Heads on Beds: Gran Hotel Domine, Bilbao

Business trips can often be short on downtime for exploring the surroundings, but travellers who book a room at Bilbao’s most stylish hotel can take in some of the local art while they are getting dressed in the morning.

The Gran Hotel Domine opened five years ago - right across the road from the Guggenheim Museum, and the giant flower-covered puppy designed by Jeff Koons that sits outside its main entrance.

You can't quite see through the museum's windows from the hotel, but it does have an excellent view of Frank Gehry's striking crumpled titanium structure.

Track it down

A taxi from Bilbao's Sondika airport will drop you outside the Gran Hotel Domine, Alameda Mazarredo 61 (+34 944 253 300; www.granhoteldominebilbao.com) in 15 minutes, charging a fare of EUR20 (£14). It could hardly be more conveniently located: the heart of the city, including many of the businesses that have long made Bilbao an economic powerhouse, is a short walk down the road.

Check-in check

The reception area is dominated by a piece of art single column, constructed from large pebbles enclosed in netting, which reaches up towards the ceiling. Glass lifts glide up and down in mesmerising fashion, before disappearing behind a terraced water feature, whose black surfaces contrast with the white tableware and sparkling wine glasses that are displayed along it. Oh, and when you have stopped craning your neck, you can engage with the staff, who are smart in both senses.

Room to manoeuvre?

All the rooms are well-thought out, with a long, well-lit counter-table that is useful for computers and paperwork, a comfortable armchair, and art works signed by Javier Mariscal, who was responsible for much of the hotel's design. A nice touch in the bathroom is a clear plastic bag in which to take through the airport security check any lotions and liquids; see if you can resist the temptation to scoop a few into the bag.

Get connected

Surprisingly for a hotel of this quality, it lets itself down badly on the technology front. If you want to take advantage of the in-house Wi-Fi, you will need to buy an access card (EUR15/£11 for 24 hours), and type a complicated series of upper- and lower case digits into your laptop. The business centre - El Choco - is a stylish place to work or just sit and read, but internet access from three fixed terminals requires a pre-paid card, too.

Fitness regime

The machines in the small gym on the seventh floor have all been positioned so that you can look out towards the Guggenheim and the river. There is a sauna and steam room, too, and you can book a massage to soothe away the strains of business life.

Raid the minibar

As a way of making a comparative price check in various hotel minibars, we total up the cost of a mineral water, beer, miniature of Scotch, bag of nuts and a bar of chocolate (warning: do not consume these all at once). The Gran Hotel Domine will sell them to you for a total of EUR14 (£10), the lowest we have found so far; don't expect the standard Toblerone; confectionery here is a muesli bar half-dipped in chocolate.

Breakfast news

The copious breakfast buffet is a great way to start the day, not least because it is served on a terrace overlooking the Guggenheim museum and the green hills beyond. And at EUR18 (£13) is excellent value for money.

Rack rates

A standard room costs EUR128 (£92), although given the location it seems a shame not to pay an extra EUR22 (£15) for a room with a museum view. This doesn't include breakfast.

Economy class

The Hotel Petit Palace Arana, which is located by the river at the edge of the old city (+34 944 156 411; www.hthoteles.com), charges EUR86 (£61) for a double room - and that includes free internet access from terminals in the lobby. Breakfast is an extra EUR13 (£9).

Compare Travel Insurance - 5 day Euro cover from £4.33 and Annual worldwide policies from just £43.08