don’t rule some of the amazing hotels Barcelona  for a night out (or in) The W Hotel Barcelona is an experience in its own right with the Eclipse Bar located 26 floor up…. On some nights top dj’s will entertain you and we think the cocktails are some of the best we’ve tasted

Check Out Our Choice of Barcelona Hotels and treat yourself to a few days in this great city

Hotel in London For New Year's Eve - Start Planning Today Before Prices Go Up

Forget Halloween there are only 9 weeks to go until New Year…and where better to spend New Year on the eve of 2012.. why Lonodon of course. Savvy people book their London Hotel now because there are also some really good London Hotel Offers for New Year’s Eve if you plan ahead – and from our experience most people don’t. And as we get closer to New Year’s Eve then the hotels prices go up as they start to fill the rooms – similar to the way Low Cost Airlines manage their prices. With 2012 of course being Olympic year it’s a pretty decent assumption that Mayor Boris will want to put on an extra special night to announce to the World that London is ready and waiting to see the host city. So don’t miss out or find yourself saying you’d wished you’d planned ahead for this New Year’s Eve.. of all the New Year’s Eve’s in London surely the passing of 2011 and the arrival of 2012 promises to be the best, and judging by last year’s fireworks then probably the biggest New Year’s Eve party in the World… be part of it, enjoy it and wake up on the first day of 2012 in a boutique or luxury London hotel.. what a perfect start to what promises to be a historic year for London

And for an even more compelling argument you may not have realised that this year New Years Eve falls on a Saturday night...so you dont have to back at work until Tuesday 3rd January... so go on and make a weekend of it 

Our favourite London Hotels: Andaz at Liverpool Street, almost a hop, skip and a jump from the Olympic Stadium at Stratford.. get even closer at the Town Hall Hotel & Apartments in Bethnal Green… If you prefer heading West then why not try the Jumeirah Lowndes in Cadogan Place, or The Metropolitan Hotel just off Park Lane. 

To search all of our available New Years Eve London Hotels then just click here 

5 Star London Hotels This Weekend from £155

5 Star London Hotels This Weekend from £155

So what to do with the next weekend.. let’s face it, after the gloriously sunny one we’ve just had you know next weekend just won't compare.. so even more reason to treat yourself and your partner to a weekend in London. And if you hurry you can take advantage of some great hotel offers for some of London’s best hotels..

How about staying in the converted Town Hall Hotel and Apartments from £155 per room for Saturday night. This Bethnal Green Hotel is a real urban treat with great bars and restaurants on your doorstep, and Hoxton Square and Shoreditch not far away.

Slightly further East the Andaz Hotel at Liverpool Street is perfect for hopping on the Central Line to head West, or for a short walk across to Spitalfields and Brick Lane.. £161 gets you a double room this Saturday night

If you prefer to be on Park Lane then the Intercontinental Park Lane is currently available at £199 for a double room. Just a short walk to Bond Street, and of course Hyde Park. The West End is in easy reach for all that London’s West End offers…the bars, the restaurants, the theatre.. and the people…

To search our London Hotels then have a look at our hand-picked hotel section at: http://www.boutixury.com/London/