Hotel Alfonso XIII in Seville offers intricate Andalusian architecture, combined with exceptional service and exquisite dining.
I can't believe that it is April and this is my first post on the blog in 2020. I had a very busy start to the year having taken on a new role in my professional life and also planning our wedding which was due to take place at the end of March. Then, as we all know, 2020 took a drastic turn and one postponed wedding and a lockdown later, I now find myself with plenty of time to catch up on past trips. First up is our weekend trip to the wonderful Gleneagles Hotel last October to mark one year of being engaged. We decided to take the train rather than fly as Gleneagles has its very own train station and offers a complimentary chauffeur transfer from the train station to the hotel. We treated ourselves to first class tickets on the train and settled in with some good books for the five and a half hour trip. The hotel concierge had requested our estimated arrival time and the chauffeur was waiting for us when we stepped off the train. It was late afternoon when we arrived and I was feeling the cooler Scottish temperature, so you can imagine my delight when we entered the hotel lobby and saw the cosy fire crackling away in the corner. Things only got better when we were informed at check in that we had received an upgrade from a Country Room to a more spacious Main House Estate Room. Our room did not disappoint, it was so spacious that it had a sitting area with sofa and arm chairs in addition to the luxurious king size bed. The rooms are decorated in neutral shades with accent pieces in a beautiful shade of jade green. Two large wardrobes ensured plenty of storage space (this was a welcome discovery as I had my horse riding gear with me and the fiancé had packed his fishing gear). Classical music was playing on the cute vintage-style Roberts radio when we entered the room which created the perfect ambience. I love a hotel room that comes with a freestanding bathtub. Am I the only person who rarely takes a bath but insists on a hotel room that comes with a tub? There is something about the mere presence of a bathtub (especially a freestanding one) that instantly makes me feel more relaxed. In addition to the bathtub, the bathroom had a very spacious monsoon shower and his and hers sinks. Once we had unpacked and settled into our room, we decided to explore the rest of the hotel. The hotel's luxury five star rating is evident throughout. The interior design is impressive and the harmony between the bedrooms, corridors and lift lobbies gives a very satisfying sense of cohesion. This is a very aesthetically pleasing hotel and those with a penchant for interior design will feel right at home in the exquisite surroundings. There is so much to discover at the Gleneagles Hotel, it even has its own retail arcade! Gleneagles & Co is a wonderful homeware store that offers a fantastic selection of items made by Scottish and British artisans. The Cabinet stocks luxury skincare and fine fragrance brands such as Dr. Barbara Sturm and Teresa Tarmey - a lifesaver if you forgot to pack your favourite perfume or left your night cream behind in the bathroom cabinet! No visit to Scotland would be complete without some Scottish whisky and you will discover an impressive range of rare and independent Scottish whiskies in the Still Room. The Gleneagles has an impressive array of activities on offer from golf and tennis to shooting and archery, there is something for everyone. Horse riding is a passion of mine (along with luxury travel of course!) and Gleneagles has been on my bucket list for a long time. The Equestrian School is one of Europe's leading riding centres boasting indoor and outdoor arenas, 60 cross-country fences and 26 beautiful horses. The following morning I made my way to the equestrian centre for a 60 minute trail ride while the fiancé dusted off his fishing gear for a spot of fly fishing on the River Earn. We both thoroughly enjoyed our activities and I can't wait to try out the cross-country course on our next visit. If you are not a sports enthusiast there is still plenty to enjoy at the Gleneagles Hotel. There are many beautiful walks around the grounds and the scenery is breathtaking. You could enjoy a spot of croquet on the lawn or wander down to the Falconry School to check out these impressive birds - though my top choice would be a visit to the luxury spa for a soothing massage! Last but not least, we must discuss the dining options. The Gleneagles Hotel has a number of restaurants to suit every occasion. On our first night we wanted a more relaxed dining experience and so we booked a table at The Dormy which offers a classic menu of hearty favourites. I had a delicious Scottish salmon tikka followed by the Valrhona chocolate pot and homemade cookies. I may have also snuck a taste of the fiancé's sticky toffee pudding which was divine! On our anniversary night we dined in The Strathearn and it was everything I could have wanted and more. The Strathearn does fabulous food but this is not just a top class meal, this is a dining experience. I don't have any photos because we wanted to really enjoy the evening with no distractions. While writing this I initially regretted not having any photos to share but then I realised that a photo wouldn't do it justice. A photo wouldn't capture the ambience, the energy, the Gatsby-style music and Gueridon service. Everyone had dressed for the occasion and we were transported back in time to a glamorous bygone era where waiters swished by balancing trays laden with flutes of champagne and unveiled delectable dishes from beneath silver cloches. It was just wonderful! We finished off the night with more champagne in the American Bar which is also reminiscent of the Roaring Twenties era and a must visit for a glamorous nightcap. Sunday's are for long indulgent lie-ins and we felt very deserving following our action packed Saturday. We ordered breakfast in bed (a favourite treat) and curled up with the Sunday papers. We returned to The Strathearn later that day for Sunday Lunch. The magic of the previous evening had vanished and it almost felt like an entirely different, albeit still beautiful, dining room. The fiancé is the Sunday roast connoisseur, and The Strathearn's take on the Sunday roast certainly received high praise. A final sticky toffee pudding for him and Valrhona chocolate tart for me and we reluctantly rolled ourselves home. We both agreed that a weekend is simply not long enough to indulge in all that the Gleneagles Hotel has to offer and we were already planning our return trip on the way home. No blog post is complete without a landscape shot from the fiancé, so here is one of my favourites from the weekend.
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