During my trip to Barcelona with Qatar Airways earlier this year, I stayed at Majestic Hotel & Spa Barcelona. The hotel has a fantastic location in the middle of Passeig de Gràcia, right in the city centre. There are plenty of shopping facilities and tourist attractions nearby, including many renowned buildings designed by famous Spanish Catalan architect Gaudi.
The five star hotel has a 90-year-old history in excellence and I like its vintage feel, compared to more modern hotels.
Here’s are some pictures of the room I stayed in:
The Majestic is owned by the Soldevila-Casals family, and has witnessed many important political, cultural and historical events. Located in a neoclassical building, part of its charm are the people working in the hotel, some of whom have been with the hotel for more than 40 years. Notable figures who have stayed at the hotel include Queen Maria Cristina, painter Pablo Ruiz Picasso and writer Ernest Hemingway.
Over its more than 95 years of history, the Majestic has undergone a series of renovations and maintenance work, which have always sought to preserve its classical, elegant style. The latest renovation cost more than 30 million euros.
Located at 70-72 Paseo de Gracia, t is near to landmarks like La Pedrera and Casa Batllo, the bustling Ramblas, the La Boqueria market and the Liceu Theatre.
The hotel offers 275 rooms, of which 47 are suites, with 22,000 square metres devoted to guest rooms. The unique architectural distribution of the building makes each room a one-of-a-kind space. However, although each room has its own particularities, they have all been decorated in the same style, with classical furniture, combined with contemporary elements in brown, white and beige tones.
All the rooms offer a Nespresso coffee machine, marble bath, rain shower, bathrobes and slippers, amenities from Bvlgari, free WIFI and 24-hour room service as well as access to gym and outdoor swimming pool. They got me with the free WIFI.
They also have a special room designed for people with severe disabilities with restricted mobility. Features include an overhead lift above the bed to allow guests to get in and out on their own; adapted bath and shower areas; and a remote control for doors, windows and other electronic systems.
From our hotel, there is actually a bus that goes to La Roca Village for luxury shopping at discounted prices. La Roca Village is one of the Collection of Chic Outlet Shopping Villages in Europe and China which is especially popular with mainland Chinese for their luxury goods fix.
To get to La Roca Village, there is a daily shuttle service from Monday to Saturday from the centre of Barcelona. Cost is 20 euro per adult and 11 euro per child up to 12 years old for return tickets (please check on the official website for the latest rates). The coach booking will entitle you with an extra 10% saving at selected boutiques.
Visit the official website or call +34 93 842 39 00
Departure time from Barcelona: 9:00, 10:00, 11:00, 12:00,
The village is quite large and most of the major European and American fashion labels can be found there, ranging from Armani Oulet to Hugo Boss to TAG Heuer to local Spanish brands like Campers and Desigual. There are over 100 boutiques, with prices reduced by up to 60% off the recommended retail price.
Key facilities in La Roca Village include tax-free service for non-EU visitors, available in the boutiques; tourist information centres; restaurants and cafes; free WIFI; frequent flyer programme; and that they accept Union Pay Card which is crucial for mainland Chinese tourists who may not have access to VISA, MasterCard or other more international payment modes.
La Roca Village is one of the 9 Chic Outlet Shopping Villages in Europe, with more than 900 boutiques. Other outlets include Bicester Village in London, La Vallee Village in Paris and Maasmechelen Village in Brussels. They also have one outlet in Suzhou China, Suzhou Village, which opened in May this year.
I believe in shopping and buying local when I travel, hence I went for Campers and Desigual. In total, I bought two pairs of shoes for myself, one pair for my son, a shirt for myself and a dress for my wife. I was reasonably constrained compared to my female travel companions:
If you are interested to stay at Majestic Hotel & Spa Barcelona and shop at La Roca Village, visit their respective website for more information.
