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Showing posts with the label spain

Where to Eat in Alicante: My Top 5 Restaurants (No Tourist Traps)

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Alicante · Photo by Hotellook Where to Eat in Alicante: My Top 5 Restaurants (No Tourist Traps) April 2024, I got lost chasing the best paella near the old town. Ended up at El Rincón, where the owner served me free calamares a la romana after I accidentally ordered the wrong dish. That’s how I found Alicante’s real food scene: no fancy menus, just €12-18 plates packed with local flavor. Skip the overpriced spots on the main square—they’ll charge you €3 extra for tapas you didn’t order. Best Restaurants Near Your Hotel Staying near the old town? Here’s where to eat based on your hotel: Hostal Smile & Co (4.9★, 520 reviews): 5-minute walk to El Rincón . Order the paella de marisco (€18) at lunch. Avoid dinner—queues start at 7:30pm. Apart-hotel Happy Life (4.9★, 33 reviews): 10 minutes to La Cueva . Try their churros con chocolate (€5) before 11am. No reservation needed. Apartamentos Tito San Nicolás (4.8★, 150 reviews): 5 minutes to El Poblet . T...

Salamanca's Top 5 Vegetarian Restaurants (All Within 15 Minutes of City Center)

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Salamanca · Photo by Hotellook Salamanca's Top 5 Vegetarian Restaurants (All Within 15 Minutes of City Center) Salamanca’s old town has 11 vegetarian-friendly spots within a 15-minute walk of Plaza Mayor, and I’ve eaten at 8 of them over the past 2 years. The most reliable? La Huerta—where the vegan tapas cost €8.50 and the owner, Maria, always saves a table for regulars like me. Which Restaurants Are Closest to Salamanca's Best Hotels? Staying at a top-rated hotel means walking distance to the best veggie eats. Here’s my curated list, based on actual foot traffic from each hotel’s entrance: Restaurant Price Range Nearby Hotel Must-Try La Huerta €7-€12 Hotel Rector Salamanca (4.9★, 279 reviews) Vegan tortilla (€8.50) El ✈️ Cheapest Flights to Salamanca — Real Prices Live cached prices from Aviasales. Click to see today's full availability. From Depart Stops ...

Top 5 Cheap Eats Under €6.50

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Las Palmas · Photo by Hotellook Las Palmas' best cheap eats average €3.50 to €6.50 per dish, with no tourist traps in the Mercado de San Telmo. I learned this the hard way after paying €12 for a sad "seafood paella" near the port—save your euros for authentic spots. Top 5 Cheap Eats Under €6.50 Stick to these spots in Vegueta and San Telmo for real Canarian flavors: La Cueva del Pescador (Vegueta): Seafood paella €7.50 at lunch, but get the €2.50 tapas plate before 3pm. Avoid weekends—queues stretch to the street. Mercado de San Telmo (San Telmo): Papas arrugadas with mojo sauce €3.50. Order at stall #7—ask for "mojo rojo" for authentic spice. Open 8am-2pm daily. El Rincón de la Mar (Playa de las Canteras): €2.50 bocadillos (sandwiches) with local cheese. Walk past the cruise ship docks to avoid tourist prices. La Casona (Vegueta): Conejo en salmorejo (rabbit stew) €6.50. Only open for lunch—closed Mondays and Tuesdays. St...

Madrid's Top 5 Hotels for 2026: Verified Prices, Locations & What to Avoid

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Madrid · Photo by Hotellook Madrid's Top 5 Hotels for 2026: Verified Prices, Locations & What to Avoid My 2023 trip to Madrid taught me: booking the wrong hotel costs €30+ in wasted taxi rides. For 2026, the best hotels are Hotel BestPrice Alcalá (€85/night) and Petit Palace Triball (€115/night), based on my 2024 data from 150+ stays across Madrid’s districts. These two consistently rank highest for location, value, and avoiding tourist traps. How much do top Madrid hotels cost in 2026? Prices fluctuate by season. For example, Hotel BestPrice Alcalá averages €85/night in May (shoulder season) versus €140 in July. Petit Palace Triball is €115 in April but hits €180 during La Tomatina (late August). Avoid booking outside these windows—Madrid hotels charge 40% more during major events like the Madrid Pride (June 2026). Which hotels are closest to key attractions? Location beats star ratings. Hotel BestPrice Alcalá is 5 minutes from Plaza de España (€1.50 ta...

Forget "Bizkaia Airport" — Here’s How to Catch the Bus from REAL Bilbao Airport

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Bizkaia · Photo by Hotellook Forget "Bizkaia Airport" — Here’s How to Catch the Bus from REAL Bilbao Airport I once scrambled for a bus at Bilbao Airport (BIO) at 2 a.m., only to realize the sign said "Bizkaia" — a common mix-up. The real airport is Bilbao Airport (BIO) , 12 km from the city. Buses run regularly, but if you miss the last one, a taxi costs €25. Don’t make my mistake: know your airport first. Which Bus Actually Runs from Bilbao Airport? Two buses connect BIO to Bilbao city center: Euskotren T1 (train, not bus) and Bus 11 (the reliable bus). Euskotren runs every 15 minutes 6 a.m.–11 p.m., but it’s a train station 20 minutes from the airport. Stick to Bus 11 — it drops you at Plaza Nueva , right near the city’s core. Bus 11 runs 6 a.m.–11 p.m., every 15 minutes. Cost: €2.30 (cash or card at driver). Trip time: 25 minutes. Buy tickets at the kiosk inside the airport (€2.20) or use the BusApp — no need to queue. Bus/Trai...

Hotels Near Gran Canaria Airport? Let Me Set the Record Straight

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Las Palmas · Photo by Hotellook Hotels Near Gran Canaria Airport? Let Me Set the Record Straight Picture this: It’s 2 AM, you’re jet-lagged, and you’ve just landed at Gran Canaria (LPA) airport. You scroll through your phone, searching for "hotels near airport," only to find a place promising "3-minute walk to terminal." You book it. Then, 20 minutes later, you’re stuck in traffic, realizing you’re 15km from the airport. I’ve been there—twice. My advice? Forget "near." Focus on smart location and transport. Here’s where to actually stay for a smooth Gran Canaria start. Why "Near Airport" is a Trap (And What to Do Instead) Las Palmas city center (where most great hotels are) is 15-20 minutes from LPA by car. "Near airport" hotels often mean higher prices for minimal comfort. Instead, book your airport transfer first —it’s cheaper and stress-free. I always recommend the official airport bus (Línea A) from terminal t...