Yes, me again with the perennial question!

I'm considering a visit to this area, with a probable beginning in Girona, for late next spring.
Like so many others, I'd love to find a hotel for a stay of a week or two that would be easy to either walk to good restaurants, or take a short drive to the same. I am fine with renting a car.

I do not know this area well, although have visited.


I would prefer the area near Begur, or inland I that general vicinity.
Near Begur I've found ONE hotel with a heated pool and this is a Melia that gets decent but not wonderful reviews.

Sea water will likely be too cold for me to swim, so staying inland would be fine, perhaps within a 20-minite to 30-minute drive of the coast.

I'm open to anything. Prefer a charming hotel with character. My first look was at the two "landmark" Begur hotels but neither of them have heated swimming pools.
I did find a hotel that sounded interesting and had a heated, large indoor pool but I neglected to mark it....sooner or alter I will remember it....

Maribel and others have some ideas on the two older threads that I brought up but those are quite old, so beginning a new thread to begin looking into a possible future trip.

I'd love some ideas...I'd even consider another region of Spain if I can find great food and a heated pool.......but I fear chances of finding such are slim...and it' time for me to return to Catalonia..as I do not think I've been in fifteen years or more, apart from a visit to Barcelona and even that was around 2015)


Many, many thanks....

Ekscrunchy,
The pools in the Costa Brava are seasonal; there is a brand new 5-star Finca Victoria in the Begur area, actually close to Sa Riera, but I don't know if the pool is heated or not. Some suites have a private pool.
https://hotelfincavictoria.com/en/be...finca-victoria

It was opened by the Majestic Group (the Majestic being our preferred Barcelona hotel) and is a member of Design Hotels. Too new for extensive online reviews.

The "season" in the Costa Brava starts usually after Easter.

We have spent the post Christmas, post Epiphany in the Costa Brava when it is extremely quiet and at the Parador. Their pool was filled but closed. Again, you would need to wait until after Holy Week to find any hotels with open pools, I think, and most, in my experience, are unheated. The jewel of the Costa Brava, IMO, is the Begur-Aiguablava-Calella de Palafrugell-Llafranc-Tamariú area, my favorite part. The Aiguablava Parador pool was officially opened this year on May 16,


The 5-star Hotel Peralada Wine, Golf and Spa in the Alt Empordá, which impressed us, does have an outdoor heated pool, but you would need to ask if it is seasonal. We drove there while staying at the Parador de Aiguablava.
https://www.hotelperalada.com/es

Maribel thank you so much..both hotels looks first-rate and I have inquired about the pool heating.

As you know, we are now relaxing at La Toxa and like the idea of a June vacation with pool sod much that I'm now investigating for next year at this time or maybe a bit earlier in the month.
A return to this hotel would not be out of the question, either..their pool is heated and it's quite large and excellent for swimming.

I'm glad you love La Toxa and am also glad that I recommended it to you, along with your dining. How many soaps/gels are you stashing in your suitcase, not to mention conservas?

The Finca Victoria is brand new so it will be a better choice for you next spring. It also has a restaurant Al Kostat, a sibling of Jordi Vilà's Al Kostat in Barcelona.

The only issue would be its opening date for the season. It may not be open until March 27, so check. As I mentioned, the season for some of the Costa Brava hotels (like the venerable Hotel Aiguablava) starts around Easter. I thought you were planning to combine Barcelona, Girona, Costa Brava with Vejer for next spring, flying from Barcelona to Jerez?.

Begur and environs are stunning---Aiguablava, Tamariú, Calella de Palafrugell, Llafranc. It's my very favorite section of the Costa Brava and with excursion possibilities galore.

Maribel thanks so much!!

I'm sure I am confusing you with all these questions!! I'm a little confused myself, but this would be a plan: For March, I decided (I think) on Barcelona for a week or so, sola, before flying to Jerez and going on to Vejer as usual

But now that my partner seems happy to take a relaxing vacation in June, I was wondering about another trip to Spain during that month: Either Costa Brava, which I barely know at all.....the alternative would be to return to La Toxa. I would certainly pile up those Avios, either way. This is the first time in may years that I've traveled June, but the weather has been excellent and there are few crowds, at least here in Galicia.

Maribel, I am poring over the online information about these two hotels. OF the two, the new FINCA VICTORIA appears to have the better location, as it's near Begur and the beach.
But what do you think of the location of the Hotel Spa Perralada? It's less than a half an hour to Roses, so I could have that long-awaited meal at Rafa's. (He you been there?)
More important, I've never been to the Dali Museum, and the French border looks not too far from the hotel, so perhaps a few days in a town in France?

Could you offer a little more info about the area near the PERALADA hotel, the Emporda? I believe this is a favorite region of yours and even if we are not wine enthusiasts, I imagine scenery and gastronomy must be well-worth a relaxed visit.

I apologize again for the confusion and the many questions about two different periods in the first part of next year. I gave up the idea of Mallorca in March and think a week or so in Barcelona would work well combined with my stay near Vejer; there are daily flights between BCN and Jerez and I've not been to Barcelona in ten years or more, my partner much longer. (I'm looking at the MAJESTIC but will get to that decision later on)

So this thread concerns a stay in June, and my partner would go along. We would rent a car. So I am open to anything although as you know, swimming is a high priority.

There IS a hotel in Begur with a heated pool; we might even combine that with a stay in Peralada. but the hotel it this one, which I believe has become "Affiliated" with Melia flag not too long ago. What are your thoughts on this hotel?

https://www.melia.com/es/hoteles/esp...etu-begur-1711


As usual, a million thanks for taking all this time to help me--yet again!!

Hi eks,
Now I understand that you're thinking about the Costa Brava for June. Got it! .

In that case, I would make it for earlier in June, before the school year ends (this year it's June 20 here in my 'burb).
The northern Costa Brava is very popular among well-to-do catalán families who return to the same hotel year after year. At the family-run, venerable Hotel Aiguablava we've had a difficult time securing a room as they are reserved from year to year by the same families and last time, we ended up with a room without a Med view (our friends did have one). And we were forced into half-board once, which was very frustrating with all the wonderful restaurants that abound in this area.

I just looked at availability at the completely renovated Parador de Aiguablava, and there are still some sea view rooms at 350/night for the last week of June. But...I think you stayed there (???) long ago before the renovation. And its pool is smaller.

As to the new Eetu Begur, it's also on the Bay of Fornells, along with the other two, but I haven't seen it. I'm rather particular about hotels, and it isn't reviewed as highly as the Aiguablava and the Parador, and it's Meliá branded, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but a hotel opened by the Majestic, like Finca Victoria will be much nicer. The Majestic Group's properties are deluxe, always with fine dining.

The location of the Finca Victoria is near the beach of Sa Riera, so close to the charming, Indiano mansion-filled town of Begur--just a 5 minute drive. I wouldn't worry about making the trip up to Roses for Rafa's. I don't hear much about it anymore now than El Bulli has closed. It's where the El Bulli team used to go for fish. It isn't even listed in the 15-page Macarfi Girona province guide. The chef/owner died 2 years ago.

There are oodles of wonderful dining spots in the Baix Empordà, both inland and on the Med. You must have the rectangular rice dish at Toc, right at the water's edge on the Aiguablava beach.

The Peralada, in the Alt Empordà, is golf, spa and wine focused. It has been around for quite a long time, and it too guests a loyal, repeat clientele. And it gets splendid reviews.
We've stayed in the Alt Empordà for trips to Figueres and to make forays into French Catalonia, to Ceret and to Collioure (we've also stayed in both on different trips). And the scenery in the upper Empordá is equally stunning plus...
you have the wonderful "El Motel" in Figueres, where nouvelle catalán cuisine was originated by the founder Josep Mercader--a classic. My husband had the most wonderful liebre a la Royale there that he still talks about.

So....you can't go wrong with either property, the new Finca Victoria or the Peralada, I think.

BTW, we loved!! our 4-night stay at the le Mas Trilles in Ceret, the beautiful cherry town in French Catalonia with an excellent modern art museum (Picasso, Chagall, etc.).
We booked the luxury room with terrace. The couple who run the inn are so charming, warm and welcoming.

I just remembered that the new Finca Victoria is adults only.

The Telegraph review of the Peralada.

Eks,

My daughter and I were in the CB last spring. I researched hotels around Begur ALOT, and the two with a pool that I have in my notes are Alta House and Convent de Begur. (We ended up choosing a lovely, small hotel just outside of Begur with great med views, but no pool). I don’t know if the two I mentioned will be what you’re looking for, but perhaps check them out.
I’m excited vicariously for your CB trip! Will be following your plans!

Eks,
I do know the 4-star El Convento and I think (???) I remember discussing it with you a long time ago. It sits further away from Sa Riera cove, so no sea views but instead garden and pool views. There are plenty of reviews on booking and TA but none, I think, addresses whether it is heated or not.

The Telegraph review here.

You’re right Maribel, El Convento has garden/pool views. Alta House has sea views and a rooftop resto/terrace. Both get very good reviews.

Thank you, Joan and, again, I am indebted to Maribel for her incredible amount of help.

I finally heard from FINCA VICTORIA; their pool is not heated, so in Begur it looks like the only heated pool is at that Melia-affiliated hotel. It might be silly to pursue this heated pool idea, and smarter to just book the nicest hotel and forget swimming in late spring.

I still have to write to the PERALADA WINE RESORT in Emporda; I'm wondering about splitting a stay in Begur with a stay in the Alt Emporda....

MAS DE TORRENT's pool is also unheated.

That's what I thought. the Relais Chateau MAS DE TORRENT, which we had discussed long ago (I think), also has an unheated pool.
Maybe split your time between utterly charming Begur in the Baix Empordà and Peralada in the Alt.
Both are described by catalans topographically, in terms of landscape, as in look of the countryside, (as did catalán writer Josep Pla) as "la Toscana Catalana".

Eks, Splitting your time between Begur and a winery stay in the Alt sounds like a great idea.

Not for you, eks, but for others contemplating a summer stay on the northern Costa Brava or in the Baix-Alt Empordà countryside:
There are two major, prestigious musical festivals that take place in July-August.

First in the Alt Empordà, starting July 5 this season:
the Festival Internacional Castell de Peralada, combining opera, symphony, theater and dance, whose wonderful venue is the medieval castle.
https://www.festivalperalada.com/en/

The second, on the Costa Brava outside of the charming seaside village of Calella de Palafrugell, in the Cap Roig botanical gardens overlooking the sea:
the Festival de Cap Roig, running this season from July 12-August 16, featuring international known contemporary voices, such as Michael Bublé.
https://caproigfestival.com/en/program/

ekscrunchy,
I´ve taken a tour of the facilities of Hotel Peralada and have a friend who owns a tour company who loves to stay there. But, looking for an outdoor heated pool open in the spring in Spain is a very difficult task, as you see. You've found wonderful exceptions on Lanzarote, A Toxa and at your Costa de la Luz hideaway, but these outdoor heated pools are just few and far between.

On Mallorca you'll find them (the Es Princep comes to mind) as well as Tenerife and in the luxury resorts of Marbella.

And of course, there are the indoor wellness pools like the one at Abadía Retuerta, or Pueblo Astur or Gran Hotel Las Caldas outside of Oviedo.

Our pretty apartment complex in Estepona, just west of Marbella, where we spent a week with friends in May (as their guests) has 5 pools that are kept open all year, but not actually heated, only by the sun. While I thought the water was too cool, my Spanish friends didn’t and jumped right in.

And now, look who is chiming in:


https://www.cntraveler.com/story/bes...term=CNT_Daily

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Yes, there's now the Villa Salvador in Cadaqués, but I wouldn't use Cadaqués ever as a base, as it's just too isolated for touring (that very serpentine, slow going road from Roses!), unless one wants to do lots of hiking at the Cap de Creus.

I've seen the Mas de Torrent and it's luxurious but a countryside retreat. Same owners as the Hotel Único here in Madrid on Claudio Coello (where Ramón Freixa had his restaurant before departing to open his new place on Velázquez---yet to be inaugurated).

The new Isabella's in Llafranc is a remake of the old Llevant.

No mention in the article of Rafa's in Roses, but instead of the new "pilgrimage" site for food lovers, Paco Pérez's 2 Michelin-starred Miramar in Llança (with 3 Repsol suns), the one that should be on your list, as it has an a la carte option in addition to the tasting menus. It's more easily accessible from the Figueres side--much closer to Peralada. It also has ocean-facing suites.

While I know you're not planning a Costa Brava trip soon, I'll just mention that one of my favorite professional gastro blogs just reviewed today the restaurant Alkostat Del Mar by Jordi Vilà of Barcelona's Alkimia in the new Finca Victoria, that I highlighted to you. She loved her meal there, especially the grilled crustaceans and the hotel has lovely al fresco dining.

Said reviewer also enjoyed Toc al Mar for its rices, which I recommended to you, right on the beach below the Parador of Aiguablava plus Tragamar and Margarita (the latter, a new one for me) in Calella de Palafrugell plus Isabella's in the redo of the former Hotel Llevant in Llfranc. Lots of great dining here in the northern Costa Brava.

A definite vote for Toc al Mar ( Maribel’s recommendation to me last year, and we loved it)!