misha2

What would you suggest? My friend wants the ultimate luxury and service for the night before and after a cruise in late July. They are a family of 3.

Thanks

Robert2533

Of course most people would tell you to go with the Mandarin Oriental, but the Palace (hotelpalacebarcelona.com) would be my first choice for classic luxury in Barcelona, followed by the Majestic. Overall it would be difficult to choose between the three, and you can always throw in the Casa Fuster for pure luxury to make the choice even harder.

misha2

Why the Palace over the others? The locations seem equally good. Would love to hear specifics if possible.

Thanks

Robert2533

It's a beautiful hotel, completely renovated (over 200,000,000 EUR), reopening in 2009. It has one of Barcelona's best restaurants and the service is about as good as you would expect from a top-of-the-line 5-star Gran Lux property. If the price is right, I'd go for it without blinking an eye.

ekscrunchy

Robert: Is that the old Ritz Hotel?

qwovadis

The luxurious Mandarin Oriental Barcelona features a spa, rooftop pool and wonderful city views.

http://www.booking.com/hotel/es/mand...celona.en.html

Best by far check honest reviews from recent guests

compare to others...not as great.

qwovadis

Eurostars Marina my second choice if Mandarin is booked

Right at the port a club floor suite when I did my last

cruise from there with Princess.

ekscrunchy

QV: Please stop with the shilling for that booking site!

Have you stayed at any of the 3 hotels that the OP is considering?

RomanticFlats

Did you think about the W Hotel. Right by the beach and priceless views really...

http://www.booking.com/hotel/es/barc...celona.en.html

Robert2533

Yes, the Palace was the original Ritz in Barcelona (the Arts is now the Ritz). The owners dropped their association with the Ritz and moved on.

Luxury comes in all flavors. The Mandarin Oriental Barcelona is fine, but I prefer the more traditional refined luxury and attention to detail of the classic hotels.

If you enjoy large, bright, ultramodern hotels, then welcome to the W Barcelona (473 rooms). I wouldn't call it a Gran Lux property, but it is next to one of the cities most popular nude beaches, Playa Sant Sebastià.

misha2

Wow! So much to consider. I guess the Magestic is out. I'll keep looking. Thanks for the feedback.

Robert2533

I would never count the Magestic out. It is an excellent 5-star Gran Lux property and has been one of our favorites for a number of years.