News from Little Hotels, Edition 15

Hello again from Little Hotels! It's the height of summer, the sun is shining, the crickets are chirruping, and it's time to bring you the latest edition of our newsletter. As usual, we will start off with a round-up of a few new additions:

Recent New Hotels

Bilbao hardly featured on the tourist map before the coming of the Guggenheim Museum, but now it has become a must-see destination. A stay in the Iturrienea Ostatua though shows that there is much more to Bilbao than a museum of modern art. Iturrienea Ostatua is a charmingly understated hotel in the old quarter, known as Las Siete Calles; the seven streets that made up the original Bilbao.

In contrast, Hostal Blau is a charming little village guesthouse in the equally charming medieval village of Peratallada. Then just down the road in the next village, just as charming, just as medieval, we have added El Reces de Corça, a little hotel that gets absolutely fabulous reviews.

Pollensa, on the north corner of Mallorca has always been a favourite of Margaret and I, so it's nice to bring you Ca'l Lloro, a hotel that looks straight out onto the Plaza Mayor (the main square). It's very well adapted to the needs of disabled and less nimble visitors, so we're glad to have another offering that fits that bill.

For those who want to wander far from the beaten track, we can't think of anything much further from the usual tourist trail than La Ramallosa. Way out in Extremadura, nearly on the Portugal border, this hotel has risen like a phoenix from an abandoned hamlet of agricultural cottages. Bring your phrase book.

Granada is an ever popular destination for Little Hotels clients, hardly surprising because the Alhambra really is one of the seven wonders of the world. The newly opened Muralla Ziri Apartments are luxuriously appointed and look out across the valley straight towards the Alhambra Palace. One of the two historic houses that make up the Muralla Ziri apartments contains a part of the 11th century city wall that was built on the instruction of the first of the Kings of Granada.

Not Forgetting Little Hotels of Morocco......

We're gradually adding more hotels and riads to Little Hotels of Morocco. I'll mention just one here: the Riad Fes in Fez. It's absolutely gorgeous!

No Surcharges!

On 15 June the Sunday Telegraph ran a headline "Cost of Trips Soars as Tour Operators Ask For More". Not at Little Hotels! This year our annual random price comparison showed us "only" 29% cheaper than the competition. At the time we hypothesised that the saving was less this year because our calculation took account of the drop in the value of the pound while the brochure-based tour operators were still publishing prices based on last year's exchange rate. It couldn't last of course, so now the surcharges are hitting home and our 29% saving looks rather conservative. What's more, if the exchange rate swings back the other way, Little Hotels customers will benefit immediately.

Spreading the Word

A little hotel in Jerez contacted us recently to enquire about being listed on Little Hotels of Spain. They told us they had had several guests recently who mentioned our website and suggested they should go on it. Naturally, they shot to the top of our shortlist; we've had a look at it and are suitably impressed, so that is another hotel we will be adding shortly. Thanks to whoever mentioned our name there. (Cortijo Los Malenos came on to our website some time ago by a similar route.)

Own Label Wine

We went to a friend's wedding a couple of weeks ago and were rather impressed to find that the wine at the reception was specially labelled for the occasion: "Marriage of John and Houria....... etc". We were even more impressed when we looked more closely and saw that the photo on the label had been taken at the ceremony only an hour earlier. The wonders of modern technology combined with the time-honoured skills of a master vintner; no wonder a good time was had by all! Our congratulations again to John and Houria.

Summer Bargains

The hotels that you find on Little Hotels generally don't have too much trouble in filling their rooms and that's why we always advise booking well in advance in order to get just the hotel, the dates and the room that you want. Occasionally though, hotels will do a special promotional offer so if you're still looking to get away to the sun this summer, take a look at these:
Riad Al Moussika in Marrakech. Book at least 3 nights and get an extra night free. Available through the first half of August.
La Posada del Torcal near Malaga. All-inclusive summer breaks until 5 September.
Palacio de San Benito in Cazalla. Astonishing mid-week prices until the end of August.
Son Amoixa Vell in Mallorca. Discounts during July and August, if there are any rooms left!
Finca de Las Salinas on Lanzarote. Special prices for July and August. If the Canaries are good in winter, just think how good they are in summer!

Happy holidays!

Paul Melhuish

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