WE'VE RECEIVED VISITORS from as far afield as...

September 2007

Thanks for making us feel so at home. Girona is a lovely place and an excellent base for seeing the region. Sadly for us not enough time to see it all so we’ll have to make a return trip. Thankyou again, great breakfast, lovely relaxing break, just what we needed.

Leanne and Steve, Horse and Dray Public House, Norwich, England

September 2007

We absolutely loved the B&B – what a relaxing place. We had never been to Girona and did not know much about it before we arrived. Casa Maria was the perfect fit for our introduction to this beautiful city and we felt at home as soon as we arrived. We really liked the comfy sofa in the lounge - great to sink into with a cool beer from the fridge!

Tom, Daniel, Carol and Jessica, Dublin, Ireland

September 2007

Wonderful weather, friendly city and Simon (our gracious host) all led to a great stay. We used Girona as a home base to see the Costa Brava and Barcelona. Great food at Boira in the square. A pleasant seaside town is Sant Feliu de Guixols, a short bus ride away. We wish we could stay longer.

Fred, Kandy, Kim and David, Texas, USA

August 2007

A wonderful week spent exploring Girona and its surroundings – and recovering under Simon’s care! He provides a comfortable and relaxing environment in which to recover at the end of the day, and a great breakfast to send us off in the morning! Highlights of the week:

A trip to Begur and a wonderful lunch at Fonder Canar (opposite Hotel Rosa) after shopping in La Bisbal.

A visit to Vic to enjoy the town centre and the shops. The journey (along the C25) was amazing – and make sure to stop for coffee at the service station at Coll de Revell (seriously!) The views are amazing. If you can cope with hair-pin bends, return via the GI-520 and Viladreau.

Great meals at – Cal Ros (Catalan), Boira (ditto), Le Bistrot (great set meal for lunch).

Many thanks again for a great visit.

Jayne, Graham and Debra, London, England

August 2007

We managed to have a long weekend with a good mix of rest, sun & evening relaxation on the private terrace – an ocean of calm, just what we needed. Thanks for a wonderful time - breakfast was great. Perfect directions, and very convenient for bus and train stations. And the hairdrier and use of the fridge were a bonus.

Nancy, Betty and Mandy, Cork, Ireland

August 2007

We’ve had a very relaxing stay, and particularly enjoyed the walk up to Sant Miguel Monastary – even the teenager in the party enjoyed it! Thanks for everything, Simon, you’ve been a very welcoming and natural host.

Jo, Sarah and Seamus, Worcestershire, England

July 2007

Came to Girona on the basis of an attractive photograph and were more than delighted with what we found. If you get the chance, try to visit the cathedral and wander round the Jewish “Call”, and walk along the old city wall in the evening when it’s cooled down a bit. Great food to be had here. And if you have teenagers with a bit of cash to spare – a great city for some retail therapy. Thank you for a very comfortable stay, Simon – we especially loved the Egyptian cotton sheets!

Katrina, Bill, Richard and Erin McQuarrie, Glasgow, Scotland

July 2007

We’ve had a lovely, full three days exploring Girona on foot and by bike. The old city is fascinating with lots of history and excellent places to shop and eat. Our last day today was spent on bicycles exploring the route that follows the old narrow guage railway down to the coast in one direction, and up to Olot towards the mountains in the other. Thank you for everything Simon – you’re a great host – we’ll hopefully return to spend more time in this wonderful city!

Brenda and Skip, California, USA

July 2007

The apartment is a lovely place to relax at the end of a long day’s sightseeing, shopping and eating. Girona old town is beautiful. Placa Independencia is a relaxing place to eat. Dolce Vita has very good and reasonably priced food. If visiting the Dali museum in Figueres we suggest you go before 11am or after 4pm to avoid the queues. We recommend Creps Bretonne in Figueres, just behind the museum. They’ve also got a restaurant in Girona old town. Many thanks to Simon for his help, advice and hospitality.

Shelagh, Tanya and Mark, Bournemouth, England

July 2007

What a marvellous sunny atmosphere at Casa Maria. The old city reminds us that what was, is no more. All wrapped together by Simon, every inch a perfect host. Thanks for the good care, the fresh sheets and towels. We’ll back. (And I won’t forget to return Churchill’s biography!)

Erik and Monique Louwman, Holland

June 2007

Had a wonderful time in Girona and found the perfect antidote to the hustle and bustle of London, which we’d just left. Simon’s wine and hospitality definitely enhanced our stay. We enjoyed those special moments away from the usual grind of touring.

Harvey and Elena Peskin, New York

May 2007

Lovely breakfasts and comfortable, quiet nights at Simon’s. Relaxing walks around the town walls, lots of beautiful shady gardens to rest in along the way, then stop for lunch. Lovely meals at Da Vinci restaurant. Also ate at Boira in the square – good, but can’t recommend pig’s trotters!

Dave and Diane Doona, Wales

May 2007

We’ve had a wonderful stay in Catalunya this week. Simon’s B&B is a perfect base to explore Girona, Barcelona and Figueres. It’s also great for starting a bicycle tour from here. We hired bikes from a local shop with Simon's help, and had a very nice three day trip down to the coast and back to Girona. Spent one night in Sant Feliu and one night in Pals. Wonderful scenery. The bike routes are good, but the signs disappear now and again. So you are dependent on asking people (people are very helpful and friendly, even though we don’t speak Spanish or Catalan). Or you use your brain combined with a sense of direction! Thank you very much Simon for great hospitality and excellent service. We loved the glasses of wine in the evening when we returned to the B&B at the end of a long day!

Ingunn Haatveit, Norway

April 2007

We’ll definitely return, having had a wonderful four days in lovely sunshine! Did a lot of walking in the old town. The cinema museum is well worth a visit. Went to Figueres by train (cheap and only 30 mins) and the Dali museum was stunning. We went to Le Bistrot, La Dolce Vita (which does excellent pizza/pasta) and Lizarran (great for tapas). Thanks to Simon for tasty breakfasts and refreshments!

Iain and Karen MacLeod, Scotland

April 2007

An ideal central location for both the old quarter and the new town (perfect for shopping!) Barcelona is an easy journey by train. Restaurants to recommend - Boira (in Pl. Independencia) and Le Bistrot (in the old town – fills up with locals later, which must be a recommendation). Thank you Simon for all your help.

David, Moira and Paul, Nottingham, England

April 2007

Thanks Simon for a few days here before heading inland to Tavertet. We found Girona much to our liking and will certainly come back – more likely for a longer stay as there are plenty of places to go from here. We most enjoyed our stay!

Peter and Janet Salmon, Staffordshire, England

January 2007

We visited Girona in the winter. The B&B was warm and inviting. We loved the comfortable beds. The location is ideal. One never need get in the car. Unique restaurants, shops, galleries and more are nearby. Walking the old town so easy. The only need for a car is to travel up to the mountains if you want a bit of skiing or hill walking. Try the Crepes Bretonne in the old quarter – it’s great fun, with the shell of an old school bus inside the restaurant, and with seats for diners straight out of Tom Brown’s Schooldays. Great hospitality and attention to detail at Casa Maria. Your service was wonderful. We’ll be back very soon.

Ken, Steve and Shirley, London, England

November 2007

We’ve been made to feel very comfortable at Simon’s bed and breakfast. The rooms are clean and wonderfully quiet at night. Excellent location near the river, a short walk from the main square and shopping areas and close to the beautiful old quarter. Simon was on hand when needed, but faded into the background when not. All in all, we loved our stay and look forward to staying here again next time.

Richard and Donna, Cleveland, USA

September 2006

Thanks Simon for the genuine hospitality and an eye opening taste of Marmite! Recommended restaurants – on Plaza Independencia – La Dolce Vita (pizza, pasta, good desserts. Also grilled vegetables appetizer – a nice change from all those tapas!) Plus Boira for a bit more of a splurge, with some interesting local dishes. Our visit here was a bit of a chill out day between Barcelona (so much to see! Only five days, and all that Gaudi!) and the train to France. You can take an entire day at least just to walk the medieval town wall then descend at times to sit in cafes in squares, check out a museum or two, or explore the gardens below the wall for a bit of peace and quiet.

Michael Garvey and Pamela Nagle, San Francisco

September 2006

Home from home – thank you to Simon, who was a wonderful host. Recommend a visit to the cathedral (we saw a wedding taking place) and the Empuries ruins on the Costa Brava, with a lovely quiet beach nearby. But it’s never long enough!

Joe Whitfield, London

September 2006

We had a truly delightful time. So close to everything! We were made to feel so at home. The terrace is a fantastic bonus - just what you need after a morning's sightseeing. A great way to chill out and relax in the sun for an hour! We also appreciated the nice touches – the complimentary slippers and bath robes. You can even choose your own breakfast time!

Mike and Susan, Maine, USA

August 2006

Simon is a wonderful host – so helpful! Girona is a lovely walkable city, great for tapas. Barcelona is a very do-able day trip – what a beautiful city – ornate architecture everywhere you look. Also quite walkable. Enjoy!

Michael Kogan and family, Washington DC

August 2006

Girona is a great place from which to tour this part of Spain. Highly recommended the Dali museum in Figueres and his home in Port Lligat (Cadaques). The old town of Girona is also beautiful – wonderful to walk about at night with the cathedral lit up. If you like horse riding, try Equinator near Lake Banyoles. Simon is so helpful – wonderful place to stay. Hope you enjoy your stay as much as we did!

Theresa Schoenacher and Kelvin Swarth, New York

August 2006

We came in search of a base to tour the city and found the ideal nest, with top class hospitality and a perfect location for strolling through the unforgetable streets of Girona. Thank you Simon.

Michael and Martina McDonagh, Galway, Ireland

August 2006

We greatly enjoyed our stay in Girona. Simon does a wonderful job at keeping everything (food, drink, towels, linen) fresh. In fact this was our first ‘B&B’ stay…and we’re definitely hooked. It’s a perfect vacation experience… a little like staying at a family or friend’s house and a bit like being at home …. very inviting… excellent service… cozy atmosphere… the bathroom had a great shower and good water pressure… also with nice soft towels. Thank you!

Robert, Maria and Debbie, New Jersey, USA

July 2006

Casa Maria met all our expectations – attractive, comfortable, and excellent location. Thank you Simon for your attention to detail and all the personal touches!

Robyn and Ken, Australia