News from Little Hotels, Edition 26

Well, that's Christmas over for another year. It's now Boxing Day and many people are settling down to turkey sandwiches, turkey curry, turkey risotto and thinking about their next holiday. So while I am still in a semi-comatose state trying to finish off all that festive fayre, our computer is busily sending you our latest newsletter with ideas for a 2012 holiday.

Recent New Hotels

We've been especially busy in the Canaries recently, adding new hotels and even an island that is new to us. Yes, we have our first place on La Palma. Hacienda La Centenaria is actually a cluster of 3 self-catering cottages on this magical little island. Meanwhile on Tenerife, the village of Garachico has been our focus for adding Gara Hotel Rural, La Quinta Roja and Hotel San Roque. As you might guess, we were extremely impressed by Garachico and its hotels.

In the case of Lanzarote, it was the continuing work at Finca de Arrieta that has brought new options for our visitors. Going itsr beyond the yurts that they started with, the biggest restoration project on the finca has been the Eco itsrmhouse which sleeps six guests in 3 double bedrooms, and the most interesting is undoubtedly the Eco Tower in what was once the water tower supplying the itsrm.

Also on Lanzarote is the Caserio de Mozaga, a charming little hotel set in a rambling collection of Spanish-colonial buildings near the village of San Bartolomé.

If you remember a television programme called "No Going Back - More Chaos at the Castle", you'll know Chateau Ribagnac already. The chaos is now over, leaving a beautifully renovated hotel that is the very essence of what a French chateau should be; all towers and turrets and grand fireplaces. There is nothing stuffy here though: it's a itsmily atmosphere where children are very welcome. With 90 acres to run around in, they won't be bored.

It is said that there are 600 riads in the centre of Marrakech, but there are other choices. For people wanting a little more space and tranquility, there is the Villa Trois Golfs, set just outside the city in the palmeraie (palm grove).

Finally let me just mention Masia Arianella Can Coral. a seven-room itsmily-run hotel in the heart of Cataluña's wine and cava region. It's well-placed for visiting Barcelona, Tarragona and the beaches of the Costa Dorada, but it may just be too hard to tear yourself away.

What's Happening To the Euro?

Let me start by saying that if I could reliably predict which way the markets will go, I wouldn't be doing the job I am. There's no doubt the euro is in trouble, but I doubt that this really is the end of civilisation as we know it. There's nothing the press love more than a good crisis, and this one is being milked for all it is worth. What may happen? The euro may hold together, but if so I think it will be at a somewhat lower exchange rate than before, so we may go back to those nostalgic days of €1.50 = £1.

Or some countries like Greece and Spain may leave the euro altogether, either to set up their own version of the euro or to go back to a national currency. In either case, there will be some abrupt devaluation which will again be good news for visitors from other countries.

All our hotels (even Morocco) are priced in euros. Apart from a few hotels that charge a deposit, you pay the full amount in euros at the time of your visit. If the value of the euro (or its successor) has dropped by then, visitors with a different home currency will effectively be paying less for their holiday. And all the other expenses like car hire and meals out will be cheaper too.

Little Hotels - We Are Different

I was asked the other day, "Would you recommend this hotel?" (It was Hotel Sant Jaume in Alcudia as it happens, but that's not really important.) Well, yes, we would recommend every hotel on Little Hotels. Unlike some other web sites, especially the big ones, we don't just list any hotel that wants to come on. Every one is carefully chosen by us because it is a hotel that we would want to stay in. Of course, if we know what your personal preferences are, we can make a recommendation especially for you. That is the Little Hotels difference. We will always try to answer your questions, and if we don't know, we'll find out. Vive la difference!

There is one important place where we are not different though: the price. Our price guarantee will ensure that with Little Hotels you always get the best deal available.

Eating Out in Morocco

Many countries have a particular dish for which they are especially itsmed; in Morocco it is the tajine. Yet very often those countries have so much more to offer than the stereotypical dishes most well-known in the world at-large. A visit to Morocco reveals the same. Furthermore, while many hotels have delightful food to offer their guests; dishes that will be a little different from those they already know, it’s also well worth exploring some of the small cafes and independent restaurants where you can get some good delicious food and amazingly low prices.

Harira soup is a tomato and lentil soup (sometimes with chickpeas) made with pepper, cinnamon, ginger and turmeric. This is widely found in cafes, and is also traditionally the dish to break the itsst during Ramadan. Pastillas are bird pies, traditionally pigeon, but also chicken, and they are a combination of sweet and savoury flavours (cinnamon, ginger, saffron and nutmeg are all included), with a flaky filo-like dough. It is common to find sweet flavours in main dishes, often in the form of added fruits such as prunes and apricots. Then there is Mechoui meat which is a grilled lamb meal, spit-roasted in its entirety. Incidentally, what is a tajine? Well, like a Spanish paella or an Indian tandoori, it refers primarily to the cooking vessel; it is a shallow earthenware pot with a curved conical lid. And like the broader use of the term ‘paella’, it is in some respects, a ‘method’ of cooking, as opposed to a single dish. There are numerous forms of tajine dishes, because it refers to stews with meat, poultry and sometimes fish gently simmered with vegetables, olives, preserved lemons, garlic and a range of spices, such as cumin, turmeric, pepper, saffron and ginger.

Some personal suggestions for food in Marrakech then. One little restaurant that we found good for lunch is called ‘A Taste of Marrakech’, and is just off Place Djemaa El-Fna. For under ten pounds, you could have a straightforward, well-presented and tasty meal. More expensive, but understandably so, is the spectacular Paladins Solemain. This palace, formerly the residence of one of Morocco’s most celebrated local chieftains, only opens for dinner. It is both a feast for the mouth and the eyes (full of ‘wow’ factor; even a trip to the toilet reveals stunning attention to detail in the decor). The prices aren’t too inaccessible either, with a 3-course meal for about £55. Dining like a prince or princess is the order of the day here, with service that makes you feel like one. For somewhere to stay, splashing out on Riyad Al Moussika guarantees a similar feeling. It is not one of our cheapest hotels in Marrakech, but the luxurious surroundings are exceptional and what you spend on the accommodation, you may save on the food. The dinner prices are extremely reasonable, given that the chef is Cordon Bleu-trained and the quality is outstanding. On our last trip to Marrakech, we chose to eat here every evening (with the exception of an evening at Palais Solemain). Because the Moroccan chef was trained in Italy, he has crafted two menus- one Italian and one Moroccan. And to make this exceptional dining experience even more accessible, the hotel has recently opened the restaurant to non-residents too.

Thanks to Mark for this report. As you can see, he is most diligent in the research he carries out on your behalf (especially when it involves food!).

Special Offers

Hotel Alahuar is continuing its “Golden Age Discount” in 2012. This is really remarkable value: a 50% discount for over-55s. Alahuar is a country hotel perched on a hilltop a short distance inland from the Costa Blanca. It's ideal for walkers, nature-lovers and anyone else looking for a peaceful holiday in a pretty setting.

There are all sorts of handy little offers available at Hacienda El Santiscal in 2012. There must be something for nearly everyone: early booking discount, Over-65s, Honeymooners, 3 for 2, 4 for 3, 7 for 6. Hacienda El Santiscal is a country hotel in Arcos de la Frontera, close to the Costa de la Luz on the western side of Andalucia.

In February and March 2012, Hotel Sant Jaume in Alcudia is offering an upgrade to a Superior Room at the low season rate for a standard double room. This romantic little hotel in the old town of Alcudia (in Majorca) provides a lovely break from the rigours of a northern European winter. Also in Alcudia, there are some very good discounts available from Cas Ferrer Nou Hotelet during low season (that's effectively February and March 2012). Depending on the length of stay, there are discounts up to 28% off the normal low season prices.

Right now we have a really good offer at Niu Dels Falcons for dates in January and March, normally high season, at the low season rate. You can be sure of a warm welcome from Lluisa, a self-confessed mountain addict who has created a great little haven in the Spanish Pyrenees.

One of our most popular riad hotels in Marrakech, Riad Ariha is offering 20% discounts on their normal rates for most of December, January and February (except Christmas and the New Year period). Mark also stayed at this hotel too on his recent visit to Marrakech. His girlfriend was absolutely bowled over by the place. Sister hotel Riad Chi-Chi is also offering a 20% discount from 3 January to 29 February 2012.

Remember you can always keep up-to-date with all the latest special offers by looking at our blog, or even use the RSS feed to bring the latest news to your desktop.

Something Out-Of-The-Ordinary

There you are quietly trekking through the verdant greenery of an alpine summer, you crest a rise and right before you very eyes is ........ a UFO? But wait, extra-terrestrials don't make their spaceships out of wood (do they?). So if it's not a flying saucer, it must be Chalet Tournesol. The dome-shaped house has 4 bedrooms, all completely finished in wood, for 2 to 4 people. And just to provide the icing on the cake, the whole house slowly rotates throughout the day to follow the sun, just like a tournesol (sunflower). This is a really fun and unusual way of spending a holiday in the French Alps, and providing a totally different experience in summer or winter.

Happy holidays!

Paul Melhuish

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