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Even the most devout urbanista needs some downtime. Here are
our top picks for weekend getaway hotels—all destinations in themselves, and within 100 miles or so of the world's greatest cities.
Best Weekend Getaway Hotels in....
Best Weekend Getaway Hotels
Barcelona
Can Bonastre Wine Resort
Crta. B-224 Km. 13,2, Masquefa, 093.772.8767, €€€ canbonastre.com
The Draw: This is the one and only boutique-style accommodation in the Penedès, Catalonia’s wine country. The Scene: Wine tourism in the Penedès in starting to take off. Tours of Codorníu and Freixenet, the region's most emblematic bodegas, are now held on a regular basis, and smaller specialty wineries, such as Jean Leon, are following suit. Until now, the problem has been finding a stylish place to stay after getting tipsy at the tastings. The owners of the Can Bonastre Wine Resort have stepped in with a 12-room bolthole in a converted masia (country home). Part of a family-run wine estate, the tastefully conceived rooms in natural woods and white textiles look out over the vineyards, and a modern spa offers massage and vinotherapy treatments—meaning you can choose to cure your hangover with a Thai head rub and a hot tub full of chardonnay. Hot Tip: The vineyards of the Penedès are most picturesque in September, the time of the vendimia (harvest).
Hostal La Gavina
Plaça de la Rosaleda, S'Agaro, 097.232.1100, €€€ lagavina.com
The Draw: Bleached-white Art Deco hotel set against the glittering backdrop of the blue Mediterranean—need we say more? The Scene: If you are lucky enough to have nabbed a table at El Bullí, Ferran Adria's famous restaurant on the Costa Brava, then you should really stay at the best hotel on the coast. La Gavina ("the seagull") is simply that. Elizabeth Taylor, Ava Gardner, and Orson Welles used to make whoopee here in the property's early heyday; it's now part of the Leading Hotels of the World collection. These days, you're likely to bump into rock stars and politicos in the extensive manicured gardens, sea-facing spa, or numerous public terraces. Rooms have remained Old World, combining luxe furnishings with every creature comfort. Hot Tip: Venture off the grounds, and stroll the Cami del Mar, a two-km elevated coastal promenade to Sa Concha beach. Along the way, you get to peek into the gardens of some of the elegant Modernista mansions that are La Gavina's neighbors.
Mas les Cols
Ctra. de la Canya, s/n, Olot, 097.226.9209, €€€ lescols.com
The Draw: For cutting-edge cuisine and stunning architecture, this destination hotel is also situated in the gastronomic heart of Catalonia. The Scene: Beautiful enough to have made the cover of the book Les Plus Beaux Restaurants du Monde, Mas les Cols will make you rethink the concept of a rural hotel. Located in La Garrotxa, a lush and mountainous region in northern Catalonia, its main raison d' être is a Michelin-starred restaurant located in a minimalist stone and glass extension of the original farmhouse. This is the work of RCR, a local architecture studio whose avant-garde installations often border on land art. RCR also conceived the five rooms on the property in the same style, where diners may choose to spend the night gazing at the stars through strategically placed windows. Hot Tip: Although the main attraction of La Garrotxa is the breathtaking scenery, don't overlook (as many do) its capital, Olot. This lively rural town has some lovely examples of Catalan Modernista (Art Nouveau) architecture, which you can admire sans the Barcelona tourists.
