Located in Barcelona, Spain is the El Palauet Living. This immaculately designed luxury all-suite boutique hotel on Passeig de Gracia, makes this luxury hotel uniquely positioned to offer the lucky visitor a singular holiday experience. Guests can enjoy animated celebrations just steps outside the hotel’s front door. When the temps drop during winter, take advantage of the Finnish sauna to warm your chilled bones.

El Palauet Living is centrally located in the Gracia area, whose bohemian, cultural impetus is evident around every corner. The holidays are a spirited time in Barcelona, with schools closed and families spending much of the nearly two-week celebration together.

The streets of Barcelona are lined and decorated with colorful light displays. In lieu of Santa Claus, the Tres Reis Mags, the biblical Three Kings, or Magi, bring gifts for children aboard a tall-masted ship which arrives each January 5th at 5 in the evening to the Fuste Pier on Barcelona’s famous waterfront.

The all-suite, El Palauet Living hotel features six large 1600 square foot apartment suites. Each luxury and spacious suite offers the comfort, feeling, and familiarity of home. In addition, guests receive a highly personalized guest service program plus on-call personal assistants.

El Palauet Living is currently celebrating a milestone 5-year anniversary. The holidays are a spirited time in Barcelona and it’s a wonderful time to visit Spain and spend time touring the magnificent city of Barcelona. El Palauet is located in the Gracia area> Therefore, there’s a strong bohemian influence. Enjoy strong cultural at every street corner.

Barcelona is primarily a Catholic town. In fact, Christmas begins on December 24th and will continue until January 6th, which is called the Epiphany. This tradition utilizes the entire “12 Days of Christmas.”

The Catalan evenings come alive with a variety of artistic, lighting installations. The holiday lights line the streets to create a simply magical atmosphere. The annual Christmas parade (cabalgata) starts when the Three Kings get off their wooden ship. The Barcelona parade follows the major streets of the city. Once it arrives at the spacious Plaza de Catalunya, the Kings ride behind an array of floats and colorful Christmas adornments. A genuine VIP experience!

In addition to the beginning of a new Year, New Years also brings a tradition. At midnight with celebrations rockling all around Barcelona, partiers place 12 grapes into their mouth. Each grape represents each stroke of the clock.

Make your plans now to stay at the El Palauet Living luxury hotel in Barcelona. Take in the rich culture and enjoy a traditional Christmas celebration.

Our travel concierge specialists can help you plan and book your Barcelona stay at the El Palauet Living hotel. We enjoy sharing unique travel ideas in our luxury blog.

Photo: El Palauet Living

When the incredible Ferrari World Abu Dhabi opened in the UAE, it became the largest indoor and first Ferrari theme park. We covered the story here – Ferrari World Abu Dhabi

Well Ferrari just announced its plan to build a brand new theme park near Barcelona, Spain inside the PortAventura luxury resort. The new theme park will be called Ferrari Land.

In addition to Ferrari Land, the first Ferrari-themed hotel is planned for PortAventura. This five-star luxury hotel will offer 250 guest rooms, fine dining restaurants, in addition to a driving simulator.

Ferrari Land will be built on eighteen and a half acres of land. PortAventura Entertainment SAU is a subsidiary of Investindustrial and signed a licensing agreement with Ferrari. The company has rich history in the luxury car industry. In 2012, they bought about a third of luxury car brand Aston Martin, plus they own Ducati.

The luxury, Ferrari Land theme park will feature highest and fastest vertical accelerator in Europe. It’s a terrific opportunity for the whole family to learn about the luxury car brand and experience world-class entertainment.

Ferrari Land is scheduled to open in 2016 and comes with a hefty price tag of about $139 million or 100 million euros.

If you need help in booking a luxury vacation to Europe or anywhere in the world, please contact The Life of Luxury and one of our travel concierge specialists can assist with your entire itinerary. Be sure to re-visit our luxury blog to follow the world of luxury.

Sometimes even kings are not immune to the recession and economic hardship. One of the surprising cutbacks is that King Juan Carlos of Spain is relinquishing his approximately, 21 million-euro ($27 million) yacht – tiled “Fortuna.”

As the European country of Spain continues to battle the never-ending recession and record unemployment, hard choices must continue to be made.

The Fortuna yacht is similar to other assets such as the royal palaces, which are owned by the state and managed by the National Heritage for the use of the 75-year-old king and his family.

Fortuna is 41.5-metre (136-foot) in length and was donated back in 2000 by a business group. It’s costly to maintain in addition to taking it out on the Mediterranean. According to the Spanish press, each sailing costs more than 20,000 euros for each refuelling.

Last week, a spokesman for the institution was quoted “The king has taken the decision to ask the National Heritage to proceed with the release of the asset,” said late Thursday.

The next step is the National Heritage board needs to approve the King Juan Carlos yacht’s transfer back to the government. The next choice would be to keep the luxury yacht or to sell Fortuna.

Source: AFP

Sightseeing in Malaga, Spain, is wonderful. As a visitor, you will feel like you are back in the days of Don Quixote and Sancho Panza.

Did you know Malaga was founded during the Phoenician era?

You can still see evidence of ancient ruins as well as those from the Roman and Moorish eras. Malaga Spain, is proud of its ancient heritage.

Grand Hotel Central, Barcelona

The Grand Hotel Central, Barcelona is a four-star luxury hotel is in the bustling center of Barcelona, Spain.

Located within the stylish Born and historic Barrio Gotic Districts, The Grand Hotel Central, Barcelona offers easy access to many of Barcelona’s major attractions.

The Grand Hotel Central, Barcelona features one of the finest social gathering spots in Barcelona  with its luxurious, rooftop Sky Bar.

The trendy and stylish rooftop Sky Bar lounge features a bar, light menu, an infinity pool and breathtaking views of Barcelona.

The four-star Grand Hotel Central consists of 147 guestrooms and suites that welcome its guests to take refuge in a tranquil atmosphere of contemporary minimalist design, providing a stylish urban sanctuary in the heart of Barcelona.

Owner Pau Guardans opened the hotel in 2006 taking inspiration from the grand hotels of the 1920s and international neighborhoods like Soho in New York.

The hotel’s foyer and lobby are accented with wrought iron lamps, stone cornicing, wood floors, and restored antique bronze doors.

The Grand Hotel Central, Barcelona features fine dining at the Avalon Restaurant & Café, under the helm of Michelin-starred chef Ramon Freixa.

Other hotel services at the Grand Hotel Central, Barcelona include a library, business center and conference rooms.

For additional information, please visit: www.grandhotelcentral.com

The island of Formentera is the smallest of the four primary Balearic Islands of Mallorca (Majorca), Eivissa (Ibiza), Menorca (Minorca) and Formentera. Eivissa and Formentera are the two smallest islands and together are known as the Pine Islands. This is due to abundance of pine trees.

The archipelago can be found in the Western Mediterranean Sea, near the eastern coast of the Iberian Peninsula. Combined, these scenic islands are an autonomous community and province of Spain.

Palma is the capital and the official languages are Spanish and Catalan. Formentera is ten miles south of Eivissa and is accessible only by boat. There is no airport.

Formentera is a small island and only thirty two square miles in size. One of accommodations to consider is the resort Es Pujols. It’s really the only real resort on the island.

Formentera has a wide range of hotels, hostels, and apartments, and can be found just minutes away from the pristine white beaches and turquoise ocean waters.

Formentera offers travelers other overnight options. Consider one of the many rural farmhouses that are rented out for the summer. There are only a few thousand houses on the island so it may be difficult to actually reserve one. Take a look at the islands many hostels.

Be sure to take into account where you would like to stay. If you’re looking to be in the center of all the party action, Es Pujols would be the natural choice.

If you’re searching for a more rural experience, try the farmland area near Far de la Mola or Far de Barbaria. I would recommend you stay away from the villages of Sant Francecs and San Ferran. Bu there are nice areas just outside these 2 villages.

Formentera has a wide variety of luxury,  accommodation choices.

St Regis, Mardavall

Mallorca’s timeless beauty is visible across the landscape, from the secret coastal coves and turquoise waters to the fairytale villages of the interior.

The island possesses stunning natural beauty along with a surprisingly vibrant and inspiring culture; a colorful yet modest hideaway perfect for a weekend retreat. Teamed with the luxury resorts and services offered there, stunning scenery and professional pampering lie in easy distance of each other.

Finding the perfect place to wind down in Mallorca, Spain is of optimum importance. Luxury hotels in Mallorca like the St Regis, Mardavall offer a multitude of services and spa therapies within the resort, so you won’t have to worry about travel or planning on a short break. A wide range of opportunities and services are available, eliminating any planning stress or time wasting.

The Arabella Spa is a sanctuary of natural medicines and holistic therapies, drawing upon a rich variety of traditions and bringing together specialists from around the globe. Facilities like a spa and pool provide the perfect setting to relax at the beginning of a weekend break.

Mallorca’s stunning coast is a wonderful place to recline and refresh; a succession of curves and bays with an abundance of sandy coves and shallow emerald waters for swimming. The extent of the island’s coastline makes the beach easily accessible, with secluded, sandy spots to discover away from the popular stretches.

The range of dining possibilities will leave you suitably spoiled on a weekend break without being overwhelmed. Restaurants cover a host of cuisines from light snacks and tapas to a la carte and gourmet. Many local dishes are available, including freshly caught seafood and mouth-watering paella.

Fine wines from local grapes are served in the restaurants, the Balearics having been a major wine producer in classical times. Beautifully bodied Spanish favorites such as Rioja are also widely available.

If you would prefer to take in something of the Mallorcan culture and lifestyle then Spanish lessons are a fun way to immerse yourself. Qualified locals lead sessions, giving visitors the opportunity to pick up phrases to use when out and about. You’ll be pleasantly surprised by what can be learned in a couple of hour-long sessions, and the rich beautiful language adds to the rolling, sensual landscape which surrounds you.

There are plenty of opportunities for interesting day trips if you are thirsty for culture and adventure rather than relaxation. Beautifully picturesque villages dot the mountainous landscape, with prehistoric ruins and iconic monasteries hidden in the interior.

There are also a number of hiking trails revealing stunning scenery and ranging from easy strolls to serious work-outs. Mallorca is home to some of the Mediterranean’s most magnificent mountain scenery.

A day hike will also allow you a look at village life which retains the customs and traditions of generations past; a real glimpse into the timeless elegance of Mallorca.

Món Gastro-Bar – Valencia

What does recycled cardboard furniture that easily passes for a postmodernism art piece; Lumbrera lamp with the elegance of classical design and contemporary lighting efficiency; and the a funky Bold Type Chair that would excite any font junky have in common? They are all edgy creations of renowned Spanish design studio, Sanserif Creatius. Now, Sanserif Creatius is once again making headlines with their newest brain child: the Món gastro-bar in Valencia, Spain.

Món is a 6,400 square-foot bar that blends eclectic postmodern art with tapas or intimate dinners with flashlights. The first thing guests notice is the masculine lines of the industrial concrete floors and brick walls. The decor is softened by slabs of wood that have been alternated with murals that represent most iconic cities in the world, from Tokyo, New York, Sydney, to London.

Architectural symbols of cities that dress the walls of Món and colorful beams further achieves the softening effect.

Even the position of Món signifies its eclectic theme. While the bar pushes the limits of modern design, its main entrance is actually located on the main road, San Vicente Street, that links central square of the city of Valencia with the medieval Old Town. Through the main entrance is Món’s cocktail bar and main tasting area with Solxluna leather bar stools.

To the left of the cocktail bar is an alternative private area with a Chesterfield sofa that’s definitive of American or British design. The dining area continues the eclectic atmosphere completed with the decor of fifties-style chairs like Tulip Arms by Eero Saarinen, Swan Chair by Arne Jacobsen, and the latest creation of Ana Yago. Most of the furniture was created with green recycled or natural materials.

Wooden staircase lead to the second floor of Món, an open space, where guests can relax while waiting for their gourmet dishes to be prepared. The Món offers a complete dining and art appreciation experience.

Puerta del Sol

The Spanish called it the “Gate of the Sun” and for visitors to Spain’s Puerta del Sol, they’ll know exactly what the Spaniards were talking about.

The Gate of the Sun gates were once the main entrance to Madrid Spain. Like many medieval towns of that time period, it was surrounded in the 15th century by a protective wall and it is through the gates that entry to the city was gained.

In this way, it was well known to traders and visitors from all over the world. After the walls around Madrid were removed, it remained as a meeting place. Interestingly, the location is still the major meeting point in Madrid.

Spanish architecture looms big through out Puerta del Sol, speaking of a past of opulence and grandeur. One famous example is a very large sculpture of a bear eating fruit. The fruit the bear is eating is reported to be from the Madrone tree where the scenic city of Madrid derives it’s name from. The iconic bear itself is a great symbol for the people of Madrid.

One of the city’s most important Madrid buildings is the House of the Post Office. It’s the central focus for the city’s New Year celebrations. Also there is a paving slab where the six main Spanish highways originate. Because of this, the location is an excellent spot to begin exploring not just Madrid, but the entire country of Spain.

Leaving Puerta Del Sol, it’s only a short walk to other popular Madrid attractions such as Plaza Mayor and Palacio Real. The Parliament building is also nearby and the Metro is easily accessible from the area.

Madrid offers many side streets that offer shops, restaurants, and many other attractions. Any visitor should spend as much time as possible touring this area. During the warm Madrid evenings, it’s the best time to go as the bars and cafes that line the historic streets. They will be full of both tourists, local citizens as well as many street performers who come to entertain.

Most people who have ever visited Benidorm in Spain, would find it difficult to believe that it was simply a small fishing village as recently as the 1950’s.

Many don’t realize that Benidorm’s rise as one of Europe hottest destinations has been rapid and spectacular one.

Modern day Benidorm is now the largest tourist resort area in all of Europe. More than four million people visit each year. Benidorm can be found on the Northern Costa Blanca, Spain between the cities of Alicante and Valencia.

Benidorm is one of the most vibrant and electrified vacation destinations in all of Europe. It’s close proximity to the Alicante Airport, along with multiple options for a wide variety of accommodations, make Benidorm a perfect travel destination.

A visit to Benidorm must include a trip to at least one of the many amusement parks in the area. Choices include the immense Aqualandia, the largest water park in Europe, with its slides, lazy rivers, pools and water rides is very popular.

There is also the educational Terra Mitica amusement park with its ancient civilization themes from ancient Greece, the Greek Islands, Rome, Egypt, and Iberia.

In addition, there’s Mundomar – an aquatic and marine animal park with dolphins, parrots, penguins, seals and sea lions all on display, along with Europe’s largest aquarium and an underwater dolphinarium.

Golf is another year round activity that is very popular in Benidorm. Golf enthusiasts who play these beautiful courses take full advantage of the fantastic climate, making Benidorm a golfer’s dream.

There are more than a dozen golf clubs located in and around Benidorm. In Chiva there is the Bosque Community and Golf Club. Mutxamel has the Bonalba Golf Club and the Alicante Golf Club is on the San Juan Beach.

The beaches in Benidorm are kept warm year round by the mountains on the border that both traps in the warm Mediterranean Sea air and blocks out the cold northern winds. The town of Benidorm is divided into two major sections and the beaches are divided accordingly. There are the Playa de Levante and Playa de Poniente.

Both beaches are beautiful stretches of white sand that the Costa Blanca was named for, but Levante is much less crowded. Levante is also a topless beach. Levante is full of coves and areas of the Mediterranean Sea attract scuba divers as well as fishermen.

Benidorm is probably most well known above all else, is its nightlife. The town has more than 30 nightclubs for dancing and more than a thousand restaurants and bars located on or mere seconds away from the beaches. Party goers can enjoy both the fun in the sun and after dark in this city that stays lively 24 hours a day.

Upon reaching the Gran Hotel Bahia Del Duque Resort, you will quickly notice it is like walking into a set from the movies. Buildings that bear a resemblance to castles in colors of lemon, terracotta and pink.

This beautiful hotel is on the island of Tenerife, Canary Islands. A total of 16 acres of tropical gardens that look out over the El Duque beach.

All of the rooms at the Gran Hotel Bahia Del Duque Resort-Adeje have a balcony or patio with a view of either the ocean or the gardens. 40 other villas were designed this year, all with a private garden and pool. Each villa is different from each other. This makes the place seem more like a authentic town that sets gently on the ocean front.

One of the toughest decisions you will make here will probably be where you are going to have your next meal. There are 8 restaurants and 9 bars in the resort itself, including an ice cream parlour.

One might wonder why you would even need to leave this paradise hotel. French and Italian cuisine are plentiful. One of the classy restaurants is the Las Aguas which is run by Michelin star chef, Salvador Gallego.

Even the youngest member of your family will be impressed with their own menus that have a wide variety of food for them to choose from. You also have the option of dining outdoors to view the magnificent ocean or relaxing inside with your breakfast.

The 5 swimming pools at the Gran Hotel Bahia Del Duque Resort-Adeje come together here to make cascades. They are all formed from one level to the next building ponds and rivers. Along with these beautiful swimming pools is a children’s pool.

If you are looking to fish for big game fish, you’ve come to the right spot. Here you can book a game fish excursion for the day.

There are also tennis courts, a gym, billiards, table tennis, darts and more. Golf is another feature offered here with 5 golf courses to choose from with year round warm weather.

For the children you have the playground, a children’s club for 3 to 12 year olds with activities, an afternoon show and a mini disco in the evening. There are children’s menus for them for lunch. The teenager’s club comes with a play station, Wi-Fi and internet.

The excellence of this hotel, its cuisine, and the spectacular views that await you is the perfect place for a luxury holiday in Tenerife and will be etched in your memory for a lifetime.