Sherman's Travel

There’s no way around it, Moscow is pricey, and its nightlife scene is no exception – if you’re intent on painting the town red (you are just steps from the Red Square after all!), you might as well get something more than a cheap vodka buzz for the cost of your drink.

While you might not be able to dole out the big bucks for the pricey digs at these two swank Moscow hotels, there’s nothing keeping you from sampling their crowning glories. Each boasts a rooftop bar with prime panoramic perches, where, for the cost of a splurge-worthy cocktail, more budget-friendly brew, or simply a stiff drink, you can rub elbows with a motley mix of moneyed Muscovites (business tycoons, Kremlin bigwigs, celebs and pseudo-celebs – which, while I was there, came in the form of members of the Russian national soccer team), and lap up mesmerizing Moscow views that are even more intoxicating than your drink. Read more

Set at the epicenter of Spain’s capital city on the lively, cafe-lined Plaza de Santa Ana, hip hotel ME Madrid Reina Victoria is now offering ShermansTravel readers an exclusive discount on their design-savvy digs, with reduced rates from just $149 per night (a savings of as much as 35 percent off) throughout 2012, with plenty of extras thrown in, including a complimentary room upgrade, late checkout, VIP guest status, and more.

The hotel is a hotbed for hobnobbing celebrity A-listers (the likes of Jennifer Lopez and Halle Berry have counted amongst recent guests) and “it” nightspots popular with its hip hotel clientele and local scenesters alike. At the rooftop bar, The Roof’s (hotel guests are granted VIP access), views are even more intoxicating than their signature ME Mojitos, while the new Mint Terrace sidewalk tapas bar debuted this summer, offering an alfresco oasis for tapas and a choice selection of beers and wines.

Read more