Last Saturday I found myself on a flight to Barcelona to review a hotel that I have had my eye on for a while. The backstory behind the trip is an unforgettable one.
My alarm is usually set on Saturdays for 10am since I’m torn between making my days productive, but also getting enough sleep. One eye open, I recognise a Barcelona area code call my phone. With much temptation to ignore, something made me pick up. It became apparent pretty quick that I was being offered a fully paid trip to Barcelona with a flight that was leaving in 4 hours, in return for a review of the W. My mind was telling me that there was no chance I was going to make it but I’d be stupid to say no. Despite being 23, I still ask my mum for a go ahead (reassurance, rather than permission). With her excitement mounting higher than mine, I pulled outfits together as best as I could and managed to pack my holiday bag quicker than expected. Getting myself ready wasn’t as smooth. Every girl reading this knows how much longer it takes when you have to wash your hair, let alone when you’ve drowned your hair in a conditioning oil the night before. Two hours later, I found myself in the car, painting my nails en route to Heathrow and in good shape to catch my Business Class Flight to BCN. Two reasons why I really enjoyed flying business:
- priority everything – skips queues, first in, first out – get my jist?
- Baggage is included so you’re not lugging a suitcase around or in my case you’re not having to throw all your important toiletries at the security checks because nearly everything is over 100ml
The reason why I wouldn’t go out of my way to fly business to BCN? It’s simple – it’s a short haul flight and the leg room is EXACTLY the same as economy. You do not have your fancy recliner beds that you have undoubtedly seen on IG promising a good nap. So in my opinion, don’t be paying £900 for a ticket to Barcelona. Enough of this flight talk, let’s move on to the W.
Arriving at the beautiful W hotel, I noticed that location is so paramount in Barcelona since the vibes across the city is so different. Escaping from the snow of London and staying on the famous boardwalk was a beautiful thought. Check in was pronto, and staff made their mark for excellent hospitality instantly. I was given a room on the 12th floor and despite initial disappointment that the view wouldn’t be great, I patiently waited until the morning to assess with fresh eyes. If you follow me on Instagram, you would have seen how INSANE my ‘Cool Corner’ Suite with a Mediterranean Sea View really was. Going for a cool £600 a night (intentional pun), I’ll let the pictures do the talking…
I opted to visit the Eclipse bar on the 26th floor. When evening falls, the lights go down and the music goes up as the scene starts to scintillate. Resident DJs spin deep house music tracks, and coupled with tasteful drinks, and beautiful people, it is more than I could have asked for. Opting for a relatively early night, I did what I do best and ordered room service with the intention to put room service to the test. Arriving in a steady 20 minutes, I indulged in what would be a great regret in the morning but the best mid night treat: the cheesiest margarita.
Sleeping in one of the 473 guest rooms and suites with panoramic views is always a blessing. Waking up in Barcelona with the most beautiful view added to the list of breath taking moments on my short trip. I opted for breakfast at WAVE. I kept it light W style and opted for a selection pastries, fruits, yoghurts, cereals, granola, doughnuts, brownies. Following breakfast, WAVE also offers healthy delights with a seafood focus, from Mediterranean-infused burgers to organic steaks to fresh pastas.
I had a lazy day and chilled by the WET Deck for the rest of the day. The outdoor infinity-edge splash pool was stylish, luxurious and exactly what I needed. What I found the most convenient was that I did not have to lift a toe since the pool talent have an endless wish list of poolside necessities like towels, sun care, snacks and ice cream, sunglasses, hats. This was helpful as ever since I packed in around 10 minutes, and had forgotten all forms of necessities.
As ever, the stay at the W was bliss and everything I could have asked for in a luxurious short stay. In retrospect, I would have had breakfast in Bravo24, which features signature Spanish dishes, but I am sure I will be back to indulge. Highly recommend, and potentially the best hotel I have stayed at in Barcelona, based on service, location and room!
HS xo