Hotel review: Molina Lario – Malaga, Spain

10 05 2014

Drinks at Molina Lario - reijosfood.com

Hotel Molina Lario is a 4 star superior hotel positioned in the centre of Malaga right opposite the Cathedral and just a short distance from the port, the Picasso Museum and the city’s pedestrian district. The recently built hotel is formed by two refurbished 19th century buildings retaining their original façade and a third completely new building.

Molina Lario - reijosfood.comMolina Lario lobby - reijosfood.com

RESTAURANTS

El Café de Bolsa Restaurant & Bar serves lunch and dinner, which you can enjoy either in the outdoor garden-terrace (between hotel buildings, no view to outside) or inside the restaurant. Only half bottle of Cava available was the worst can remember for ages. There is also small terrace which opens onto the pedestrian street, best place to observe by-passers and other restaurant terraces, but quite bald.

Cava at El Cafe del Bolsa - reijosfood.comMolina Lario terrace - reijosfood.com

Restaurant operates also as a breakfast room and is quite crowded during the busiest time in the morning. However, breakfast was excellent. You could order from the list glass of cava, toast or crepes, which we tried.

Brunch at Molina Lario - reijosfood.comCrepe at Molina Lario - reijosfood.com

We had lunch (separate post) just to check the level of the kitchen and it was not at the level of hotel.

el Cafe Bolsa - reijosfood.comMolina Lario bar - reijosfood.com

Piscina Lounge is the bar on the eighth floor, boasting views of Málaga, and having become the meeting point in the city centre, where you can enjoy an after-work drink, (tapas) or midnight cocktails. The rooftop bar has added a new space and direct out door access to a terrace on the eight floor. These areas become more lively are more widely open in the summer time, of course. In the winter time 6th floor lounge/night club is only open during weekends.

But… there were only 5 sun beds at the terrace by the pool. They were big, but only 5. So, do not to expect too much, if you like sunbathing. However, late in the afternoon, you might have to wriggle between sunbathers in order to see the sea.

La Piscina Lounge - reijosfood.com

Molina Lario LaPiscina Lounge - reijosfood.comMolina Lario Night Club terrace - reijosfood.com

ROOMS

103 rooms are located in the refurnished 19th century hotel building or in new construction depending on the classification. We accommodated in DELUXE room which located in the old building at 2nd floor. As we arrived early, way before normal check-in time, we did not want to make complaint about the smell of cigar in the room. We also noticed that there was not so much storage for belongings. Otherwise all in place; bath robes, slippers, etc….

Deluxe room at Molina Lario - reijosfood.comBathroom at Molina Lario - reijosfood.com

Whisky bottle in the room was unique detail; actually would have preferred cold Cava. Who can drink whisky every day, maybe for breakfast with few pistach peanuts? We preferred generous breakfast at Cafe de Bolsa.

Whisky at Molina Lario - reijosfood.com

CONCLUSION

Hotel Molina Lario is stylish hotel and suitable for a few nights stay. Probably one of the best hotels in Malaga for business travellers. Because there are no drawers for clothes and only six coat hangers in the cabinet, you have to store them in suitcase, if you stay longer.

Because of location hotel is perfect choice for exploring old town/pedestrian district, museums and modernized harbour area. And it takes only 20 minutes to drive to Benalmadena Puerto Marina by taxi.

You could also just visit La Piscina Lounge bar in the afternoon or evening and have a drink, listen music and enjoy the harbour view. Elevators are close to reception, just go there!

http://www.hotelmolinalario.com/en

 





Hotel review: Fuerte Miramar (Marbella, Spain)

16 02 2014

Pool at Fuerte Miramar - reijosfod.com

As we shall visit Malaga early May, noticed that have forgotten to post one hotel review from last August.

4-star hotel Fuerte Miramar is located in right on the beachfront and close to the Marbella Old Town. Hotel is beside a pedestrian promenade (Paseo Maritimo) that links up in 5 minutes to the fishing harbour and the marina. You can also walk to Puerto Banus via Paseo Maritimo in 1 1/2 hours if you are sporty. Actually it is a nice way to observe Marbella from the beach side.

Hotel Fuerte Miramar - reijosfood.com

Fuerte Miramar - reijosfood.comFuerte Miramar lobby - reijosfood.com

Note that hotel is open only from March to November.

Hotel has three restaurant areas: Bar Noble, mainly drinks and light lunch. El Olivo, offering buffet-style dishes and breakfast. Beach Club Restaurante Grill that serves a large variety of fish and paellas beside the beach. Beach Club was open only during the lunch time.

Bar Noble at Fuerte Miramar - reijosfood.comBar Olivo at Fuerte Miramar - reijosfood.comRestaurant El Olivo - reijosfood.comRestaurant El Olivo - reijosfood.com

Hotel also has The Miramar Spa & Beauty, which is fully-equipped hydrotherapy centre that has sauna, Turkish bath, whirlpool bath and a wide range of treatments such as massages, algae wraps, etc.

There is also small pool available behind the hotel with sportive activities and free pool towels. Pool was quite occupied during the busiest season but one option was to go to the beach opposite of the hotel. Major shortcoming at the beach was that there was no showers.

Pool at Fuerte Miramar - reijosfood.com

Rooms are quite spacious and most of them have a balcony with front and side sea views. All of them are equipped with Wi-Fi, satellite TV, minibar, desk and safe. We had Double Room with sea side view.

Doublre room at Fuerte Miramar - reijosfood.com Sea view at Fuerte Miramar - reijosfood.com

Best of all of staying at Hotel Fuerte Miramar was location; closeness to the Olf Town and by Paseo Maritimo. Hotel is excellent base for culture and shopping purposes. Also spa in the spring and autumn times sounds attractive.

Marbella Old Town - reijosfood.comMarbella Paseo Maritimo - reijosfood.com

When it comes to service e.g. at Bar Noble, there is opportunity to improve. Small pool and simple beach closest to the hotel do not encourage to sunbathing, if you are only looking for that. Fuerte Miramar has bigger sister hotel Fuerte Marbella which fulfills also this requirement. It is more expensive due to spacious pool area and better beach, of course.

However, hotel seemed to be favored by Spanish vacationers which is always a good sign of popularity and loyal customers.

Reviews of some of the restaurants we visited in Marbella, can be found at reijosfood.com (August 2013)

http://www.fuertehoteles.com/en/hotels/fuerte-miramar-marbella/





Hotel review: Original Sokos Hotel Seurahuone (Savonlinna)

4 08 2013

Room with a view

Original Sokos Hotel Seurahuone is located in the centre of Savonlinna next to the Market Square and the Passenger Harbour. The medieval castle of Olavinlinna is few hundred metres away. Hotel has 84 rooms, 8 of them are Superior in which we stayed.

Sokos Hotel Seurahuone Savonlinna

Hotel has several restaurants and it specializes in night life as there are two night clubs, Night & Bar Tamino for younger adults and Dance Restaurant Mefisto for “grown ups”. We did not visit those places but usually there are quite crowded in the summer time; and the beats goes on….Be sure you do not get a room above restaurants on Friday or Saturday nights.

Dining is not in focus as there are two really modest restaurants, Muikku Terrace (in the picture, see separate review) and Restaurant Piatta where breakfast is also served. Piatta has small terrace and dining room which is really dark. There is also small Cafe Opera (in the picture) with terrace on the right when you come in. Seemed to be quite empty all the time.

All public areas would need some furbishing because they are worn. Problem of course is that July is the most busiest month and in the winter time hotel must be quite empty. But this summer has been more quiet for hotels because customers are seeking more affordable accommodation due to recession. First summer can remember there were free rooms available easily although Opera Festival tickets have been selling well.

Muikku TerraceCafe Opera

Rooms are modest compared to the price level during Opera Festival. Air conditioning seemed to be replaced with fan which we did not need because of cool weather. If there should be warm and sunny, fan would not be enough.

Superior roomSuperior room

Best part was the view from the room at 5th floor. You can watch steam boats taking passengers for short sightseeing cruises and by-passers on their way to Market Square or to Savonlinna Castle. First picture was also taken from the French balcony.

Superior room with a view

There are two hotels in Savonlinna, reviewed Sokos Hotel Seurahuone and Best Western Spahotel Casino which we have usually visited. From these two hotels would choose Spahotel Casino because it is closer to nature, it has great terrace and basically most of the rooms are with balcony + free parking. And it is not too far away from Savonlinna Market Square, just walk over the bridge between island and town.

http://www.sokoshotels.fi/en/hotels/savonlinna/





Hotel review: Hilton Molino Stucky Venice

28 06 2013

Venice

On the banks of Giudecca island, Hilton Molino Stucky has 379 rooms and with capacity to host up to 1000 people, the hotel boasts the largest conference facility in Venice. Minor problem concerning the location; you can not walk via bridges to “main” islands, you always have to use water taxis or shuttle boats.

Hilton Venice

Hilton Molino Stucky has several restaurants and bars. Specialities are Skyline Rooftop Bar and Skyline Pool restaurant at the 8th floor with great views to Venice. Moet Ice Imperial seemed to be popular drink in the pool restaurant; rooftop bas is open only in the evening. Breakfast is served in quite modest Il Molino restaurant but breakfast itself is luxurious and service is excellent. Rialto Lobby Bar and Lounge serves different type of snacks, drinks but you can also dine there.

Hilton VeniceHilton VeniceHilton Molino Stucky

Had pleasure to spend few nights at King Deluxe Suite with view at 5th floor.  Suite ahd separate living room, kitchenette, bed room and bathroom. And best of all great view to Canale Della Giudecca (3rd photo below text). Suite was well equipped and there was plenty of room to relax (if had had time to be in the room).

Hilton VeniceHilton VeniceHilton Venice

As you can not walk via bridges to hotel, only way but not the cheapest is to arrive with water taxis from airport or train station. Dock is around the corner of hotel main entrance. You could also choose shuttle boat which is more affordable but then you have to first find suitable launch pad of boats.

Hilton VeniceWater taxi in Venice

Hilton Molino Stucky is first of all conference hotel. Most visitors have bagdes which tell you that they are visiting Venice due to some conference or meeting. You might want to choose some other hotel if you like more “natural” athmosphere. However, worth to visit is 8th floor Skyline bar with views to two directions over the roofs of Venice. One reason for visit might also be floating art exhibits (paintings and sculptures). At the time of staying art from Monica Marioni was on the walls.

Hilton Venice

http://www.molinostuckyhilton.com/index.php








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