Mediterranean Escape: Barcelona, Valencia & Mallorca

Hotel 1898 Overview

Located right on the liveliest artery in Barcelona, La Rambla, Hotel 1898 is only a minute on foot from Placa Catalunya making it easy to get anywhere in the city. Offering convenience while evoking the country’s opulent 19th-century past in its décor and architecture, it’s a top pick for those willing to spend more for luxurious comforts and historic style. The roof is the crown jewel during the warmer months with a pool, lots of comfy couches, and an outdoor bar. Classic movies are shown here in the summer too, and once the weather turns cold, they can be enjoyed in the lobby along with an indoor pool. You’ll also find a well-equipped fitness room and a spa in an atmospheric, illuminated grotto. There’s a sauna, steam room, spa tub, and a menu of massage and beauty treatments. Rooms are spacious and include colonial-era maps, big flat-screen TVs, robes and slippers, pillow menus, and marble bathrooms. Some have their own private terrace.

About Mandarin Oriental Barcelona

Set within a converted 19th-century bank building, the Mandarin Oriental Barcelona offers an ultra-luxurious stay on the prestigious Passeig de Gràcia, one of the city’s most exclusive shopping boulevards. It hosts some of the largest accommodations in Barcelona, with 120 rooms and suites, all featuring large flat-screen TVs, stocked minibars, hardwood floors, Apple docking stations, and yoga mats. Suites also feature balconies that overlook Gaudí’s famous Casa Batlló and Passeig de Gràcia or the hotel garden.

The multiple dining and drinking venues include the rooftop Terrat for alfresco Mediterranean fare and cocktails and the unique Banker’s Bar. Guests also enjoy the all-day Blanc restaurant with Catalan favorites and a popular Sunday brunch. For a refined fine dining experience, Moments is focused on seasonal, health-conscious Catalan gastronomy with seasonal ingredients.

Facilities include a lavish spa with a beautiful heated indoor pool, a steam room, and a relaxation area. The wide range of treatments includes pampering massages, signature therapies like the Digital Wellness Escape, scrubs, facials, and more. There’s also a hair spa with styling services and a fitness center with state-of-the-art Technogym weight training and cardio equipment.

About Vincci Mercat

Located in the heart of Valencia’s historic center, the Vincci Mercat is within walking distance of many top attractions, including Valencia Cathedral and Central Market. The 4-star hotel has a modern design and hosts 68 spacious rooms with parquet floors and standard amenities that include flat-screen TVs with free pay TV channels, minibars, electric kettles, complimentary tea and coffee, and room service. Triple Rooms and Connecting Rooms are available, ideal for families or friends traveling together. 

There is no full-service restaurant, but there is a breakfast room that hosts a breakfast buffet with hot items like cooked-to-order eggs and a wide range of baked goods is available. Light fare can be enjoyed at the cocktail lounge and bar in the lobby.

The crown jewel at Vincci Mercat is the rooftop plunge pool. Here you can enjoy picturesque surrounding views from the deck while relaxing on one of the loungers, perhaps while sipping a drink from the seasonal poolside bar, a popular evening hangout.

Only You Hotel Valencia Overview

An elegant luxury hotel tucked among the tree-lined streets of Old Town Valencia, the Only YOU Hotel provides a relaxed, Mediterranean coastal vibe. It’s set within a landmark building that was once the Hotel Astoria, where past guests included Sofia Loren and Salvador Dali, yet it has an Instagrammable modern design. The 191 rooms are modern with Art Deco nods, featuring standard amenities that include many high-tech features, 55″ flat-screen TVs with Chromecast built-in, Nespresso coffee machines, electric kettles, and designer robes and slippers. Even the basic rooms offer courtyard views, but many showcase magnificent city views, and the higher-end suites include balconies.Start your day with the generous breakfast buffet featuring typical Valencian products with vegan and gluten-free options available. There are two gourmet restaurants, including El Mirador de Only YOU, known for its signature paella, and SLVJ Valencia for Japanese gastronomy and live shows. The Trotomundos cocktail bar offers sushi, wines, and cocktails.A massage room on-site offers personalized massages and treatments aimed at rejuvenating body and mind, while the 24-hour gym is well-equipped with cardio and weight training equipment.

Hospes Maricel Overview

Hospes Maricel has a secluded feel, surrounded by the water, coves, and mountains, yet it’s just outside central Palma, a 15-minute walk or five-minute drive from local bars, restaurants, and nightlife. There are some fabulous dining options on-site, from the generous breakfast buffet featuring Mallorcan delicacies to the Marcil, a restaurant with a romantic sea-view terrace open for lunch and dinner with a five-course tasting menu and a la carte dishes. From the private jetty, enjoy a memorable swim, or head to the large infinity pool where you’ll find a poolside bar. The full-service spa includes an indoor/outdoor pool too, along with a steam room, sauna, a hot tub, and hair salon. Pampering treatments can be enjoyed in natural grottoes or the spa. Most of the rooms showcase sea views along with standard amenities like minibars, TVs, kettles, and bathrobes.

Es Princep Hotel Overview

A chic 5-star boutique hotel, Es Princep is nestled in a tranquil corner of Palma de Mallorca’s Old Town near the ancient ramparts. There are 68 rooms and suites, all boasting sea views, and some have a partial view of the Old Town too. All featured Nespresso machines, kettles, minibars, and flat-screen TVs, with bathrooms that have heated floors, hairdryers and straighteners, luxury toiletries, and robes and slippers.There are two gourmet restaurants, including Es Princep Rooftop with a sea view and an extensive menu, including cocktails. Zaranda offers degustation menus for the total gastronomic experience. The cocktail bar, hidden behind the reception area, is staffed by expert mixologists serving contemporary and classic cocktails.On the rooftop terrace, you’ll find an infinity pool where you can relax with a panoramic view of Palma Bay. There’s also a beautiful subterranean spa with a sauna, Jacuzzi, swimming pool, and a very extensive menu of luxurious treatments from massages and facials to scrubs, manicures, pedicures, and even eyebrow shaping. A well-equipped gym is also available with personal trainers upon request.