ScheckTrek: Spain

Michelle Obama was in the news last week regarding her upscale vacation in Spain. One thing we learned is that our First Lady has excellent taste in hotels – and far be it from this writer to cast stones at that.

Mrs. Obama visited Marabella, in the region of Andalusia, which is in southern Spain – a region bordered by the Atlantic, the Strait of Gibraltar, and the Mediterranean Sea. Its capital and largest city is Seville, and the region is graced with magnificent Moorish architecture.

This research has shown me that Spain has a lot of hotel bargains. According to Splendia.com, rates at the palatial Hotel Villa Padierna, where Mrs. Obama stayed, start at $266. Of course it goes up from then, but even so, when you see the quality of this Ritz Carlton property, perhaps you’ll see why I call it a bargain.

My pick for the Andalusia region of Spain is the same as Michelle Obama’s: the Hotel Villa Padierna.

Photo from HuffingtonPost.com

Photo from Hotel-Rates.com

Photo from HuffingtonPost.com

Photo from Hotel-rates.com

Photo from HuffingtonPost.com

Photo from Hotel-Rates.com

And I saved my favorite photo for last. Imagine getting ready in this bathroom!

Photo from Splendia.com

As long as we’re in Spain, why don’t we check out the Canary Islands for the fun of it?

The Canary Islands are a Spanish archipelago located off the northwest coast of mainland Africa. The international boundary of the Canaries is actually a subject of dispute between Spain and Morocco. The boundary is relevant for possible seabed oil deposits and other ocean resource exploitation.

According to Wikipedia, the Canary Islands are a major tourist destination, with great natural attractions, including the highest mountain in Spain and third largest volcano in the world. “The originally volcanic islands – seven major islands, one minor island, and several small islets – were formed by the Canary hotspot. The Canary Islands is the only place in Spain where volcanic eruptions have been recorded during the Modern Era, with some volcanoes still active (even though recently inactive).”

I have two picks for the Canary Islands. The first is the Gran Hotel Bahía Del Duque. The hotel’s website paints a word picture: “The Gran Hotel Bahía del Duque Resort rises majestically next to the beautiful beach of El Duque. Its architecture is inspired by canarian houses of 19th Century and the harmony of its colours, carrying us to a place where time acquires a new dimension.

Surrounded by subtropical gardens, these houses open out to fresh patios and picturesque squares inviting to relax. A unique harmony, from the soft colours of the facades to the green gardens and swimming pools cascading down in waterfalls down to the beach.”

With rates averaging from $344 to $924 per night – even though the higher amounts are for the villas – I would agree this one might not seem like such a bargain. But it’s great fairytale architecture is definitely worth dreaming about!