Spain is renowned for its temperate climate, especially along its Mediterranean coastline. The country has been a perennial favourite among British holidaymakers since package holidays began back in the 1950s.
Of course, Spain is not just about sun, sea and sangria; the country has much to offer in terms of architecture, culture and history.
The city of Granada, situated at the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountains in southern Spain, is home to the Alhambra, a palace and fortress that dates back to the 9th century. Cordoba, also in Andalucia, 80 miles north-west of Granada, features another architectural wonder in the form of the Mezquita (Spanish for "mosque"), which dates back to the 8th century. The Sagrada Familia, a large Roman Catholic church in Barcelona, is one of Spain's most visited attractions. La Playa de la Concha in San Sebastian, on the Bay of Biscay in northern Spain, is renowned for being one of the best city beaches in Europe, while Pamplona is famous for El Encierro, or the Running of the Bulls, which takes place each July.
Hotels in Spain are scattered throughout the major cities, including Madrid, the capital city, Barcelona, Seville, Malaga, Bilbao, Valencia and Zaragoza. They are equally plentiful along the Costa Almeria, Costa Blanca, Costa Brava, Costa Dorada and Costa del Sol and on the Balearic and Canary Islands, including Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura and Lanzarote. All of the major Spanish and international hotel chains, including Abba, Barcelo, Hesperia, Marriot, Holiday Inn, AC Hoteles, NH Hoteles, Tyrp, Viva, Sirenis, Riu, H10, Sheraton and Sol Melia, are represented.
Spain hotels are by no means limited to chains. The Spanish government operates what are known as "Paradores de Turismo", or tourist hotels, which are located in converted castles, monasteries, palaces and other buildings of historical significance. All these hotels offer at least 3-star accommodation, with an emphasis on local character and cuisine.
There is no national classification system for hotels in Spain, but although each regional government has its own legislation there is typically not much difference from region to region. A 3-star hotel room must typically be of a certain size - 8 square metres for a single room and 16 square metres for a double - with a bathroom, air-conditioning, central heating and a telephone.
You can compare prices of Spanish hotels by using Travelsupermarket's comparison tool and save money by booking in advance.
