Hotel Boutique Balandret

There’s something special about a boutique hotel that comes recommended by locals and fashion editors alike. This is the case with Hotel Boutique Balandret, a three star hotel located on Las Arenas Beach and its palm-tree lined promenade in Valencia, Spain. With a bright, warm decor, free WiFi and easy beach access, it’s no wonder that it ranks highly on travel review sites including Booking.com (9.4/10 rating) and Tripadvisor.com (4.5/5 stars). This trendy beach hotel is reviewed for HolidaysInHeels.com by Anita Quade, editor of VIVA Magazine, one of the most popular fashion & lifestyle magazines in Dubai!

Is this not the cutest reception area ever?

#wallpaperenvy

IMG-20160720-WA0005

Sweet Suite

The rooms are airy and while a handful do offer a sea view, even the ones with a garden view are beautiful.

Forget the world and take an afternoon nap…

The hotel stands out for its trendy interior design that keeps a focus on light hues and perfectly complements the ‘sea and sun’ vibe right outside the window. Even the bathrooms are tastefully done with light wood, soft lighting and a vase of fresh flowers.

hotel balandret bathroom

Food-tastic

Nibble on tapas and indulge in some afternoon sangria at the hotel’s main restaurant. It’s a beautiful way to sample the local cuisine before embarking on a walking tour of Valencia on art and wine arranged by the hotel.

Cheers, Anita!

Seaside fare

Say Relax

This hotel is ideal for solo travel or a fun family affair. Solo travelers can spend the day at the beach and take walking tours of one of Spain’s most vibrant coastal towns, while parents looking to tire their kids during the day can partake in a range of activities including horse riding and the in-house play area.

#WhatToPack

Anita’s style is classic and warm. Channel the seaside, breezy vibe of Valencia in this colourful kaftan and pop of yellow espadrilles with inspiration from the lovely magazine editor!

Hotel Boutique Balandret by holidaysinheels featuring flat shoes

River Island pink top
97 AED – riverisland.com

Kiini beach wear
1,160 AED – matchesfashion.com

Soludos flat shoes
155 AED – shopbop.com

Diane Kordas collar necklace
16,815 AED – saksfifthavenue.com

Christian Dior round sunglasses
1,745 AED – sunglasshut.com

Gottex fedora hat
215 AED – onekingslane.com

Nars cosmetic
95 AED – barneys.com

Guest Post by Rupert Wright of Ashbright

Welcome

Paris holds no terrors for well-heeled travellers, who can check into one of the city’s eleven palaces such as the Georges V, Plaza Athénée, Le Bristol or my favourite, Le Meurice. But for those on any kind of budget, finding a decent place to stay in the French capital can be a challenge. Bedrooms smaller than a bathroom, bathrooms smaller than a bidet, we’ve all stayed at one of them and lived to regret it. So, it’s with great pleasure that I have found almost the perfect Parisian hotel – and you don’t need to be a tech billionaire to afford it. The Bedford has been family owned and run for more than a hundred years, combining Swiss roots, French flair and English tradition. It benefits from strong leadership, attention to detail, and a staff eager to look after you. With just 140 rooms, it is large enough to intimate, but not so large that you are anonymous. It’s a 4 star, but deserves more.

The rooms

Parquet flooring; high ceilings; comfortable beds and pillows; keys rather than plastic cards; and best of all, real switches, that turn the lights on and off. The Bedford has sensibly ignored many of the technical traps that can make staying in a hotel room more challenging than setting up your own satellite transmission site. The result is a place that combines understated elegance with modern touches and old school service. Some rooms overlook the rue de l’Arcade, others look over a courtyard, but all are a decent size and a muted colour. There is air-conditioning too, which is a relief when the summer strikes.

Eating

Breakfast is a buffet in a glorious belle époque room, boasting stucco reliefs and a glass roof. Dinner happens here too, French cuisine and fairly formal. There’s also a relaxed bistro/bar that serves meals and cocktails.

Location

A stone’s throw from the Place de la Madeleine, the Place de la Concorde and the Tuileries Gardens, and the Opera, this is one of the best areas to stay in Paris. (Marcel Proust used to live just around the corner). It is a lively area, with great boutiques, wine bars and an eclectic mix of restaurants, Japanese, Italian, Chinese, Korean, Lebanese and French too.

Don’t miss

The Bedford knows that many people like to travel with their pets, so they are allowed to stay too.

HOTEL BEDFORD, 17, RUE DE L’ARCADE 75008 PARIS Tel. : +33 (0)1 44 94 77 77 Fax : +33 (0)1 44 94 77 97 More information at www.hotel-bedford.com

Rooms from €250; Suites from €450

0 Comments

Sign up for our newsletter

Sara Hamdan

Welcome to a magazine editor’s guide to luxury hotels and what to wear when you’re there! My work has appeared in: The International New York Times, Rolling Stone, Variety and CNN Travel. I’ve held editorial roles at VIVA Magazine, Dubai Magazine and Stylist Arabia. Now, I freelance for the likes of Google, CNN and Savoir Flair!

Editing travel pages was always my favourite part of working for lifestyle magazines. I started this blog out of a love of beautiful hotels that provide the fairytale escape of a day as a princess where breakfast is a buffet and chocolates appear on my pillow.

PR queries, feedback and compliments? Email sara@holidaysinheels.com!