So, as I always play fair with my marriage I gave my husband Ian the choice as to where we take our holiday this year.
He chose Barcelona.
I must be honest, I was a little disappointed. I thought he would go for something a little more exotic and I'd visited Rome and New York before and was of the opinion that I had already seen the best of any city.
I could not have been more wrong!
Surrounded by the warm crystal seas of the Mediterranean this buoyant atmospheric revamped city certainly is a glittering jewel.
Three or four nights is ideal for this kind of visit, and of course you need a good base from where to explore, and we chose the 4-star H10 Montcada Hotel. It has an excellent location right in the infamous Gothic quarter - a mixture of traditional and modern with clean white linens, antique furniture and the coolest rooftop bar with Jacuzzi. It's a great place to relax and unwind after a busy day of mooching around - some great cocktails on offer too at reasonable prices!
Barcelona has a lot of choices for excursions, and as Ian and I are both foodies- we chose a tapas and wine walking tour - a great start to the trip and a great opportunity to get a feel for the city.
Our funny, informative tour guide Paula escorted us around the Gothic Quarter and through the colourful food market, telling us about all the food and drink as we sampled three or four bars and tried the different offerings - certainly a great way to meet other people.
We also took advantage of the hop-on, hop-off bus tour (a must-do in this city), visiting Montjuic park, Gaudi's amazing Sagrada Família and - as Ian is an avid football fan - a tour of the Nou Camp stadium.
Barcelona is such a splendid place with wonderful nightlife, superb beaches and an unbelievable wealth of culture and arts that you would not believe.
I think I'll let Ian chose the holiday more often!
Julie