Spain Trip

Madrid is the capital of Spain and is located on the Manzanares River. The city is considered by many as the world center of bullfighting.

Aside from its famed bullfighting hosted at the largest Plaza de Toros (bullring) in Spain, Madrid is known for its array of art museums such as Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía and Museo Nacional del Prado (Prado Musem), which includes exhibits that display the city’s cultural and artistic heritage. Madrid is also famous for its architectural art, like the Palacio Real de Aranjuez, which houses a collection of medieval weapons and armor.

Other major tourist attractions include Puerta del Sol, the Plaza Mayor and Plaza de Colón. To purchase some traditional crafts or artwork, walk along the upscale shops on Gran Vía, which is one of the main shopping streets in Madrid. Or ride a Segway (personal transport device) past the chic restaurants and historical buildings along the streets of Madrid on a Madseg tour.

Puerta del Sol (Sun Gate) is the most popular and commercial area in the old town. Five hundred years ago it was just another city gate with an image of the sun drawn on it, hence its name. Nowadays, the square is famous for being the center of the national road network. The plaque on the pavement outside the old Post Office building denotes 'kilometer 0'. The distance between Madrid and every other part of Spain is measured from here. Thousands of revelers gather in the square once a year to await the chimes of the clock that officially announces the New Year.

Palacio Real is the former royal residence that houses a fantastic collection of paintings (Velázquez, Caravaggio and Goya), sculptures, furniture, tapestries, glassware, gold and silverware, medals, porcelain and musical instruments. It is well worth visiting the rooms decorated by Gasparini as well as the Royal Pharmacy, the Library, and the Royal Armory. King Felipe V commissioned the Italian architect Sabatini to design the palace, and the work was carried out between 1738-1770.

The hotel is located approximately nine miles away from the Madrid Airport, and is situated in Plaza de las Descalzas, very close to the Historic convent. Hotel amenities include interior access, car rental, storage space, elevators and 24-hour front desk service. Room amenities include telephones, voicemail, Wi-Fis, cable TVs, and hairdryers.

Considered one of the world's most important art galleries, it exhibits paintings by Goya, Velázquez, Murillo, Zurbarán, El Greco, Ribera, Titian, Boticelli, Tintoretto, El Bosco, Rubens, Van Dyck, Poussin and Durer. Carlos III commissioned Juan de Villanueva to design this beautiful building, which was converted into an art gallery in 1819. In July of 2005 the Council of Ministers approved an expansion plan which increases the museum's total space by 50%, and allows for 500 more works of the permanent collection to be showcased. On October 30, 2007, the annex opened with a collection of 19th-century Spanish artwork which enabled the Prado to reclaim its glory as a crown jewel of Europe. Come for the art; stay for the architecture.

The hotel is located approximately nine miles away from the Madrid Airport, and is situated in Plaza de las Descalzas, very close to the Historic convent. Hotel amenities include interior access, car rental, storage space, elevators and 24-hour front desk service. Room amenities include telephones, voicemail, Wi-Fis, cable TVs, and hairdryers.

The hotel is located approximately nine miles away from the Madrid Airport, and is situated in Plaza de las Descalzas, very close to the Historic convent. Hotel amenities include interior access, car rental, storage space, elevators and 24-hour front desk service. Room amenities include telephones, voicemail, Wi-Fis, cable TVs, and hairdryers.

Barcelona is the capital of Spain’s Catalonia region and is the second largest city in the country. With a wealth of unique historic architecture and a modern flair, it has emerged as one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe.

Barcelona has many quarters, but the most important and interesting for visitors are: Ciutat Vella, Barcelona’s old town, with the medieval Barri Gotic; Eixample, the modernist quarter noted for its art nouveau buildings; Gràcia, a lively, gentrified working class neighborhood; and Barceloneta, historically a fisherman's quarter.

The most famous boulevard in Barcelona is La Rambla, where visitors can see street performers jump out at unsuspecting passers-by, enjoy the flower and pet stalls or just sit back and watch all of Barcelona walk by. La Plaça Reial is located next to La Rambla in the Ciutat Vella, and is considered to be one of the most beautiful squares in the world.

Barcelona is a mecca for fans of world-famous architect Antonio Gaudí. La Pedrera (or Casa Milà) is a Gaudí creation which hosts a large exposition of his works. Park Güell is a large park with a sculpture portion, full of walkways and distinct and colorful Gaudí sculptures. Finally, there’s Gaudí’s life project and grandest undertaking, the still-unfinished La Sagrada Família. This massive cathedral has been under construction for over 125 years!

If you’re a soccer freak, you can’t miss a visit to Camp Nou, the home ground for Barcelona’s biggest and most popular team (FC Barcelona), and one of Europe’s greatest soccer ‘cathedrals.’ 

Las Ramblas, a road cutting through the heart of Barcelona, is dominated by people traversing on foot, with two lanes for cars being narrow and the sidewalks being wide. This is the perfect first stop for travelers who enjoy walking and wish to get an overall sense of the city. During the day you will be absorbed by the bustling atmosphere--shops and restaurants line the crowded walkways--while at night the southern half of the street tends to transform into a slightly more seedy area. Meet new people, get some casual exercise, or just take in the views; preferably on a sunny afternoon.

This section goes from Pla de l'Os to Pla del Teatre. The famous Liceu Theatre and a Joan Miró mosaic can both be seen in this part of Barcelona's Ramblas. The Liceu Theatre was bombed by anarchists at the turn of the 20th century and there was a devastating fire here in 1995. However, it has now been totally refurbished and is in excellent condition. There is a statue outside the theatre in honor of the Catalan playwright, Serafí Pitarra. This area is a mass of contradictions — it is here that the wealthy middle-classes rub shoulders with the poorer folk from the adjoining Raval district. Don't miss Plaça Reial, on the left, which has to be seen to be appreciated.

The Eurostars Ramblas Boqueria is strategically positioned in one of the main streets in Barcelona: Las Ramblas. This hotel is ideal for visiting the sights of the city centre. The Barcelona?s Cathedral is only a few steps away, as are the atmospheric and lively narrow streets of the Old Town. A five minutes walk will take one to the main square of Placa de Catalunya.The hotel offers service such as 24-hour front desk, laundry service, wake-up service, and air-conditioning. Free Wireless internet is available in the hotel.All rooms have a view over two of the most emblematic landmarks in the city, Las Ramblas and the Boqueria market. The soundproofed rooms are fully equipped with air-conditioning, heating, and satellite TV and are nicely decorated in neutral colors, minimalistic style. Tranquility and comfort are guaranteed during one?s stay.

The Eurostars Ramblas Boqueria is strategically positioned in one of the main streets in Barcelona: Las Ramblas. This hotel is ideal for visiting the sights of the city centre. The Barcelona?s Cathedral is only a few steps away, as are the atmospheric and lively narrow streets of the Old Town. A five minutes walk will take one to the main square of Placa de Catalunya.The hotel offers service such as 24-hour front desk, laundry service, wake-up service, and air-conditioning. Free Wireless internet is available in the hotel.All rooms have a view over two of the most emblematic landmarks in the city, Las Ramblas and the Boqueria market. The soundproofed rooms are fully equipped with air-conditioning, heating, and satellite TV and are nicely decorated in neutral colors, minimalistic style. Tranquility and comfort are guaranteed during one?s stay.

Antoni Gaudí, the architect who built this jewel of Catalan modernism, wanted the facade to reflect his romantic and anti-classical ideas about design. It was built for the Milà family between 1906 and 1910. Neither the family nor the public were much impressed, and it was dubbed La Pedrera (stone quarry) as an insult. Only later in 1984, it won great acclaim when the UNESCO declared it a World Heritage Site. Now internationally celebrated, Casa Mila is a prime example of Gaudi's civil architecture; it is aesthetically interesting and unique as well as outstandingly practical.

Antoni Gaudí began this utterly surreal temple in 1882 and it is still being constructed. It was originally intended to be a modest, neo-Gothic church, but it has become the most famous building in Barcelona. Gaudí broke away from the reigning neo-Gothic style of the late 19th and early 20th centuries and imbued every element of the Sagrada Família with symbolic meaning. Turtles form the base of columns: the Chinese symbol of order within chaos, and the pillars are palm trees. The most outstanding feature of this building is its baroque style, and the mixture of colors and the diversity of materials used: plaster, ceramics, mosaic, iron and many types of stone.

The Eurostars Ramblas Boqueria is strategically positioned in one of the main streets in Barcelona: Las Ramblas. This hotel is ideal for visiting the sights of the city centre. The Barcelona?s Cathedral is only a few steps away, as are the atmospheric and lively narrow streets of the Old Town. A five minutes walk will take one to the main square of Placa de Catalunya.The hotel offers service such as 24-hour front desk, laundry service, wake-up service, and air-conditioning. Free Wireless internet is available in the hotel.All rooms have a view over two of the most emblematic landmarks in the city, Las Ramblas and the Boqueria market. The soundproofed rooms are fully equipped with air-conditioning, heating, and satellite TV and are nicely decorated in neutral colors, minimalistic style. Tranquility and comfort are guaranteed during one?s stay.

The Room Mate Leo is a design hotel located in Granada, Spain, short distance from Granada cathedral, the Royal Chapel, the Moorish Alhambra palace and the Federico Garcia Lorca Park.The hotel has a roof terrace on the top floor with views of Granada and the Alhambra palace. The hotel offers a complimentary buffet breakfast to all guests and complimentary wireless Internet access is available throughout the hotel.The 33 air-conditioned guestrooms are all decorated in a contemporary style, and have plasma screen TVs, complimentary wireless Internet access, desks, minibars, safes, and telephones.

The Room Mate Leo is a design hotel located in Granada, Spain, short distance from Granada cathedral, the Royal Chapel, the Moorish Alhambra palace and the Federico Garcia Lorca Park.The hotel has a roof terrace on the top floor with views of Granada and the Alhambra palace. The hotel offers a complimentary buffet breakfast to all guests and complimentary wireless Internet access is available throughout the hotel.The 33 air-conditioned guestrooms are all decorated in a contemporary style, and have plasma screen TVs, complimentary wireless Internet access, desks, minibars, safes, and telephones.

Madrid is the capital of Spain and is located on the Manzanares River. The city is considered by many as the world center of bullfighting.

Aside from its famed bullfighting hosted at the largest Plaza de Toros (bullring) in Spain, Madrid is known for its array of art museums such as Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía and Museo Nacional del Prado (Prado Musem), which includes exhibits that display the city’s cultural and artistic heritage. Madrid is also famous for its architectural art, like the Palacio Real de Aranjuez, which houses a collection of medieval weapons and armor.

Other major tourist attractions include Puerta del Sol, the Plaza Mayor and Plaza de Colón. To purchase some traditional crafts or artwork, walk along the upscale shops on Gran Vía, which is one of the main shopping streets in Madrid. Or ride a Segway (personal transport device) past the chic restaurants and historical buildings along the streets of Madrid on a Madseg tour.

Zurich, Switzerland’s largest city, is located at the northwestern end of Lake Zurich at the mouth of the Limmat River, which divides the city in two. The modern heart of Zurich, including the train station and most churches, is on the west side of the river, while the hillier east is home to the little alleys of Old Town and the hip drinking spots of Niederdorfstrasse.

Contrary to popular belief, Zurich is not the capital of Switzerland (which is Bern), just its largest city. Zurich has long been known as a clean, efficient city, but it is also a truly fascinating and worthwhile travel destination. Zurich boasts an increasingly cosmopolitan population, though the more buttoned-down Geneva remains Switzerland's most culturally heterogeneous city.

The iconic symbol of Zurich is St. Peter Church, which has the largest clock face in Europe. A great place to relax around town is Lake Promenade, with a long lakeside boardwalk and a meadow where you can find thousands of people on a sunny day. You can get free bikes, skates or other fun transport at several stops throughout town, though be sure to watch out for buses and trams. Zurich also has several nearby ski areas that are easily accessible by train.

Of course, Zurich is as good a place as any to procure rich Swiss chocolate, precise Swiss clocks and watches and real Swiss army knives. You can always get some banking done here, too.

A small intimate house in the city center offering traditionally designed rooms/ some with lake view/ a breakfast room and a reading room. Its twenty-four rooms are located on four floors. Each room has a private bath writing desk television phone and minibar. Some rooms have a safe and/or a bed sofa. ***Additional city tax of CHF 2.50 per person, day will apply*** Utell Value Selection - Takes pride in creating a friendly and informal atmosphere, providing excellent value for money for both business and leisure stays.

The Fraumünster is famed for its incredibly colorful stained-glass windows, designed by Marc Chagall. The church was, however, built a long time before the window was created and was a present from Ludwig des Deutschen (literally, "Ludwig of the Germans") to his daughter, who was the first Abbess of the ladies' chapter. Not only did she rule over extensive territory, she also had a private mint; however, only the cloister and church with its romantic choir and Gothic nave were spared the wrath of the Reformation. The tower on the left-hand side of the building was erected in 1732 and presents a refreshing antithesis to the nearby twin towers of the Grossmünster.

The Grossmunster is possibly Zurich's best-known landmark. The crypt, dating from the latter part of the 11th century, counts amongst the oldest surviving elements of the original Carolingian Münster (or cathedral). The 12th century brought the introduction of the nave and its impressive cloister, while the galleried basilica dates from a later period. The imposing twin towers displaying elements of Roman, gothic and new gothic styles, along with the frequently altered plans for extensions, caused a lengthy building phase. In 1762 the bell tower was destroyed by fire and following this the twin towers were given their present characteristic design. It was as a result of the reformation that the Grossmünster was transformed into the more soberly designed religious building it is today. It is a top tourist attraction for fans of architecture.