Barcelona is endlessly edgy, incredibly cool, way too much fun. It's the Catalan rebel yell in the country that believes in siestas, sangria and sunshine. From the sexy shores of The Med, through the beguiling lanes lined with bars and restaurants of El Born, to the streets of boutiques, the fragrant markets and the historic squares, visiting Barcelona is a trip. And when the festivals, the tapas and the fun get too much, duck into the cool, calm sanctuary of a spa.
Spa Up High With The Best View In Town At Gran Hotel La Florida
The Gran Hotel La Florida, near the Placa del Tibidabo, is the place to get perspective on the fantastic city of Barcelona. The Zen Zone Spa is a luxury haven of hammam, steam, caldarium and Jacuzzi and treatments by Payot. The banana-shaped, blue-glowing Alphasphere tent looks alien but after 20 minutes of warm, oxygenated blissing out, spa guests will be converted.
A Bijou Spa for Just a Select Few at AbaC Hotel
From a Michelin-starred restaurant in El Born to one of the city’s most exclusive hideaways, AbaC has just 15 designer guestrooms. The spa is just as perfect, a cocoon of mosaic stones and hydrotherapy pools with bubbling lounge beds. Treatments are so relaxing that after a few zeds guests may not remember them afterwards.
Seriously Sophisticated Spa Services at Hotel Rey Juan Carlos I
That Rey Juan Carlos I, the leading business hotel, has one of the biggest spas in town makes an interesting comment on how vitally its guests view their health. Foot spas, hammams, hydrotherapy are all here in this spacious bells-and-whistles spa. Facials go patriotic, using local luxury brand Natura Bisse.
Go Natural at The Casanova Hotel’s Stone Spa
While the Casanova Hotel may be cute and cool, there’s a contrast in store when guests enter the spa. Colours are replaced by natural shades in stone, wood and neutral shades. Hydrotherapy is emphasized through the Jacuzzi, steam/shower cabin and Vichy shower, but best of all are the cabanas in the central garden for alfresco massages.
Chic Sleek Hotel Omm and its Spaciomm
One of the hippest hotels in town, Hotel Omm is an architect and interior designer’s dream of a hotel, and Spaciomm welcomes with Japanese black and white print walls, a menu etched beside, and eight treatment rooms for Oriental therapies. Chill out on the hotel’s roof terrace to cool tunes afterwards.
Living History at the Grand Luxe Majestic Hotel
A masterpiece of a hotel, the Majestic Hotel and Spa Barcelona is all about art. It has designer contemporary luxury in the rooms and the divine Solarium Terrace and Bar with a view of Las Ramblas, the whole set on the top-brand boutique strip of Paseo de Gracia. The spa champions Natura Bisse, with cutting-edge neuro-aromatherapy, hot and cold stone massage, and a facial that uses diamond dust. It’s exclusive in the extreme.
A Gentleman’s Club of a Hotel and Spa at H1989
Opulence and comfort in wood and leather, dark browns and blacks? It must be H1898. Here the hotel’s spa is one floor down, a cellar of a space with indoor pool, and hot and cold showers. Just two rooms are designed to welcome for Oriental treatments, and guests leave smelling exotic after treatments with cardamom, saffron and cinnamon.
Young, Sexy and Fun is ME Barcelona
Services at ME Barcelona turn off the beaten track, making surprised guests smile with pleasure at mini-bars with vibrators, bling collars for guests' pets, and Playstation and Wii in the exec club. The YHI Spa is water playground combined with treatment centre, a spa valet looking after each guest at every step. The Spice Energy Relax is a refreshing mix of peel and massage.
Cool Luxury on The Med with the Hotel Arts by Ritz-Carlton
A landmark of a building, the Hotel Arts overlooks the Med’s beaches, hedonistic expanses of sun, sea and oily bodies. Up on the 42nd and 43rd floors The Spa by Six Senses has guests soak first and get treated after with a mix of Asian and European therapies like hot stone massage and deep cleansing facials. Take to a lounge bed on the corner terrace for ginger tea to finish.
Start your day in Barcelona, end your evening in Barcelona, but during the day travel to Asia and beyond in the treatment rooms of the city’s best hotel spas.
Catharine Nicol - Catharine Nicol travelled to Hong Kong to stay for four weeks in 1997. She's still there, loving every minute of living, travelling, ...
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