Beautiful Barcelona

A large part of my job is to visit destinations and tour different lodging properties so I can better match my clients with the best options for them.

I was fortunate to travel with a representation company (Wanderluxe Destinations) to visit one of their properties in Barcelona - the 5* Grand Hotel Central. As a newly renovated hotel re-debuted in March 2024, Grand Hotel Central’s prime location in the Gothic Quarter connects guests to the culture and creativity of this iconic city. With 146 rooms & suites, Can Bo, a Michelin recommended restaurant, and a rooftop with sprawling views and pool, the hotel just makes for an effortless stay reimagined in the Catalan Noucentisme style. We were warmly welcomed with rooms in the Deluxe room category, which also offered their pinkish color scheme and happily sited other room categories, all decorated beautifully, with plenty of space and comfort top-of-mind. We enjoyed meals both on the rooftop terrace, a smattering of Mediterranean inspired tapas and craft cocktails, and at Can Bo, which was a 5-course wine-pairing menu showcasing the diversity of both their Spanish and Italian chefs in-house. Both were absolutely delicious and both are well-regarded by the locals and tourists!

Barcelona, a city of 1.7 million and maintaining a strong regional identity rooted in Catalan language and traditions, is known for its unique blend of history, culture and modern energy. It serves as the capital of Catalonia and is famous for its striking architecture by Antoni Gaudi. It offers a mix of medieval charm in areas like the Gothic Quarter, lively markets such as La Boqueria and a bustling seaside along the Mediterranean. Renowned for its art, cuisine and football culture, the city attracts millions of visitors each year. The Picasso Museum is also a famous attraction here too.

We eased into our visit with a shopping experience at El Corte Ingles, a luxury department store with locations in both Spain & Portugal. We had a private session learning about the offerings for guests, followed by a session with Longines and the history of this iconic watch brand followed by our own shopping, of course!

With the help of the The Real Thing, WanderLuxe’s Spanish DMC, we had an informative and lovely city tour, first with a brief history lesson of Barcelona (a city essentially founded by the Romans in the 1^st century BC and an in-depth focus of El Born, El Raval and the Gothic Quarter), highlighting all of the must-see spots of Barcelona, ending with Sagrada Familia, the tallest building in Barcelona and the tallest church in the world. It’s a huge year for this, as Gaudi will have passed 100 years ago, and the Pope is coming on June 10^th to bless the basilica. Barcelona comprises one of the biggest ports in Europe, and we were lucky enough to also admire Barcelona from the water with a wonderful sunset catamaran, where we even had a captain who taught us a little bit about sailing! It was a fast and furious overview of a dynamic city, and one that will have us coming back for more exploration!