Converted from a hospital first built in the year 1499 and commissioned by King Ferdinand, this used to serve walkers who came here on pilgrimage. Hospital Real De Santiago De Compostela still caters to visitors but in the form of a luxe hotel – one of the oldest in the world. Ideally located in the Plaza do Obradoiro beside the cathedral, it immerses visitors into a bygone era. Cloisters, thick stone walls, an outdoor terrace overlooking the square and a manicured courtyard garden help evoke the ancient atmosphere. Rooms come with wifi, satellite TV, air-con and mini-bars, and there are two restaurants.

With a former life as a paper mill, this 18th-century traditional Galician building has plenty of character. Rooms here face onto the pretty garden, with its water fountain, colourful window boxes, lawns and terrace. Guests can book a treatment at the spa from a menu of oriental and occidental rituals which make use of high-quality natural products, enjoy a drink in the bistro-style bar and dine at the excellent Filigrana restaurant. Family-run, the romantic hotel has 51 bedrooms and three suites, the latter incorporating living spaces, a study and a jacuzzi, as well as a reading room and a social room.

100 years as a tannery, then another 100 as a convent, this building close to the historic centre has had an illustrious past. This is seen in some of the features, such as a chapel turned meeting space with a religious mural, arched windows and thick stone walls. Now, it’s a five-star retreat, where guests can book alfresco massage therapies, read or sunbathe in the gardens and book a suite with views of the cathedral (which is 15 minutes on foot from the front door). A contemporary restaurant, bar, saltwater swimming pool and fitness centre are among the Hotel Palacio Del Carmen’s amenities.

A little outside of Vigo, 30 minutes south on the coast road in Pontevedra, lies the walled enclosure of Monte Real. Here, between the sea and a pine wood, lies the regal Parador de Baiona. A deeply distinguished property recalling a bygone era, this Galician mansion offers fantastic sea views, a large outdoor pool surrounded by manicured gardens and a fine seafood restaurant. On arriving in the entrance hall, guests are greeted by a majestic stone staircase, candelabra lighting and suits of armour. Bedrooms have features such as timber beamed ceilings, four poster beds, grid windows, polished stone walls and antique dark wood furniture.

Found on the city’s main boulevard surrounded by shops, the NH Collection Vigo is housed in a 20th-century building with a Neoclassical façade, designed by the French architect, Michel Pacewicz. Accommodating 108 bedrooms including jacuzzi loft suites, the four-star property is pet, family and business traveller friendly. Guests have access to their own Nespresso machine, NH branded toiletries, babysitting services, a pillow menu, fluffy duvets and super comfy mattresses. Valet parking, a small gym and an onsite restaurant — the elegant Irati — are all available. Plus there’s a bar with a charming alfresco terrace overlooking the church.

Built using ornate stone with pretty wrought iron balconies, this building dates back to the 19th century. Overlooking the marina on the Ría de Vigo estuary, the four-star hotel is within walking distance of the city’s attractions and under a quarter of an hour’s stroll from the railway station. 69 sleek monochrome rooms come with minibars, satellite TV, designer toiletries, climate control, free daily newspapers, laptop-friendly workspaces and soundproofing. Amenities include a library, a rooftop terrace, fitness facilities, a lounge bar, a business centre and La Cuaderna Restaurant serving buffet breakfast and a la carte Mediterranean cuisine.

Founded in the 1950s by Prince Alfonso Hohenlohe, this was once the hotspot of various figures of European royalty during the summer but has since had a bit of a revival. Now renowned as an amazing health and well-being retreat as well as retaining some of the old-school glamour which had attracted the likes of Brigitte Bardot, Audrey Hepburn, and Grace Kelly to return again and again. The 35 guestrooms and 80 suites are set amongst lush subtropical gardens and many include private outdoor terraces. With white timbered roofs and a coastal-inspired pastel palette, Deluxe Beachfront rooms compliment their views of the Strait of Gibraltar; whilst private villas ooze contemporary Andalusian chic dressed nearly all in white and boasting private pools. When you aren’t lazing around in verdant walled courtyards or around one of the three pools, you can learn meditation from a master, work with a naturopath, nutritionist or fitness expert to improve your lifestyle, or enjoy a Thalassotherapy treatment or ritual at the award-winning spa – holistic wellbeing is at the core of the Marbella Club’s ethos. When you get hungry The Grill is an old-school restaurant with knowledgeable sommeliers and French fare presented under silver cloches, whilst The Beach Club has a renowned buffet of vibrant seafood, paella, pasta salads and cold meat for more casual dining. Alternatively, the Chiringuito MC Beach serves up barbequed sacks and smaller bites, perfect for poolside dining.

Specifically designed for grown-ups, this no kids allowed hotel on Marbella’s ‘Golden Mile’ is perfect for the socialites amongst us. Located just minutes from the beach and the turquoise waters of The Mediterranean, Nobu Hotel Marbella offers the best of luxury beach club life. Public spaces feature a lot of clean dark wood that looks elegant and contemporary, whilst rooms are neutral, calming spaces. They are a modern take on ryokan-style interiors with natural wood and wicker furnishings with flashes of delight coming from jazzy art pieces and interesting lighting fixtures. Many have terraces overlooking La Plaza. The Nobu Hotel Marbella has a ground-sharing partnership with the Puente Romano Beach Resort (see above) and so you can expect the same lush and verdant plants dotted about the place and also an abundance of facilities. It couldn’t be named Nobu Hotel Marbella without the presence of its namesake. Nobu Hotel Marbella offers guests that chance to savour Chef Nobu Matsuhisa’s signature dishes plus special Andalusian-Japanese fusions. Guests at Nobu Hotel Marbella can enjoy 24/7 in-room dining from the restaurant, plus priority access to Nobu and La Suite, Marbella’s most exclusive club. Spend the day relaxing by the pool, whilst the night the volume is turned up and the party really begins.

Puente Romano Marbella is an award-winning, experiential destination on the shores of the Mediterranean. This renowned Andalusian village-style resort offers elegant suites and private villas where heritage meets contemporary refinement. The ancient Roman bridge that stands within the resort’s beachside gardens inspires its name. Today Puente Romano invites guests to experience local flavours at El Pimpi and Sea Grill, alongside international icons like Nobu, COYA, Cipriani and GAIA. After sunset, COYA Club and NYX Marbella are the sought-after nightspots.

Inspired by traditional Andalusian architecture, this exclusive and luxurious hotel and resort is the perfect summer getaway. Blending the best of traditional Mediterranean lifestyle with contemporary living, the Finca Cortesin offers incredible cuisine, impeccable service and blissful tranquillity. Built around two sunny courtyards the hotel only has 67 rooms and yet feels palatial in style and space. Rooms are spacious and filled with light – a notable feature is their beautifully high ceilings. Spaces in the hotel manage to be both elegant and luxurious whilst still offering a lot of comfort. We adore the statement printed textiles which stand out against the warmly neutral décor. Surrounding the hotel is 23,000 sqm of landscaped gardens, a luxurious Thai spa, an incredible 4 swimming pools (our favourite is the heated indoor pool with views of the coast), tennis courts, and a spectacular beach club. The hotel is not lacking in dining options either – choose between the relaxed terrace restaurant El Jardin de Lutz, the Michelin-starred Kabuki Raw serving up Japanese-Mediterranean fusions, the traditional Italian brasserie from Sicilian chef Andrea Tumbarello, Don Giovanni, or casual tapas and drinks from The Blue Bar.

The Anantara Villa Padierna Palace Hotel Benahavis Marbella Resort is the group’s new flagship resort in Southern Spain. Sheltered by majestic mountains, this Mediterranean resort is close to some of the country’s most beautiful ‘white villages’, the prestigious town of Marbella, and the sparkling sea. Expect a compelling combination of European elegance with upscale gastronomy across 8 dining venues, as well as exceptional leisure facilities including a super-stylish beach & racquet club, an award-winning spa and championship golf courses.

The Kempinski Hotel Bahia Estepona is considered to be one of the most elegant hotel resorts on Andalucía’s western Costa del Sol. Found about 12km west of Marbella’s Puerta Banús and close to the charming beachside town of Estepona, this 5-star gastronomic resort is where Kempinski sophistication meets the warmth of the Mediterranean. Kempinski Hotel Bahia Estepona offers a complete resort experience, with an excellent choice of guest rooms, junior suites, and exclusive rooftop suites for VIPs; a luxury spa; pools and gardens that reach down to the beach and sea; and a wealth of dining options within El Paseo del Mar.