This spectacular coast, its people and its landscape make it part of Catalonia’s Triple Crown! Barcelona, Val d’Aran, and Costa Brava. Although the Costa Brava is not my full time home, I do spend a lot of time there throughout the year. I have been vacationing there for years with my wife, daughter and dogs, but my wife has been going there since she was a child. We know the region well. In fact, we bought a small apartment which we rent out.

My wife is an interior designer and turned this small space into a very nice little, almost “beach side” apartment. Feel free to take a look if you might like to rent an apartment on the “Brava”. It is just a 10 minute walk from one of the most picturesque beaches I have ever seen, Llafranc. Click here for more detailed rental information on our apartment. If you are considering a holiday or property purchase on this fantastic Spanish coast, I would be pleased to help you out with ANY information you request.

Simply send me a note and I will get back with you quickly. More detailed information would be beyond the scope of this web page dedicated to the Val d’Aran, my favorite place on the planet.

There are some “must do’s” when you come here. It isn’t all just beach. First of all, I highly recommend that you head up to the northern part of the coast to the village of Figueras to visit the outrageous museum of famed Spanish artist, Salvador Dali. There are a number of beaches all along the coast, but I am partial to the smaller ones. Not only are they quaint and picturesque, but they are Comfortable.

The majority of them are not the typical fine white sand beaches which simply drive me crazy. You know what I mean? Sand EVERYWHERE. It seems to follow you home kind of sand. If you have kids, you probably wonder which one brought home the bucket full! These smaller Costa Brava beaches have small pebble type sand. Lovely. They all have showers too! My favourites are Llafranc (of course!), Calella, Sa Riera and Sa Tuna. Come and see for yourself. On one of those rainy days a 30 minute trip into the regional capital, Girona is a nice excursion. Take the tour train through the city and remember to hold on when going up to the Cathedral! Shops and great restaurants abound.

The Roman ruins of Empuries are also a must see if you are at all interested in history. Lastly, we recommend simply taking the time to get lost in any of the wonderful villages throughout the coast. Park the car and just let your feet take you. Some of our favourites are Begur, La Bisbal (ceramic center number 1!), Peratallada and the “old city” of Pals to name a few. Happy travels!

Catalonia Spain is simply the perfect place to be. For holiday or for living, you needn’t look further. Mother nature and the Catalan people have worked together to create perfection.

Have a look. Come and see. You will agree.

The city of Barcelona stands out for all of us as the icon of Catalonia and rightly so. Here’s my summary of what makes Barcelona so fantastic:.

The Gothic Quarter with its Roman Ruins The Art Nouveau Architecture of Gaudi The beautiful Mediterranean coast. The Catalan people 5 star dining and shopping. Barcelona is great, but Catalonia, Spain is so much more!

How about the Costa Brava? Would you like to spend some time feeling like you’er in a fairy tale? Go visit some of the beaches there. 

Or take a stroll through the streets of Girona, its regional capital. Although the Costa Brava can get a bit congested in the peak summer months, it’s worth the effort to come.

The shore line is simply marvellous. The beaches range from large and sandy to quaint, small and pebbly. The pebbly ones are my favourites.

Once again, due to several requests from guests to this web page I have written first hand recommendations for visiting Costa Brava.

For me, the true jewel of Catalonia Spain is in the Pyrenees Mountains. It is my full time home, the Val d’Aran. This web page is dedicated to sharing it with you, my guest. Please feel free to take a moment to discover the wonder Mother Nature offers us.

If you are planning a trip to Catalonia, Spain and you would like some more specific information or suggestions from me, just send me a quick note. I will do my best to help answer any questions you may have, promise.

Are you coming to Barcelona Spain? Here’s what I recommend to our friends and family…

You’re coming to Barcelona Spain on holiday and you want to see as much as possible without typical travel hassles. Questions to answer with the who, what, where, when, how and how much travelling should you do are usually the first ones to solve.

I understand. I am a traveller too.

There isn’t much my wife and I like better than planning for a trip and having it work out. We have helped a number of friends and family experience Barcelona and as a result have created our now nearly famous, “Barcelona Spain in 3 Days Tour”.

This isn’t a web page dedicated to Barcelona so I’ll let you decide where to stay. I would suggest, however, that you try to stay in the “heart of the matter”. For me this means within walking distance of the Plaza Catalunya. It’s one of Barcelona’s principal Plazas.

To maximize your pleasure and minimize the dreaded “travel anxiety”, take advantage of one of Barcelona’s greatest tourism treasures – the “On / Off Sightseeing Tour Bus”.

I recommend you pay for the two day tour. This gives you two full days to be escorted kindly throughout the city. On good weather days it’s a real treat to take the double-decker open air buses. The great thing about this plan is that you see all of Barcelona Spain with guides in your language.

You can get off at any of the stops to visit the site and get back on after your visit. The tour is broken up into 2 principal routes. We always suggest taking one of the routes each day. This allows plenty of time to visit.

On day three you can go back and visit anything you want to see again, head out of town to the majestic Montserrat, hit the nearby beach or just get lost in Las Ramblas.

On the “have to see list” we always suggest these:

• The Sacred Family Church – Please treat yourself and do the inside tour. Here’s an unknown tourist delight – from the Sacred Family Church walk up the Gaudi Avenue to the St. Pau Hospital. Go inside. You can. The hospital is operational so be respectful, but feel free to enjoy! It must be the coolest hospital on the planet
• The Pedrera, Gaudi built, masterpiece and the Casa Batllo (which is 3 blocks down towards the sea from the Pedrera • After visiting the Pedrera and Casa Batllo walk up and down the entire length of the Paseo de Gracia (from Plaza Catalunya to Diagonal Avenue) simply enjoying the city’s sights, people and luxury shops.
• An evening stroll on Las Ramblas (keep an eye on your belongings!).
• For you Football fans the Barça Football Stadium tour is a must. Don’t miss the trophy hall and the Official Barça Store. 
• For happening nightlife and restaurants one night must be spent at the Olympic Harbor area. One of our favourite restaurants there is named the Cangrejo Loco.
• Food! A seafood paella at Cangrejo Loco is a great start! For another experience we always suggest savouring the tapas and relishing in the spirit of our favourite Barcelona Spain tapas bar, Ciudad Condal, which is located at the intersection of Rambla Catalunya and Gran Via. Try to get a head start on the locals or you’ll be stuck drinking wine and waiting for a table to open.

If you’re new to the tapas scene, ask for the sample platter. End of uncertainties! For a cocktail or coffee and the very best view of Barcelona take the time to get up to Mount Tibidabo at its famed bar, Mirablau.

Take your camera and go on a clear evening! Barcelona Spain attractions are picturesque. For convenience, across the street from the Mirablau you will find outdoor and indoor fine dining at La Venta. If you’re not in a hurry for dinner (remember in Spain we eat late!), you can count on any restaurant within the Tragaluz Group. They are all top notch, professional and above all, tasty.

Oh one more suggestion – For those wishing to dine at one of Spain’s most renowned chef’s (Martin Berasategui) restaurants, Lasarte, is simply…mouth wateringly delightful. It is just off the Paseo de Gracia avenue.