Catalonian Impressions
Published 05 May 2020
Catalonian impressions, a selection of luxury hotel holidays to Catalonia
One of our Spanish specialists visited Catalonia in northern Spain. Below, she shares her impressions of some of our best-loved Spanish hotels and some of our new additions to the programme in the key areas of Catalonia: Barcelona, the Costa Brava, the Pyrenees, and the province of Tarragona. Each area has its own charm and character to offer, and these hotels can be arranged in an endless number of combinations to mix art and culture, with relaxing breaks, alpine sports, and rural retreats. Barcelona The city of Barcelona is a dynamic and cosmopolitan city on the Mediterranean Coast, famous for its Modernista architecture, including the masterpieces of Antoni Gaudi, the charming Las Ramblas, and the maze-like Gothic quarter. Our Barcelonan hotels combine luxurious accommodation with the world-renowned culture and heritage of Spain’s second city, putting you within convenient reach of the art galleries, museums, gourmet restaurants, lively bars, designer boutiques, golden beaches, and lush parks that make Barcelona an ever-popular holiday destination. Costa Brava Popular with A-list stars and artistic greats, the Costa Brava is one of Spain’s most beautiful, but most overlooked, coastlines. Quaint villages, bustling cities, and peaceful beaches punctuate the landscape, which is dominated by the lush greenery of Emporda, rich with vineyards. Our hotels on the Costa Brava mingle high quality service, luxury facilities, phenomenal seaside locations, and historic, traditional properties, offering our clients a perfectly balanced escape. Pyrenees and inland Catalonia’s most prominent feature has to be the Pyrenees Mountains. Stretching along 450km and reaching over 3000m high, the mountains shelter a host of verdant valleys, picturesque villages, and charming cities. Snowy peaks provide a sublime, panoramic background, wherever you choose to stay. From the romantic old city of Girona, to the artistic capital of Figueres, inland Catalonia has a range of attractions to suit all visitors. Below is a selection of the luxury hotels we offer in each area.
Grand Hotel Central, Barcelona
This five star hotel is on the Via Laeitiana, just behind the Gothic Cathedral and across the road from the Roman wall. Surrounded by bars, restaurants, and shops, just a 20-minute walk will take to you the Passeig de Gracia, and 10 minutes past the Cathedral will bring you to La Rambla. The façade of the hotel is quite traditional of a five star luxe property. The lobby is styled in a contemporary way, with block colours, feature lighting, and comfy chairs. The Gallery, between the lounge and restaurant, is often used to host art exhibitions. The terrace has a fantastic infinity pool with views across the rooftops of the Gothic quarter, and a bar that serves drinks and snacks all day and is open for cocktails in the evening. I stayed in a Central King Room, which was comfortable, modern, and of a good size. The staff were always very welcoming and professional, and the location of the hotel is brilliant. Stay 3 nights from £780 per person in low season, based on two people sharing a Central Twin or King Room.
Situated close to the Granados 83, the five star Hotel Claris places its focus on high quality materials and imported artwork. The pieces are impressive and complement the classical, elegant, and refined style of the hotel. The reception is a light, open room with marble floors, but in the winter of 2016, it will be split into smaller sections, each of which will have its own mood. The top-floor terrace is large, has a full size swimming pool, views over the surrounding neighbourhood, and a garden feel. Every Friday and Saturday evening, the terrace hosts live music and a late night cocktail bar. The restaurant on the terrace has large windows that are fully opened in the summer to allow guests to enjoy the warmth. The rooms are full of individual character and have unique features such as mosaic tiling in the bathrooms, lacquered floral murals in the Suite Duplex rooms, a full size oil painting in the Gran Suite Duplex, and a table made from white petrified wood. Stay 3 nights from £870 per person in low season, based on two people sharing a Superior double room with bed and breakfast.
This stylish converted monastery is set just 40 kilometres from the French border, in the Dali triangle, just outside the village of Pau. Just a 15 minute drive will bring you to the beach at Roses. I would recommend hiring your own car, as Figueres then becomes easily accessible. A feeling of rustic elegance, with quirky and charismatic artistic touches, pervades, with model ducks on the stairs, small woollen sheep in alcoves, and bushes ornamented with metal birds. The rooms are light, white, and minimalist, reflecting the simplicity of the white-washed, farmhouse-esque exterior. With around 2 hectares of land, guests are free to roam the grounds, and bikes are freely available to explore the local area and vineyards. The wine produced on the hotel’s estate is sold in a small boutique near hotel reception. A quaint wellness room has massage tables, a Jacuzzi, and an individual hammam. In the restaurant, which opens directly onto a terrace for outdoor dining in the summer, traditional casera food is served with a gourmet twist, seasoned with herbs from their own garden. In all the 8 different room categories, the space is open plan with beds facing the windows or terrace and a neutral colour scheme. This is a really lovely hotel, full of charisma and charm, which would work well with Barcelona as part of a twin-centre touring holiday. Stay 7 nights from £1,175 per person in low season, based on two people sharing a double room with bed and breakfast and car hire.
Hostal de la Gavina, Costa Brava
The five star Hostal de la Gavina sits right on a spit in a private residential part of Platja de Sant Pol. The hotel building is surrounded by the sea on 3 sides, and, whilst being just a few minutes walk from one of the best restaurants in town, is separated from the hustle and bustle by car barriers which only let hotel guests and residents through; the setting is very peaceful as a result. The exterior of the building is very Mediterranean, with white-washed walls and terracotta roofing. However, the interior is much more elegant and classical than I was expecting; it reminded me of our classical hotels in Italy, so works as a good alternative to the Amalfi Coast. Informal lunches are served in the Garbi Restaurant by the pool; the Il Barco bar is designed to look like the inside of a ship; and the restaurant downstairs serves gastronomic food accompanied by live piano music and candlelight in the summer. There is an outdoor, full-size, sea-water pool on a huge terrace, private cabins that can be rented out, and an indoor heated pool in the spa. All rooms have a unique style, featuring a selection of antiques and artworks from around the world. I stayed in a Superior Room, which had a large terrace with a sea view over the tops of the trees. The higher up the room, the better the sea view. This hotel remains very popular with repeat clients. Stay 7 nights from £1,250 per person in low season, based on two people sharing a Classic Double Room with bed and breakfast and car hire.
Castell de Ciutat, Pyrenees and inland
The drive to reach the Castell de Ciutat is absolutely stunning, as you climb into the Pyrenees and drive alternately through deep tunnels and steep gorges, following the suspended road along cliffs of sheer rock and past roaring rivers. The exterior of this four star hotel is styled in the same manner as a mountain lodge, and higher grade rooms have their own terraces with beautiful views across the nearby town of La Seu d’Urgell and the mountains beyond. The room styles are classical and homely, with floral fabrics and soft furnishings. Just behind the main building are the remnants of the old castle, the ramparts of which you can still climb to enjoy the view. A formal restaurant, Tapies, and a relaxed restaurant, Katia, are on-hand for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, which are served up with views over the valley below. A large, private swimming pool sits between the hotel and the castle, and a Spa and Wellness Centre offers treatments, beauty cabins, saunas, indoor pool, and chromatherapy room. A Castle Suite is located in the fortress building away from the main hotel, offering great privacy and lots of space, as well as spectacular views of the Cadi Mountain. The Castell de Ciutat is an incredibly charming property with pretty rooms and very friendly staff, perfect for guests looking to combine mountain activities with characterful and luxurious accommodation. Stay 7 nights from £1,040 per person in low season, based on two people sharing a Type A double or Twin room with bed and breakfast and car hire.
