Barcelona was my final stop in Spain, and on this vacation; Madrid was first and Monaco was second. I try to end my vacations with less activity, more peace and relaxation, and of course luxury. Each leg of this trip was unique and special in its own way and little did I know that Barcelona would not only be the perfect way to close out this trip, but it would make a home in my heart and require at least two more future visits to take in all that it really has to offer.
And I know once you visit, you’ll feel the same way and want to go back for various reasons in varying seasons.
After the amazing experience I had in Madrid, I knew that Barcelona would be equally spectacular, and I needed to make the most of my four days in town. This meant planning ahead of time for dinners, exploring on my own, and of course excursions. During my downtime in Monaco, I did just that. Since I was already packed and didn’t have to contend with the process, I could devote all of my energy towards fun versus tedious.
The summer solstice in some countries is wildly celebrated. In fact, Barcelona allows fireworks to be set off by residents only one day per year, and it's the summer solstice. I highly recommend planning to visit one of these countries for this celebration at least once in your life.
My process:
Travel Day
Customs in Barcelona were similar to Madrid and very easy. After a 20-minute cab ride, I arrived at the Ritz Carlton Hotel Arts Barcelona on the Port Olimpic waterfront.
It cost me 60,000 points per night. I was upgraded to a junior suite, on a high floor, with ocean views and a spectacularly large bathroom and shower. The hotel pool was 5 floors above the street and beach, boasting amazing views and a great bar.
It was the Verbana de San Juan (Summer solstice). As the night progressed, the beaches became filled, fireworks were blasting, and I watched it all from 25 floors up in my room.
Day One – Solo Exploration
I was on the loose by 8:30 am to explore surrounding areas and La Rambla. I visited the Cathedral of Barcelona, which was a beautiful church and experience. Later, I had dinner at Enoteca Restaurant inside my hotel. It is a dual Michelin star restaurant and was a dinner memory that would last a lifetime.
Day Two – Cooking Paella
I decided to do a paella excursion. We met at an old, small bar, then walked to a private kitchen—a modern, well-adorned test kitchen environment. After putting on aprons and chef’s hats, we cooked paella together as a group. By far, one of the best excursions I have ever booked.
Day Three – Architecture and History
This tour required an early start (8 am) and lasted 9.5 hours.
Montserrat: A monastery up on a mountain top overlooking Barcelona. We toured the church, saw one of the remaining Black Madonna’s, and tried wine/liquor made by monks.
Sagrada Familia: The most notorious church in Spain. Words can’t express the awe you experience taking in this Gaudi-designed structure.
Other stops: Park Guell and other historic Gaudi-designed buildings.
Trip Summary/Recap
Spain really raised my bar for Europe. If you can stay by the ocean in the Ritz or W hotel, I highly recommend it. Barcelona really is the perfect year-round destination.
Tips & Tricks
Packing: Monitor the weather. Bring pool/beach attire. Dining attire is necessary. Bring wedges for dinner to avoid trouble on cobblestone streets.
Locale: Barcelona is humid as it’s by the ocean. Bring a packet of Liquid I.V. for each day. Bring cash; it’s welcomed by street vendors and small shops, and you often get a discount. Walking along La Rambla is heavenly; it will consume 1/2 day.
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