NH Palacio de Ferrera - Aviles, Spain 

Aviles is the closest town to Asturias airport and a perfect place to spend a night if you have an afternoon flight into the area. The town centre is small with a pretty pedestrianised town square and an attractive park nearby. There are numerous shops and restaurants on the roads radiating from the square. The NH Palacio de Ferrera is situated on the town square. It is a lovely little 5-star hotel. I maintains the personal touch and doesn't feel like a big international hotel - probably because it isn't. We had an excellent weekend deal online for EUR90/night room only. The hotel has direct access by lift to the underground carpark. The hotel is not a palace but actually a stately home with lovely brickwork and staircases and has been tastefully modernised to provide you with a little bit of luxury. Our room was in the annexe, of a reasonable size, and had all the 5-star bits and bobs that you would expect, including dressing gowns and free internet access. Because of the hotel's excellent location, you can easily pop into bar or restaurant for a glass of sidra or a meal witout walking too far. Also after check-out, you are quickly in your car and out on the open road to continue your tour. Aviles has a very different feel from Gijon and Oviedo and well worth a half-day/overnight particularly as the NH Palacio de Ferrera gives you a hidden, original and exclusive piece of luxury during your stay.

Oh, Aviles! What can I say about this city? I was horrified on the drive in as we passed dozens of factories spewing large, thick, dark clouds of smoke -- all of which seemed to gather directly above this apparently charmless place. The hotel is located off the main square, and there is a convenient (but not free) underground parking garage. The building is newly refurbished, and -- being a part of the NH hotel chain -- perfectly respectable. There is a very nice garden out back, which is only accessible to guests. Worth a wander. The furnishings are OK, though it seemed to me the decor was thrown together on the cheap with little imagination. (For example, some of the furniture felt wobbly.) I can't vouch for the integrity of the rooms in a couple years' time, but for now -- they're fine. There is not much to see in Aviles. I was fascinated by the place -- kept thinking how horrible it would be to live there, and yet -- by the end of our stay, I was sad to leave. In a strange way, it reminded me of THAT TOWN... the one you grow up in, then spend the rest of your life running away from. It felt both awful and familiar. We stayed 2 days -- too long in my opinon. The only real highlight of our stay: a drive to the coast, which was lush, green, rural, and authentic. Reminded me of the Irish coast -- no joke.