How I proposed on a weekend in Ripoll
January 8, 2021
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Weekend in Ripoll My spouse and I share birthdays two days apart – reason enough, we decided, to finally get away. I spent a few
Authentic Boutique Hotels in Costa Brava and the Pyrenees
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Written by Inbal Cabiri
- Last updated date - September 1, 2026
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My secret list
One of my hobbies is digging through Booking.com for bargains. Here’s my running list of great-value hotels across Catalonia – the Pyrenees, the Costa Brava, and a bit further south.
All of them work for a short or long weekend getaway – Spain has no shortage of national holidays to build one around – and most are good for kids too, though I’ll admit the version of this trip without kids is usually the more relaxing one.
How did I put this list together? Hours of research on Booking.com, plus a few stays of my own. I looked for places that are rural, slow-paced, close to nature, and run with some kind of ecological conscience – quiet rather than flashy. If you’ve stayed at any of these, I’d love to hear what you thought in the comments. And if you have others to add, drop them there too.
One place from a trip a few years back deserves its own mention – read all about it here.
Table of Contents
Boutique hotels close to Barcelona
Secluded cabins deep in the forest, each with its own terrace. The property runs bike tours, has a small fitness center, and a garden. Its restaurant serves Mediterranean food, with vegetarian, dairy-free, and vegan options on request.
What drew me here: it’s eco-friendly, close to the city, and has a lovely spa with an indoor pool. When I first put it on my wish list a few years ago, it was adults-only or close to it — that’s changed, and it now welcomes families too. The design is beautifully done, full of natural light, with a real range of things to do: yoga classes, cooking workshops, nature walks. There’s breakfast, two restaurants, and a bar. About half an hour’s drive from Barcelona.
An authentic, family-run stone farmhouse dating to 1748. The original wine cellar still holds its old barrels, and the former oil-pressing room is now a library. The view takes in Montserrat mountain. Rooms are decorated in natural materials and neutral tones, with large bathrooms, robes, and slippers. Outside, there’s a pool set near a small lake and stables. The old barn next door is now the restaurant, serving meals made with vegetables from the garden — and breakfast includes homemade cakes baked by the family’s grandmother.
A mansion that calls itself a slow B&B. Seven rooms in total, each with its own character — four in the main building, three more in a separate one. The common area has a solarium, a fireplace, and a dining room. Breakfast is included. About an hour and 20 minutes from Barcelona.
A beautiful boutique hotel dating to 1526, recently renovated, with sweeping views over the volcanic landscape of La Garrotxa. The spa has a heated indoor pool and a sauna — lovely on a winter visit. We stayed in an apartment: spacious, with a view, a proper kitchen, and decorated with real charm throughout. The hotel has a restaurant, a bar with a wood-burning fireplace, and a dining room where breakfast is served, plus a great outdoor pool for summer. We came for a birthday and loved it. Nearby: the beautiful city of Girona.
Purpose-built apartments for two to five people, right in the center of Olot, in the heart of the La Garrotxa volcanic park. There’s a large garden and an indoor pool. About an hour and a half from Barcelona.
Boutique hotels in Costa Brava
A charming small hotel in Begur, set inside an 18th-century Catalan mansion. Every room has a balcony overlooking either the town or the hotel’s own courtyard. You’re a five-minute walk from the center, with cafés, bars, and restaurants nearby.
A boutique spa hotel on a quiet, picturesque bay on the Costa Brava. There are two restaurants on site — one elegant, serving gourmet Mediterranean food, the other more relaxed with a broader menu. The spa has a pool, saunas, a gym, and a full circuit of sensory showers, plus electric bikes and scooters to rent. I have a friend who comes back every year for her birthday.
A 13th-century Catalan farmhouse just 10 km from the coast, with an outdoor pool, a free spa center, a par-3 golf course, and a padel court, all set among lush gardens. Rooms are classic, bright, and elegant — some with a large balcony, others with a garden terrace. There’s a breakfast buffet and a restaurant serving local ingredients. The spa has a heated pool, sauna, foot bath, steam bath, and salt room, plus a solarium looking out over the valley.
Boutique hotels in the Pyrenees
A B&B in the Pyrenees with warm, rustic design and an outdoor pool in the garden. Rooms come as doubles or family suites, with views of the garden or the mountains. Breakfast, made with local, seasonal ingredients, is included, and bikes are available to rent. There’s also an on-site stable offering horseback riding trips.
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