Hotel Akelarre

One of Madrid’s newest boutique hotels, set among noble residences and grand embassies, the Hotel Urso has quickly become one of the hottest and trendiest places to lay your head.

Housed in an early 20th-century palace, its neoclassical style gives off an air of sophistication, while its well-appointed interiors are comfortable and stylish.

Its six categories of guest rooms and suites range in size, bed type and views, yet all feature contemporary Scandi-chic-style décor and calming tones.

Wake up to breakfast each morning in the light-filled conservatory, decorated in Oriental-inspired 18th century wallpaper and bamboo plants. When you’re ready to head out and explore, you’ll find sites such as the Madrid History Museum, the National Museum of Romanticism and the vast Retiro Park, located close by.

Wind down after your day in the plush wood-panelled spa, offering a variety of massages and specialised skincare treatments. And when you’re fully relaxed, head to the sleek Urso Bar for cocktails and gourmet Spanish tapas, made from ingredients sourced at the local Mercado de Barceló. The hotel restaurant, ½ Ración, which means ‘half portion’ offers cuisine based on the traditional Madridian food.

In the beautiful village of Deia, a longstanding muse for poets, artists and musicians, and cradled by the Tramuntana Mountains, La Residencia is one of Spain’s finest hotels. Wonderfully secluded among olive and citrus groves, close to the sea, it is the ultimate Mallorcan hideaway.

67 rooms and suites span two lovingly restored manor house from the 16th and 17th centuries, each with understated antiques, rich fabrics and paintings by local artists. All the rooms offer views out to the mountains and surroundings gardens.

For the utmost privacy, there is villa with four bedrooms and its own swimming pool.

Guests are truly spoilt for choice when it comes to dining, with the acclaimed El Olivo serving carefully created local dishes in a most elegant of settings. There’s also the relaxed Cafe Miro bistro and bar, great for tapas and cocktails in the evening, and a restaurant by one of La Residencia’s fabulous swimming pools.

There is an abundance of opportunities to explore this wonderful corner of the island, with boat cruises touring the coast, Vespas for hire, cultural tours into the village and beyond, art classes and hikes. Guests can also relax at the beach or unwind back at the resort in the award-winning spa, perhaps with yoga and tai chi lessons.

A bustling city full of art and culture, and a prime location by the sea, Barcelona really does have the best of both worlds. Overlooking Port Olympic and out across the Mediterranean, Hotel Arts Barcelona is the perfect place to experience everything this vibrant city has to offer.

The hotel was built to coincide with the 1992 Olympic Games and is an impressive feat of engineering, with 44 storeys of blue glass and exposed steel. A height advantage means that each of the 483 rooms and suites comes with spectacular sea or city views.

Head to the terraced gardens and outdoor pool, and you’ll find yourself side by side with Frank Gehry’s 52m golden fish sculpture that twinkles in a multitude of shades as the sun moves through the sky.

For some serious rest and relaxation, be sure to visit the 43rd-floor spa with its hydrotherapy pools, sauna, steam room and treatment rooms. There is also a fully equipped gym.

Barcelona is well known for having its finger on the culinary pulse and the hotel has its own two Michelin-starred restaurant. Enoteca serves innovative cuisine inspired by the food and produce of the Mediterranean with an emphasis on seafood. The hotel has four other restaurants and a bar.

Opposite the Guggenheim Museum, Gran Hotel Domine Bilbao is itself a piece of modern architecture and has a particularly striking atrium by Javier Mariscal. This icon of contemporary luxury is a meeting point for the arts, culture and creativity in a constantly evolving cosmopolitan city.

Rooms stand out for their spaciousness and light and for their elegant and timeless style. Many of them feature views of the Guggenheim Museum.

The hotel offers its guests various special spaces such as the breakfast terrace with impressive panoramic views of the city. The Sixty-One is a cozy and versatile lobby bar where guests can enjoy sophisticated cocktails and delicious snacks.

Beltz Restaurant and Bistro Le Café offer an elegant or casual atmosphere where delicious dishes prepared with specially selected fresh products from the region are served.

After a day out exploring the nearby galleries and shops, relax back at Wellness by Domine offering a gym and a relaxation zone space dedicated to wellbeing where guests may also enjoy all kinds of relaxing massages and personalised therapeutic health and beauty treatments.