Luxury Travel Advisor - January 2008 - (Page 14) rior) and suite 44 are the hotel’s brightest, with big windows opening onto the cobblestone square of Jesus de la Redención, not far from the cathedral. An added perk of room 35 is its top-floor location. Tip: Rooms 17, 18, 34 and 35 have excellent views of the plaza. There’s a sun-drenched rooftop terrace with a sparkling pool where guests can gaze out over the gleaming white city; suggest a rooftop massage, a favorite of hotel regulars. Hotel staff are thrilled about the newly opened Bodyna Spa, showcasing the Cinq Mondes product line. The most popular treatment is the Bodyna Oriental Fusion, which includes multiple treatments—“Purée de Papaye” Radiance Scrub, Balinese Massage, Ayurvedic Massage and “Riche de Jeunesse” Facial—spread out over one or two days. The SenMOORISH ARCHITECTURE defines Palacio del Bailío’s style (left). THE GRAN CAPITÁN SUITE at Palacio del Bailio pays homage to its origins as a Roman villa (below). zone Restaurant serves modern Andalusian fare (think tapas in the picture-perfect courtyard); guests can find lighter choices (soups and salads) poolside. Note: The hotel’s sommelier is considered one of the best in Spain. Contact the concierge, Mayte Lopez-Lozanoto (fom. hospes.reydebaeza@hospes.es; 34-954-561-1496), to arrange private tastings in the wine cellar. Also on staff is one of the finest Iberian ham butchers; private lessons can be arranged. For a journey through the very best of Andalucía, suggest your clients choose the “Spirit of Andalus” itinerary offered by Hospes Las Casas Del Rey de Baeza’s parent company, Hospes Hotels & Moments, whose portfolio includes an impressive collection of restored historical properties, like Hospes Palacio del Bailío in Cordoba. This charming hotel is itself an historical treasure; the ruins of a Roman villa are exposed beneath a glass floor in this estate. Rooms contain incredible original details, such as wroughtiron railings, Moorish terracotta tiles and mural paintings. Insiders tell us that rooms 18, 109 and 125 are the ones to choose. The concierge, Joey Sentra (palacio delbailio@hospes.es; 34-957498-993), can even arrange visits with specialized archeologists for history buffs. In fact, Sentra has managed all manner of requests: private dinners with butler service on panoramic roof terraces, visits to the queen’s jewelry workshop and private jets to Málaga so that clients can play golf. Hint: The saying goes that “if you haven’t seen the Alhambra, you haven’t lived,” and the same is true for Córdoba’s impressive Mosque, a UNESCO World Heritage site, like Granada’s glorious monument to Islamic architecture. Ask hotel staff to arrange a visit. 14 LUXURY TRAVEL ADVISOR | January 2008
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