Which Starwood hotel to stay at in Barcelona?
Mar 1, 2017, 2:24 am
#46
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Barcelona, London, on a plane
Programs: BA Silver, TK E+, AA PP, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott LT Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 13,033
Bumping this thread, as it's been about three years. Has anything of note changed recently? It's our first visit to Barcelona and I'm unsure on the hotel. Going to be staying on Friday-Sunday at the end of April, and was hoping to cash in a couple of SNAs. I've got the double night and stay credit promotion right now and the price difference is about $85/night for Le Meridien vs. W or Grand Hotel Central (Design Hotel.) Any tips would be greatly appreciated!
Perhaps you could book refundable rates at both the W and LM, apply your SNAs, and cancel whichever one doesn't clear 5 days out.
When using points, the value now comes via Marriott, with the Renaissance and Cotton House both at 15K SPG points or less thanks to the 3:1 conversion ratio.
Mar 1, 2017, 8:44 pm
#47
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: New York, NY
Programs: Marriott Bonvoy Lifetime Tit, Hilton Diamond, BA Gold, Carlson Gold, UA*S,
Posts: 1,360
Was there last weekend and could not recommend Le Meridien more. It's by far the best location on Las Ramblas in the heart of it all. Great rooms and if you can get upgraded so much the better. Superb spread at breakfast too.
If you're there for the beach, the W is fine, but it's really out of the way.
If you're there for the beach, the W is fine, but it's really out of the way.
Mar 2, 2017, 1:23 pm
#48
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: In the air
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Bonvoy LT Plat, Hilton Gold, GHA Tit, BA Gold, Turkish Elite
Posts: 8,714
Mar 2, 2017, 2:49 pm
#49
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: NYC
Programs: DL Platinum, AA Plat Pro, Bonvoy Lifetime Platinum, JetBlue Mosaic 3, Amtrak Select
Posts: 966
Marriott definitely changes the equation.
Last year I was booked in the four points for Barcelona until the merger happened. Switch to the renaissance downtown and couldn't have been happier. Great location for what was a nominal extra amount of SPG points
Last year I was booked in the four points for Barcelona until the merger happened. Switch to the renaissance downtown and couldn't have been happier. Great location for what was a nominal extra amount of SPG points
Mar 2, 2017, 4:19 pm
#50
Join Date: Dec 2010
Programs: Club Awesome
Posts: 112
Stayed at the Grand Central last December. Was "upgraded" to one room class higher than what I booked, not sure what the difference would have been. The bathroom was a little odd as it just had a sliding glass door next to the toilet that didn't full close (just a small gap) so you could see in from the bed. Hotel staff was very nice, always greeted us. They provide plats with a mobile hotspot which was really nice having wifi all throughout the city. Just on the edge of the gothic district which has so many neat restaurants and shops. Pool on the roof was pretty sweet, it was December so we didn't get to use but they had daily happy hour which included free food and drinks. They also provided us two free drinks at the downstairs bar. There was a subway stop about a block and a half away. I wasn't a huge fan of Las Ramblas and liked the gothic district way more, so when we go again won't hesitate to stay there again.
Mar 7, 2017, 9:21 am
#51
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Cleveland, OH, USA
Programs: Etihad Platinum, SPG Platinum, Marriott Platinum, United Silver
Posts: 45
My pick at the moment is probably the Grand Hotel Central when it's at an equal or lower price than the Le Meridien as to me they have the most attractive rooms and the best service.
They have no obligations to SPG Platinum members, but both times I got upgraded from a lowest category room to one below suite.
Stayed at the Grand Central last December. Was "upgraded" to one room class higher than what I booked, not sure what the difference would have been. The bathroom was a little odd as it just had a sliding glass door next to the toilet that didn't full close (just a small gap) so you could see in from the bed. Hotel staff was very nice, always greeted us. They provide plats with a mobile hotspot which was really nice having wifi all throughout the city. Just on the edge of the gothic district which has so many neat restaurants and shops. Pool on the roof was pretty sweet, it was December so we didn't get to use but they had daily happy hour which included free food and drinks. They also provided us two free drinks at the downstairs bar. There was a subway stop about a block and a half away. I wasn't a huge fan of Las Ramblas and liked the gothic district way more, so when we go again won't hesitate to stay there again.
Aug 10, 2017, 12:11 pm
#52
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: WAS
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 52
Aug 10, 2017, 4:02 pm
#54
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Rancho Mirage, CA
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Titanium
Posts: 321
Jan 11, 2018, 5:12 am
#56
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Belgium
Programs: SPG Platinum & Gold for life, M&M Senator, Flying Blue Platinum,
Posts: 90
The Grand Hotel Central has been removed as a Starwood property sincs the beginning of 2018. A pity if you ask me, location was perfect and service was outstansing. Hopefully another property will be added soon in Barcelona.
Jan 13, 2018, 4:41 pm
#57
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: check swarm
Programs: DL DM & 2MM, SPG/Bonvoid LT Titanium, Hyatt Globalist, $tarbucks Titanium
Posts: 14,403
Still a great hotel. It was always cheaper to book it on Tablet.com and if you had Tablet Plus, you'd get better perks than when they were with SPG anyway.
Jan 13, 2018, 4:50 pm
#58
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: seat 1A
Programs: UA GS 2MM, Marriott Life Titanium, some other stuff
Posts: 162
One of my very favorite SPG suites is at the W Barcelona. Ocean+city view, wrap-around. It's huge and fantastic, especially when traveling with a SO. (There are only a few of them - they're at the leading edge "point" of the hotel, so only one per floor and I don't believe all floors have them. Recommend confirming in advance with a suite upgrade!) As others have noted, it's a nice walk to Las Ramblas and quick by taxi.... but personally I'd skip it and stick to the La Barceloneta area, at least for food. Plenty of little local spots just off the main street. Which just so happens to be closer to the W anyway!
Jun 18, 2018, 10:37 am
#60
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Orange County, CA
Programs: SPG Gold
Posts: 54
Perfect Hotel for Las Rambals
Was there last weekend and could not recommend Le Meridien more. It's by far the best location on Las Ramblas in the heart of it all. Great rooms and if you can get upgraded so much the better. Superb spread at breakfast too.
If you're there for the beach, the W is fine, but it's really out of the way.
If you're there for the beach, the W is fine, but it's really out of the way.
Couldn't agree more. Our platinum upgrade was to a newer room. Rooms are small, but that is to be expected in a city hotel. Service was fantastic. My MIL left cash in the safe and it was returned to us without issue.