This fall, PBS will debut the series "Spain... On the Road Again," based on an enviable Spanish road trip taken by Mario Batali, Gwyneth Paltrow, New York Times food writer Mark Bittman and Spanish actress Claudia Bassois.

We're jealous of this trip for many reasons (as well as Gwynnie's command of Spanish), but mostly because, according to Food and Wine, the famous foursome stayed at a handful of paradores--churches, palaces and monasteries converted into hotels by the government--including the nearly-impossible-to-get-into Parador de Granada. ]]> jennm 2008-08-22T09:30:14-05:00 http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2008/7/23/11945/4061 <![CDATA[<p><img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/11725/viewfromroomnight.jpg" class="imgborder"><p>Word on the street is that hotel stays in Spain are on the decline and since tourism happens to be the country's second-largest economy driver, according to <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssConsumerGoodsAndRetailNews/idUSL2252556120080722">Reuters</a>, why not help a <i>hermano</i> out by booking a room? Here, we've even selected one for you... <p> We've never heard of or been to Murcia, a city on the eastern coast of Spain, far, far, away from the tourist attractions of Madrid and Barcelona, but what the small city lacks in sightseeing, the <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel-reviews/Intercontinental+Mar+Menor+Gol/ian/265334"><b>InterContinental Mar Menor Golf Resort &amp; Spa</b></a> makes up for. <p> The hotel has a nine-hole golf course, an ESPA spa, two pools, a kids club and six restaurants. All rooms have balconies with jennm 2008-07-23T12:04:03-05:00 http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2008/6/26/113029/804

In an expensive town like Marbella, a good deal can be hard to find--and we mean that quite literally. While our stay at The Town House was easy on the pockets and the eyes, with its under-$200 room rate and roof top terrace, finding the place was a bit harder.

The nine-room pensión is located off a square inaccessible by car, so it may not be ideal for disabled travelers or travelers with lots of and/or heavy bags. Otherwise, The Town House provides a practically flawless stay. ]]> jennm 2008-06-26T12:09:34-05:00 http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2008/6/24/13719/9231 <![CDATA[<p><img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/admin/heathermillsboy.jpg" class="imgborder"> <p>Sir Paul Mcartney's ex-wife and perpetual-golddigger Heather Mills, 41, has taken a liking to a 36-year-old hunky hotel worker. <p>When Millsie went on vacation to the <b><a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel-reviews/Abama+Hotel/ian/235608">Abama Hotel</a></b> in Gula de Isora, she spotted Jamie Walker (a "kid's rep" for the hotel) playing with her daughter -- and the rest is history. <p><a href="http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/2206_mucca.shtml">News of the World</a> reports: <blockquote><p>A source there told us: "She went over to talk to him with her nanny and there was an instant spark."The next day, Heather got her nanny to call Jamie to say, `You know that woman you were talking to, would you like to go out to dinner with her?'..."It was a secret operation because hotel staff aren't Jenna 2008-06-24T13:22:33-05:00 http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2008/6/5/102432/5373 <![CDATA[<p><img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/admin/azhaarpool.jpg" class="imgborder"><p>In Seville, just about every building has a patio-perfect rooftop, so it's a wonder why more hotels don't capitalize on this prime space with rooftop bars. We had to ask a local if any existed and he pointed us in the direction of <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel-reviews/Hotel+Azahar/local/1240"><b>Hotel Azahar</b></a>. <p> The place may not be the best hotel in Seville (<a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g187443-d576870-Reviews-Azahar_Hotel-Seville_Andalusia.html">past guests</a> complain of small rooms, some with no windows--claims we sadly did not get the chance to vet), but its rooftop bar, Etnia Terrace, is certainly worth a trip. Anyone can hang out here and take advantage of the breezy vista, which looks down on Jes&#250;s del Gran Poder, a prime location to watch the religious processions go by jennm 2008-06-05T11:48:38-05:00 Search HotelChatter string http://www.hotelchatter.com/search/