International Lodging Corporation

Where Amazing Travel Experiences Begin

Cheers…Alella Wine Region, Barcelona (Spain)

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Wine enthusiasts who travel to Barcelona and want to explore the local wineries in the region would probably be surprised to find out that they don’t have to venture too far away to find one. Located just 20 minutes outside of the city center (15 kms.), Alella is the closest wine region to the city and one of the best kept secrets in the area. With just 9 wineries and a little over 300 hectares of vineyards, the wine appellation (Denominación de Origen DO) Alella is the smallest DO in Spain.

Alella is a coastal town that has a long tradition of winemaking that dates back to Roman times. The town itself overlooks the Mediterranean and is charming, with architectural highlights from the ancient Roman, Baroque and Modernist periods. The combination of terraced landscapes, layers of limestone, and cooling breezes from the sea produce a wide variety of grapes, including the Pansa Blanca grape (also known as Xarel·lo) that goes into most of the white wines produced in the area. Cava (Spanish sparkling wine) and rustic red wines are also produced in the region.

Alella was designated a DO in 1956. Since then it has shrunk to about a third of its original size, due to the urban expansion that has taken place in the past decades. There do still remain a number of the original farmhouses (called masies in Catalan) that have been passed down through the generations in the families that continue the winemaking tradition to this day. A number of them are open to the public and welcome visitors to tour their wineries and enjoy tastings.

For assistance with your travel plans, including hotel and private tour reservations, click here.

Checking In…Hotel Seventy Barcelona (Spain)

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This ultra-stylish 4-star hotel is located between two distinct neighborhoods: upscale Eixample and trendy Gràcia. The former factory building was completely transformed into a hotel that seamlessly melds the modern aesthetic of its sleek exterior with the warmth of its interior Mediterranean style to create a cosmopolitan ambiance that is chic and inviting. With a location that straddles two popular areas, it is steps from high-end shops and Gaudí’s iconic Casa Mila on the Paseo de Gracia, and the distinctive local flavor of the vibrant Gràcia neighborhood.

  • Address: Carrer de Còrsega, 344-352
  • 5-10 minute walk to the Paseo de Gracia and Gaudí’s Casa Mila
  • 15 minute walk to the Sagrada Familia and Casa Batllo
  • 20-25 minute walk (or 7 minutes by taxi) to the Plaza Cataluña, Las Ramblas, and the Gothic Quarter
  • In the old section, visit the Cathedral of Barcelona (13th C.), La Boqueria Market (7th C.), Gran Teatre del Liceu (1847 Opera House), Frederic Mares Museum, Olympic Port & Aquarium, Picasso Museum
  • Metro Station: Diagonal – 4 minute walk
  • Train Station: Sants – 10 minutes by taxi
  • Airport: 25 minutes by taxi (16 km)

All rooms with private bath, air conditioning, individual temperature control, telephone, Wi-Fi (complimentary), hair dryer & straightener, flat panel TV, minibar, Nespresso machine, room safe

  • 2 Elevators
  • Wheelchair access to hotel
  • Room Service
  • The Kitchen & Timeless Restaurant
  • The Cors Bar
  • Rooftop Terrace
  • TV Room
  • Meeting Facilities to 150 ~ Audiovisual equipment
  • Business Center has workstations with Internet access (complimentary)
  • Wi-Fi available throughout hotel (complimentary)
  • Rooftop Pool & Solarium
  • Seventy Spa & Indoor Pool
  • Fitness Center
  • Reception (24 hours)
  • Laundry & Dry Cleaning Service
  • Parking (extra charge)
  • 147 guest rooms (7 floors)
  • House Room (Standard): Exterior room facing Calle Córcega with a King or Twin beds; approx. 20 m2 (2 guest maximum)
  • Seventy Room (Superior): Spacious room facing Calle Córcega or interior patio with a King or Twin beds; approx. 28 m2 (2 guest maximum)
  • Patio Room: Spacious room facing the typical Eixample interior patio with a King or Twin beds; approx. 28 m2 (2 guest maximum)
  • Sky Room: Top floor room facing Calle Córcega or interior patio with a King or Twin beds; approx. 28 m2 (2 guest maximum)
  • Lounge Terrace Room: Spacious room facing the typical Eixample interior patio with a King or Twin beds and a large private terrace; approx. 28 m2 + terrace (2 guest maximum)
  • Duplex Suite: Light-filled duplex suite facing Calle Córcega with a King bed; approx. 60 m2 – only 2 of this type (2 guest maximum)
  • Hotel offers some Handicap rooms (Seventy Room)

For more information, pricing and reservations, contact us – click here.

On the Menu…Quimet y Quimet, Barcelona (Spain)

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Still going strong over 100 years after first opening its doors, Quimet y Quimet is a Barcelona institution. If the line out the door indicates anything, it’s that this is one of the tapas bars in Barcelona that is not to be missed. Despite being a standing room only place that can fit 15-20 people at a time, Joaquim (“Quim”) Pérez continues to welcome patrons to the same establishment that his great-grandfather first opened in 1914 to sell homemade wine.

Located in El Poble-Sec just off the Avenida del Parallel, patrons will find a somewhat quirky tapas bar that specializes in creating the most delicious tapas from “conservas” which are canned foods, including vegetables, seafood and meats. Spain is known for producing some of the highest quality canned food in the world, and the walls inside of the tiny Quimet y Quimet are lined with cans of food and bottles of wine. Diners can select from a wide range of offerings, including a long list of traditional tapas, fresh local cheeses and meats, and over 30 “montaditos”, which are tapas that are served open-face on a piece of bread and are created on the spot.

Once you step into Quimet y Quimet you will feel like you have stepped back in time, as the place has not changed much since it first opened. You can go traditional with your selections, or you can let Quim and his staff create something new for your that will be sure to delight your culinary palette.

  • Poeta Cabanyes, 25
  • Barcelona, Spain
  • Phone: +34 (93) 442 31 4

Photo credit: Quimet y Quimet

For assistance with your travel plans, including hotel and private tour reservations, click here.