Catalonia Zaragoza Plaza Hotel, Zaragoza

Advantages: Smart looking hotel in convenient location with spacious rooms
Disadvantages: In a rough area, very noisy at night

...It’s likely that most of you have never heard of Zaragoza. Well, it’s situated in northeast Spain at the foot of the Pyrenees and is not very far from Barcelona. At the moment it is not known as a foreign tourist destination but it is big with the Spanish because of the holy significance of the Basilica where the Virgin Mary was supposed to have descended from heaven on a pillar. Hence the common Spanish girl’s name, Pilar. The attraction of the place to me was that it is not overrun with other tourists, prices are not jacked up in the summer, and the new Ryanair route has made travelling there easy. However, this may change because Zaragoza hosts Expo 2008 next year. The problem with visiting a city that is not well known is that there are very few reviews on the hotels there. So you are a bit of a pioneer for other tourists... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: The luxury
Disadvantages: None that I could see

...-equipped gym and a beauty salon offering massage services. (I must say I didn't use these but got speaking to a couple who raved about the massages). ***********ROOMS************ Of the 347 rooms, 9 are suites that are out of this world. In particular, it has the suite known as El Reloj. This is a luxurious two-storey room with amazing views over the architectural complex of Plaza España and Montjuïc (sorry to say I didn't stay in it !!!). However I cann't complain about my room. It had air-conditioning, a direct phone line, a beautiful marble bathroom with a hairdryer, a satellite TV (you can get pay-per-view films), a mini-bar (TIP - bring your own drinks into the hotel as the mini-bar costs a fortune), a safe and even Wi-Fi Internet access if I needed it !!!! ************RESTAURANT************* We had our superb buffet breakfast... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Interesting, well-organised and well-priced
Disadvantages: Not the first place you might think of to visit in spain

...Zaragoza is a city of wide avenues and narrow alleyways. The combination of both makes it particularly attractive. Modern comfort allied to ancient mystique. I also found prices to be extremely moderate. Other than the hotel which was averagely priced but very average in its service I found the city to be Aragonese cuisine is in itself not especially distinguishable from that of central Spain, you will find many tapas here which you will find throughout Spain as well. There are more serious restaurants, such as "Los Borrachos", "El Botin del Corregidor", "Las Lanzas" or "Mandragora". This is wine country so a visit to the many bodegas to sample the local produce is highly recommended. The city is a venue for many cultural and sporting events. It boasts three theatres and is currently being prepared for the 2008 Expo exhibition. All... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful