Hotel Eurostars Isla Cartuja

The Eurostars Isla Cartuja is about 6 mi from the airport (around fifteen minutes by car), in a neighbourhood built to host the Universal Exposition in 1992. The cathedral and city centre are about 2 mi away, so you are best off taking the bus to get there.

Some of the hotel rooms directly overlook the Olympic Stadium, 'La Cartuja'.

The Eurostars Isla Cartuja opened in 2000 and was renovated in 2007. Given its location actually inside the Olympic Stadium, it is the ideal hotel for football fans or people attending the one of the many varied concerts staged there. You are best off coming here by car, as if you opt for the bus, you will have to cross an area of deserted and rather unkempt space. It is obvious that the atmosphere changes on match days or when concerts are scheduled. When you arrive, you find yourself in front of a modern pink building. You can park your car in one of the few spaces available in front of the hotel. The marble entrance hall is a mixture of colours, with yellow walls and little red armchairs. The walls are also adorned with little paintings of landscapes and people depicted in the Cubist style. Throughout the day, the atmosphere is infused with soft, discreet background music. There are a few phone booths for guests to use to the right at the far end of the room, while to the left there is the breakfast room, furnished with little tables. Don't come here expecting to find a hotel filled with charm! The Eurostars Isla Cartuja offers no more than the bare essentials, average decor and few facilities. To sum it up in one word, you could describe it as functional.

Although all 72 guest rooms have views onto the outside, only ten of them actually overlook the stadium. You should therefore reserve them in advance if you wish to stay there during a major event. The interior decor in the standard rooms is pretty classic and practical. The blue carpet combines well with the curtains and the armchairs next to the picture windows, and the yellow or pink walls (depending on the room) match the bedspread. The room is provided with a desk, a flat-screen television, a mini-bar and a free safe (you will need to ask for the key at reception). The walls are adorned with several little watercolour paintings and prints of landscape scenes. The dimensions of the room are such that a third bed can be added, transforming the space into a triple room. If a good night's sleep is really something you savour, you can ask to have a look at the pillow menu. The bathroom is decorated in white and grey, and is provided with a complete beauty kit as well as a hair-dryer and make-up mirror. It is also well lit, so you can do your hair and make-up without any problems. On each floor there are four adjoining rooms, which are perfect for families.

Upon entering the hotel, the breakfast room can be found on the ground floor to the left. It serves a complete buffet every day from 7:30am to 10:30am. The choices available include slices of fruit like pineapple and melon, and fromage frais, and there is also a large space set aside for savoury dishes. After breakfast, this room is transformed into a cafeteria, which stays open until 11:30pm. The dishes on offer include sandwiches, pizzas, burgers, snacks, salads, different kinds of cured pork, pasta, Spanish omelettes and other dishes. You can expect to part with around £10 for a meat or fish dish. The restaurant has a direct view over the stadium, but only opens on reservation, for groups.