Barcelona from above by Monika

The pampering on my holiday trip began with my sleeping quarters. If you’ve ever tried to plan a trip to Barcelona, you’ll know that there are a ton of tempting accommodations waiting to hook you in. From gorgeous mansion hotels with three-story pools and more native Barcelona foliage than a Spaniard forest itself to rustic-themed apartments housed in incredible ancient buildings overlooking Barcelona’s bustling streets, it can prove to be quite difficult to choose somewhere to sleep.

Personally, I was especially drawn in by a little bed and breakfast off Calle Pau Claris called Boutique Bed & Breakfast. From the neat, informative website, the place seemed to me like an amusing twist between a quaint parlor bed and breakfast from the late 1800s and a modern, “with-it” techno retreat. The site employed grand use of the term ‘cozy’ in their descriptions, yet also proudly featured an image of an Apple Macbook Air laying open on one of their beds. As someone who can’t stand to live without my iPad, Twitter, and morning cappuccino, the bed and breakfast description boasting free WiFi and advanced modern coffee facilities made me quickly find my way to the “Reserve Room” button. Thankfully, Boutique didn’t disappoint in the slightest. My little suite was, in fact, cozy with a distinct modern feel, and the staff was incredibly friendly. Despite the fact that Boutique Bed & Breakfast was not really a ‘luxury’ accommodation, I felt more refreshed and relaxed than I believe I ever would have with a three-story pool outside my window.

The real luxurious aspects of my trip, however, began with the first activity I partook in my first morning in the awe-striking capital city. Under a bright December sun, I spent the morning being pampered by Rosa at Barcelona Massage, an excellently priced deluxe massage studio which offers a relaxing variety of exotic massages derived from countries and cultures all over the world, from Mayan to Silk to Sea Shell massages and a wide range of body scrubs too.

Feeling giddy and a bit light-headed from my fantastic Silk massage, I was ready to party, so I opted for a night on the town at the Coppelia Club. I’d heard great things about Coppelia online before I arrived, and I was not disappointed. Coppelia manages to give patrons a first-hand Spanish club experience while still maintaining an elegant, classy feel that is nothing like the get-down-and-dirty, grimy filth nightclubs I’ve come to despise in America. Modern and chrome-finished, I enjoyed a delectable eucalyptus honey infused vodka premium while perched on a barstool feeling incredibly sophisticated and right at home.

The next afternoon, after sleeping until almost noon (which I blamed on jetlag but which also might have had something to do with my eucalyptus honey vodka) I felt compelled to conquer the bright blue waters I’d been admiring ever since my plane touched down on Barcelona soil. Through the kindness and luxurious accommodations of Barcelona Yacht Charter, I was able to enjoy a fantastic afternoon on a twelve passenger sailing yacht, slicing through that tantalizing blue water at god-speed, lying on the deck giggling to myself with a bottle of sparkling champagne.

My yachting, spa, and nightclub adventures were probably the three most interesting parts of my holiday in Barcelona. The rest of the week I spent eating delicious Spanish cuisine, drinking rich wine straight from the Spanish vineyards, and lying out on the beach, longing to sail those clear blue waters again. In conclusion, well, let’s just say I’ll be getting back on that Barcelona-bound plane next December, and I might just end up extending my stay beyond a meagre seven days.

Catherine Zotto is an experienced travel writer for MyPremiumEurope.com a luxury European holiday provider. My Premium Europe offer fantastic 5 star luxury hotels, villas and spa accommodation throughout Spain and hundreds of other destinations in Europe.

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Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by jzollich

Geographically Orlické hory are divided into three parts: Deštenská highland, Mladkovská highland a Bukovohorská highland. Orlické hory was declared a protected landscape area in 1969 and includes 19 protected parts. There are several rivers flowing through the mountains such as Olešenka River, Divoká Orlice and Tichá Orlice. The mountains covers a total area of ​​204 km2 and it is a home to rare and protected species of plants and animals.

Orlické hory offers ideal conditions for hiking and biking. During the winter months it is ideal for skiing and cross-country skiing. Among the most popular ski resorts are Deštné v Orlických horách, Říčky v Orlických horách, Zdobnice or Čenkovice. Visitors will be pleased with numerous cultural and historical monuments, which include for example Opočno castle, the baroque castle of Rychnov nad Kněžnou, Doudleby nad Orlicí castle, or Častolovice castle, which is one of the most beautiful Renaissance castles in the Czech Republic. Among the most visited ruins are Potštejn and Litice, Žampach and Lanšperk. It is worth mentioning pilgrimage site of Homol with the Church of the Sorrows of the Virgin Mary, a Baroque staircase, and with two chapels founded in 1692 by Countess Tereza Eleonor of Ugarte.

Other tourist attractions in Orlické hory include several military fortifications that were built at the former Czech-German border in 1936-38 to defend against danger from fascist Germany.

During your holiday trip you get to know and admire the natural beauty of this area. Either you are sport lover or lover of history and sights, or just a tourist looking for comfort and relaxation, then Orlické hory in the Czech Republic are really suitable for you!

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