The Barcelona Experience with United Vacations & Marriott International
If you follow us on social media, you may have seen that our Europe travel specialist, Erin, is currently in Barcelona. She is spending 7 nights in Barcelona with United Vacations and Marriott International. Check out her full itinerary below, and be sure to follow us on Instagram (@enchantedtravel_) and Facebook (Enchanted Travel) for a full review of hotels and sites.
Day One: Travel Day – Sunday, May 12
Erin flew from Omaha to Newark, then on to Barcelona. The total travel time is about 15 hours. Her flight out of Newark left at 7:30 PM and she arrived at 9 AM Barcelona time on Monday, May 13.
Day Two: Monday, May 13
Erin arrived at BCN Airport in Barcelona at 9 AM local time. She met her group and they made their way to W Barcelona and EDITION Barcelona. They toured both hotels and Erin stayed at EDITION. Dinner the first night was at Extreme-WOW Cabana, or EWOW Cabana for short. EWOW is a private terrace at W Barcelona, pictured above. Before dinner, the group enjoyed a welcome cocktail in the W Lounge.
Day Three: Tuesday, May 14
On the first full day, the group met at W Barcelona for presentations from United Vacations, Marriott International Hotels and Apple Leisure Group. These are three of our long-time travel partners that we work with for Europe vacations for our clients.
After presentations, the group had a full site inspection of both hotels. Then they enjoyed a cocktail at The Roof at EDITION and lunch at Bar Veraz.
After a busy morning, the group had the afternoon to explore the city with the Hop on Hop off pass.
In the evening, the group had a site inspection at Le Meridien Barcelona, pictured above, and a tapas dinner at Pop Cocktail Bar.
Day Four: Wednesday, May 15
The fourth day includes a tour outside of the city. On the agenda: Montserrat, Torres Wine Cellars, and Sitges.
The tour begins in the mountains of Montserrat. This rocky mountain is located about 50 km southwest of Barcelona. It is considered to be the most significant mountain in Catalonia. This is the site of the miraculous appearance of the Madonna and Child in one of the caves, Santa Cova (Saint Cave). You’ll find a number of small churches and chapels throughout the mountains, as well as the main monastery of Santa Maria de Montserrat.
Lunch on this day is at Torres Wine Cellars in the heart of Penedés, pictured above. The menu includes vegetarian croissants; flat breads with aubergine, red bell pepper and anchovy; Quiche-Lorraine with York ham; Mini ciabatta with salty ham; Homemade croquettes; Spanish omelettes with potato and veggies; Season’s cream of vegetables; tender sprout salad; and deserts. After lunch, the group visits the vineyards and winery.
After Torres Wine Cellars, the group departs for Sitges. Sitges is one of the most beautiful villages of the Catalonia Coast. The tour of Sitges includes a walking tour of sailor village, a picturesque old town with narrow streets, beautiful beaches, a vibrant culture, great food and unique shops.
Day Five: Thursday, May 16
On Thursday, the group checks out of the W Barcelona and EDITION. They move to Hotel Arts Barcelona for the remainder of their stay. In the evening, the group has a site inspection and dinner at Cotton House Hotel.
Day Six: Friday, May 17
Day six begins with breakfast at Lokal restaurant at Hotel Arts Barcelona. After breakfast, the group has a tour of the hotel, followed by a group lunch at Marina Restaurant.
Day Seven: Saturday, May 18
On their last full day before heading home, the group has a city tour including Barcelona highlights. This tour includes Montjuïc Castle and cable car ride, Poble Espanyol and lunch at Restaurant La Font de Prades in Poble Espanyol.
The beginning of the tour includes a guided walking tour through the narrow streets of the Gothic Quarter, the oldest part of the city. This includes Las Rambles, the Cathedral Square and Cathedral and the Old Jewish Quarter.
After the walking tour the group will see the rest of the city by bus. This part of the tour includes the elegant Passeig de Gracia Street, where you will find two of Gaudi’s most famous buildings: Casa Batlló, pictured above, and Casa Milà “la Pedrera”. In addition, the tour includes the Triumph Arc, the Olympic Village and the Olympic Port.
The next part of the tour includes access to Montjuïc Mountain. This is where the Olympic Games were held in 1992. Here the group will explore the Olympic stadium and ride the aerial tramway for amazing views. After the stadium and cable car, the group will head to Montjuïc Castle. This is the oldest fortress in the city.
After Montjuïc Castle, the group heads to Poble Espanyol. Poble Espanyol is located in the heart of Montjuïc Mountain. It is known as the soul of Spain and there is much to explore here.
That evening is the farewell group dinner at Arola Restaurant, located in Hotel Arts.
The whole group flies home on Sunday, May 19.
Follow along with us on Instagram and Facebook to see more from Erin’s Barcelona Experience. Interested in booking your own Barcelona trip? Call us to speak to one of our Europe travel specialists. You can reach us at 402-390-9291 or get started here.
If you’ve been following along with us on social media, you may have seen that our travel expert Erin spent last week in Barcelona. This trip was part of a fam – short for “familiarization trip” that we send all of our agents on a few times a year with our travel partners. This specific fam was with United Vacations and Marriott International. Let’s take a look at the Marriott International properties that she stayed at and toured. Check them out below!
W Barcelona
Erin toured the W Barcelona upon arriving in Barcelona. Half of her tour group stayed here and the other half (including Erin herself) stayed at the EDITION Barcelona, which we’ll cover next.
The entire property was chic and sophisticated, with unique designs and tons of areas for relaxing and having a good time.
Erin and her group toured the accommodations, which are absolutely gorgeous! They are modern, yet comfortable, with stunning views from your bed right when you wake up.
Additionally, you can catch an even better view from your luxurious bathtub in some suites.
Erin’s group had dinner the first night at Extreme-WOW Cabana, or EWOW Cabana for short. EWOW is a private terrace at W Barcelona, pictured above. Before dinner, the group enjoyed a welcome cocktail in the W Lounge.
EDITION Barcelona
“I have fallen completely in love with this hotel. This boutique hotel offers a rooftop pool, cabaret theatre, a speak easy bar, incredible personalized service and possibly the best food I have ever ate. I am so lucky to be staying at this stunning property.” This is how Erin describes the EDITION Barcelona, the first hotel she stayed at in Barcelona.
We absolutely can’t get enough of the rooftop pool either. Honestly, I would stay here just for this. I mean, just look at it:
And these private cabanas:
And these cozy outdoor nooks:
Plus, indoor cozy areas like this gorgeous cabaret-style bar:
Hotel Arts Barcelona
Erin checked into the Hotel Arts Barcelona for the last leg of her trip. Hotel Arts is one of the tallest buildings in Barcelona.
In addition, there are 2 Michelin star restaurants located onsite. To make things even more impressive, the hotel bartender is on the Forbes top 5 mixologists in the world list.
Hotel Arts has the largest hotel rooms in all of Barcelona…
…and stunning views of the sea and city below.
The bathrooms area also spacious and all-marble. So chic!
And we can’t forget the stunning pool at Hotel Arts either!
Cotton House Hotel
The Cotton House represents the culture of Barcelona. This hotel use to be the headquarters of the Association of Cotton House Manufacturers and was transformed into the luxurious Cotton House hotel. It perfectly blends modern and tradition with the iconic staircase, the rooftop pool with views of the Sagrada Família and the original wood floors. This hotel is a must visit!
If you’re a fan of design, this hotel is for you. Every piece of furniture, every mirrored wall and piece of art, will take your breath away. The design and overall vibe is pure class with a modern, funky twist. This is a great place for those who are looking for a unique, boutique-style property. You’ll get that vibe in addition to the level of service you know and trust from the Marriott International brand.
The staircase is definitely the focal point of this boutique-style property. You won’t soon forget it and it offers endless opportunities for photo-ops. The light fixtures throughout add the perfect touch of whimsy.
If I were spending a few days in Barcelona, or if the weather was not up to par, you would definitely find me cozied up in this library-type lounge area with a good book and a nice cocktail.
For more warmer days when you don’t want to venture out and just want to stay on property, check out the lovely plunge pool on the roof.
There are several outdoor lounge areas, all with a quirky spin that make it perfect for vacation.
Once you’ve finished exploring for the day, retire to your clean, crisp accommodations for a restful night’s sleep.
Part 1: Barcelona
Our travel expert Teresa is currently on an epic 13-night adventure throughout Spain and Portugal. Check out her full itinerary below:
Sunday, May 26: Leave Omaha @ 11:21 AM.
Monday, May 27: Arrive in Barcelona @ 10:20 AM local time.
Thursday, May 30: Fly from Barcelona @ 12 PM & arrive in Madrid at 1:35 PM local time.
Saturday, June 1: Fly from Madrid at 12:10 PM & arrive in Lisbon, Portugal at 12:30 PM local time.
Monday, June 3: Leave Lisbon by train at 2:09 PM and arrive in Porto, Portugal at 4:50 PM local time.
Thursday, June 6: Leave Porto by train at 1:25 PM and arrive in Santiago, Spain at 6:15 PM local time.
Sunday, June 9: Fly from Santiago at 5:05 PM and arrive in Dublin at 6:15 PM local time.
Monday, June 10: Fly from Dublin at 11:20 AM and arrive in Chicago at 2 PM local time.
Teresa’s group divided on May 30th, when a brave bunch including her husband Jeff and her daughter Courtni set out to walk a portion of the Camino in Spain. Stay tuned for a full post on this portion of the trip coming to the travel blog soon! For now, let’s check out what Teresa’s half of the crew experienced during their time in Barcelona. Later this week, we’ll recap their time in Madrid and next week, we’ll cover their adventures in Portugal. We’ll also give you all the details on Courtni and Jeff’s hike through Camino in a separate post coming soon.
Barcelona, Spain
Teresa and her whole group spent three nights in Barcelona. Here, they experienced amazing cuisine, Montjuic, some of Antoni Gauid’s architectural marvels, the breathtaking Montserrat and more.
Barcelona Cuisine
Montjuïc
Montjuic is a neighborhood located on a scenic hilltop overlooking Barcelona. Teresa and her crew explored the area during their time in the city.
The Museum of Catalan Art
The Museum of Catalan Art is located inside the grand Palau Nacional, or National Palace. It is not just breathtaking from the outside, however. Inside, the museum holds centuries of Catalan art from the 10th through the 20th centuries.
CaixaForum Barcelona
Originally designed as a textile factory, CaixaForum Barcelona holds several modern and contemporary art shows. You’ll find works of art from Dalí, Rodin, Freud, Turner, Fragonard, and Hogarth inside.
Antoni Gaudí’s Architecture
Antoni Guadi is one of the most famous architectural designers in history. It is widely known that when he graduated with his architectural degree in 1878, his headmaster said. ‘Who knows if we have given a diploma to a nutcase or a genius. Time will tell.’ He may have been a bit of both, but his influence on the world of art and architecture, especially in Spain, will live on forever.
La Sagrada Família: Exterior
Although La Sagrada Família is still under construction today, it is still one of the absolute must-see sights in Barcelona. In addition, it is one of Antoni Gaudí’s most famous designs. Construction on the medieval cathedrals began in 1882. If it is completed by the expected date of 2026, the completion will mark a century since the architect’s death. Ask your Enchanted Travel agent about tours of La Sagrada Família. We suggest purchasing the Sagrada Família skip-the-line tour, especially if you are on a tight schedule.
La Sagrada Família: Interior
Park Güell
Park Güell is Antoni Gaudí’s first foray into landscape gardening. The strange, enchanting park and grounds display his passion for natural forms mixed with bright colors and unexpected twists. Only a certain number of people are allowed into the central area of the park each half-hour, so make sure to ask your Enchanted Travel expert to book your tour ahead. The rest of the park is free and you do not need to book in advance to explore it.
Casa Batlló
Casa Batlló is one of the most unique residential buildings in all of Europe. It is located on the Passeig de Gràcia. It’s kooky facade offers a glimpse into Gaudí’s odd nature and whimsy. The front is covered in green, blue and mauve tiles and it is recognizable by its wavy windows and balconies. At the top the structure holds an uneven blue-tiled roof and a single tower.
Casa Milà
Casa Milà, also known as La Pedrera, is another famous work of art by Gaudí. It shares a similar whimsical facade as Casa Batlló and was the fourth and final Gaudí work built on Passeig de Gràcia. It was designed for the industrialist Pere Milà i Camps to be his family home. On the upper floors are apartments for rent. Below is what you’ll find on the building’s rooftop:
Montserrat
Montserrat is is located about 50 km southwest of Barcelona. It is considered to be the most significant mountain in Catalonia. This is the site of the miraculous appearance of the Madonna and Child in one of the caves, Santa Cova (Saint Cave). You’ll find a number of small churches and chapels throughout the mountains, as well as the main monastery of Santa Maria de Montserrat. Head to our Facebook page to see some amazing videos that Teresa shared from her visit here.
Santa Maria de Montserrat
Santa Maria de Montserrat is a monastery at the top of the mountain that houses the depiction of the Mare de Déu de Montserrat. It is accessible by the rack railway that scales the mountain side.
Stay tuned for more on Teresa’s time in Spain, including Madrid. We will also be recapping her time in Portugal, including Lisbon and Porto. In addition, we’ll be posting about Courtni & Jeff’s hike through the Camino. Don’t miss it: Follow us on Instagram (@enchantedtravel_) & Facebook for updates.
To speak to one of our Spain Travel experts, call us at 402-390-9291 or get started here.