Just off the south end of the Hippodrome and literally in the shadow of the Blue Mosque, the hotel is also walking distance from the Hagia Sophia, Grand Bazaar, Topkapi Palace and the underground cistern. The Sultanahmet tram stop, which provides easy access to the Galata Bridge and a quick connection to the airport metro, is a short walk away.

Our room was spacious, clean and adequately appointed. The staff we encountered were friendly and eager to help. The hotel’s breakfast offering was standard European fare; cold cuts, breads, boiled eggs and the like. The hotel’s rooftop terrace provides great views of the Blue Mosque, especially at night when the towering minarets are bathed in light. There are also numerous restaurant choices just a few streets away.

My only note of caution would be to request a room away from the street, especially on the lower floors. Traffic noise might just be enough to bother a light sleeper.

Blue Mosque from the rooftop terrace

Our room was average in size for big-city lodging, but tastefully appointed and quite comfortable with a large bathroom, desk and flat screen TV. The staff we dealt with were friendly and helpful. And, most importantly, our room was clean.

But we’ll get back to that later.

When I travel to a destination city, I pick my accommodations based on four things; price, location, price and location. The Hotel Continental Barcelona hit the score on all four.

Located directly on Barcelona’s La Rambla, the hotel is convenient to many sites, restaurants and clubs. The Catalunya metro stop is right in front of the hotel and the Placa de Catalunya, where you’ll find the pick up point for the Aerobus to the airport and the tourist information office, is a just a short walk away.

It’s not the cheapest place I’ve ever slept, but considering its location, rates are quite reasonable. Our standard double room cost just €85 per night only a few months ago. Although tiny, even by European standards, the room was functional and included full bathroom facilities and an in-room safe. Guests have access to a 24-hour snack-type buffet that also includes soda, beer, wine, juice and water. The hotel has a couple of little patios, one that looks out on the busy tourist scene, and free internet access.

When planning your next travel trip, keep the Hotel Continental Barcelona on your list of lodging options.

Now, I promised to explain about the dizzying decor, but in this case, a picture is worth 1,000 words.

Very near the old city and just a short walk to the water, the little accommodation is clean and convenient. There’s a handy, but expensive, parking garage nearby and the tourist information office is only a few blocks away. The owner, (I think her name is Clara,) was on hand every day during our visit. The hostal also rents beach towels and chairs.

We ate breakfast on the rooftop terrace one morning during our stay, but found the fare to be a bit simple for the price. I thought 6 € was a tad much for bread, jam, orange juice and tea, but the views of the sea and the rooftops of Nerja were nice.

A great place to soak up some sun, Nerja has plenty of sand, restaurants and clubs to keep any beachcomber happy, and the Don Peque sits right in the middle of it all.

The House Hotel in Galway was a breath of fresh air. As soon as we walked through the front door, we were greeted by the concierge who called us by name and made us comfortable as she checked us in. As the concierge visited with Lee about Galway’s tourist highlights, I noticed a whimsical decor and an interesting cat motif. A sign pointing to the room was decorated with a picture of a sleeping cat. The restaurant’s sign had an eating cat and you can only imagine what the cat on the bathroom sign was doing.

Our “mack daddy” suite was large, nicely furnished and included internet access on a large flat screen TV. The suite’s bathroom was fully equipped and very nice.

Although the rooms and common areas were very nice, the true gem of this hotel was the attention to service. The staff were always willing to act as travel guide and help us plan our day, often taking it upon themselves to make our travel arrangements personally. To top it off, they absolutely refused my attempts to slip them some green for their special attention.  They would not accept a thing.

Needless to say, we highly recommend the House Hotel and will stay here the next time we travel to Galway.

Frequent voyagers, Jeff and Lee travel to destinations both far and near. Expect to hear from them often.

“Yes,” I replied, “about a month ago. It’s a great place and I know the perfect hotel.”

I get a kick from helping others plan their journeys and today’s conversation was the highlight of my day. I told my friend about Ronda and how the white hill town’s ambiance and atmosphere are the best reasons to visit.

Oh, yeah, and that amazing bridge.

Straddling a draw-dropping gorge called El Tajo, the Puente Nuevo (New Bridge) was built in the 1700s and is still in use today. For great but sweat-inducing views, hike down to the bottom of the gorge. Trust me, it’s worth the effort.

The sturdy bridge and deep ravine take on a different personality after dark, so plan to spend at least one night.  A great place to bed down in Ronda, the Hotel San Gabriel is cozy and convenient. The hotel’s dark wood, winding stairs and eclectic nooks and crannies reminded my wife of the mansion from the board game Clue. But don’t worry, there’s no Professor Plum or Colonel Mustard here.

Ronda is made for aimless wandering and photo-worthy vistas are around every corner. When my friend returns from her Ronda romp, I’ll pass along her impressions.

In Lisbon, Portugal, we found a trendy boutique hotel that satisfies us both.

Located right on Rossio Square in the heart of the tourist’s Lisbon, the Internacional Design Hotel is exceptionally located and loads of hip, happening fun.  The love of my life and I spent two nights at the IDH just last month and can’t wait to return.  Our room was nicely apportioned with a comfortable bed, flat screen TV and large bathroom.  The staff we encountered were friendly and helpful.

The hotel is situated in the middle of Lisbon’s best tourist offerings and handy for public transportation too - the airport bus stop is just a few steps from the front door and the train station is a very short walk across the square.  Restaurants, shopping and ATM machines are plentiful just outside the hotel entrance.

We booked our stay on hotels.com and saved a bundle off the rack rate.  Breakfast is available for an additional cost, but I recommend passing on the over-priced hotel fare and grabbing a delicious, cheap breakfast at one of the many bakeries nearby.