Bilbao in north central Spain is famous as the home of the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao. In the last 10 years, Bilbao has become one of Spain’s top tourist and business destinations, with more than 615,000 tourists and several hundred thousand business travelers visiting the city each year. With many wanting to stay in a luxury five-star hotel, Bilbao has also become the place where you’ll find stunning luxury accommodation that’s far more affordable than Madrid or Barcelona. These three luxury hotels are some of the best.
Silken Gran Hotel Domine Bilbao – A popular five-star luxury hotels in Bilbao is the Silken Gran Hotel Domine Bilbao. Designed by Javier Mariscal, one reason why it’s one of the most stayed at hotels in the city is because of its location, directly opposite the magnificent Guggenheim Museum and close to the Museum of Fine Arts and the Zubiarte Shopping Center.
At the Silken Gran, each of the 145 incredibly beautiful guest rooms features an en suite bath designed by world-famous designer Phillipe Stark. Rooms also have air conditioning, flat screen TVs (both in the bedroom area and in the bathroom), a minibar, robe and slippers, safety deposit box and free Wi-Fi internet.
The hotel has a stunning rooftop restaurant with terrace, where you can enjoy breakfast, lunch or dinner while admiring the amazing view out over the Guggenheim. There’s a fitness center, sauna and a Turkish steam bath, as well as a library, a souvenir and gift shop and even a shoe shine service.
For all this luxury, you’d expect to pay an exorbitantly high price but room rates at the Silken Gran Hotel Domine Bilbao are actually quite reasonable. As of June 2012, they begin at only $236. Surprisingly affordable for such a world-class hotel.
You’ll find the Silken Gran Hotel Domine Bilbao at Alameda de Mazarredo, 61, 48009 Bilbao .
Hotel Carlton – Another five-star luxury hotel, the Hotel Carlton is situated just a 10 minute walk from the Guggenheim and is right next to the Moyua Metro Station, so getting around Bilbao is easy from here. The Hotel Carlton is very grand and elegant and offers service that, in today’s modern world, still evokes a time when a hotel guest was treated like a true VIP.
Each of the hotel’s 142 guest rooms features a spacious en suite bath with robe and slippers, flat screen TV with international satellite stations, a sitting area, minibar, a large work area and a safety deposit box. Free Wi-Fi internet is available in all rooms and throughout the hotel.
The hotel has a beautiful, fully-equipped gym, a Turkish bath and sauna, a business center, a laundry and dry cleaning service and a travel desk.
The Hotel Carlton is also well known for its restaurant, which serves superb Basque cuisine as well as international fare.
Room rates at the Hotel Carlton are excellent, particularly if you book through one of their many promotions, with rates as low as just over $120 a night.
The Hotel Carlton is at Plaza de Federico Moyºa, 2, 48009 Bilbao.
Ercilla Lopez de Haro – This luxury boutique hotel is famous for its Moet & Chandon champagne bar, its restaurant serving traditional Basque cuisine and the stylish, elegant and beautiful public rooms and guest rooms.
At the Ercilla Lopez de Haro, you’ll really get the personal touch as, with just 53 rooms, staff prides itself on being able to offer much more personalized care than you may get in a larger hotel.
Guest rooms are traditional, warm and cozy but still come complete with every modern convenience. Each room has a large en suite bath with both tub and shower, flat screen satellite TV, mini bar, luxury robe and slippers, work area, and offers a wake up service.
Don’t miss the hotel’s ‘pillow menu’ where you can order the perfect pillow to ensure you get an amazing night’s sleep and, in the morning, take advantage of the hotel’s free shoeshine service. You might as well leave the Ercilla Lopez de Haro 100% ready for that important business meeting.
Breakfast isn’t included in the room rate but, if you do prefer to eat in the hotel, a fee of 19 euros is the norm. Hotel room rates begin at $186 a night.
The Ercilla Lopez de Haro is located at Obispo Orueta, 2 – 4, 48009 Bilbao.