Spain information

[fnewman Member Find all posts View Profile Close fnewman]

Can anyone tell me which Diamond resorts in Spain would be closest to Barcelona? If none are 'taxi' distance (because of distance, on an island, etc.) does anyone have experience using the ferry system to get fromt eh island to Barcelona? TIA

[fnewman Member Find all posts View Profile Close fnewman]

Have no Diamond owners stayed in Spain? Hard to believe!

[Spence Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Spence]

Have no Diamond owners stayed in Spain? Hard to believe!

I was in Spain when you first posted, no, on second thought I had just finished two weeks in Spain and was on my 'free' Air France stopover in Paris where WiFi was 3euros/30min so I didn't surf (much.)

All mainland DRI resorts are on the Costa del Sol, a longggggg day's drive from Barcelona. The Canary Islands are in the Atlantic also a long way from Barcelona. The DRI resorts on the Balearic Islands are a quick ferry hop by slow boat or hi speed job.

[fnewman Member Find all posts View Profile Close fnewman]

Thanks - what is your favorite resort in that area? Have you stayed at the DRI resorts on Mallorca? Do you recall the ferry cost? Sorry so many questions, but we have never traveled in that area, but want to do a week in conjunction with the TUG cruise next summer. TIA

[Spence Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Spence]

Thanks - what is your favorite resort in that area? Have you stayed at the DRI resorts on Mallorca? Do you recall the ferry cost? Sorry so many questions, but we have never traveled in that area, but want to do a week in conjunction with the TUG cruise next summer. TIA

I've been to Mallorca many, many, many times but all before the existence of DRI or Sunterra and before my timesharing days. The grey ferry was free.

Ferries between Barcelona and Palma Mallorca are plentiful so I'm sure there is at least some modicum of competition to keep prices reasonable, but I've never done it commercially.

[PeelBoy Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close PeelBoy]

The closest timeshare near Barcelona is about two hours drive one way. RCI Always has some availability. None of the DRI resorts are nearby. The drive from Costa del Sol to Barcelona is a long day drive. What I did was to stay in TS in Costa del Sol and thereafter drove to Barcelona to stay a few days on my own (hotel very expensive) before flying home.

[Spence Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Spence]

The closest timeshare near Barcelona is about two hours drive one way. RCI Always has some availability. None of the DRI resorts are nearby. The drive from Costa del Sol to Barcelona is a long day drive. What I did was to stay in TS in Costa del Sol and thereafter drove to Barcelona to stay a few days on my own (hotel very expensive) before flying home.

Actually the closest timeshare is RHC but the question was aimed at DRI resorts, I think.

GUITART GRAND PASSAGE

Muntaner 212, 08036, Barcelona, Spain.
Ph/Tel. (34-93) 201-0306
Fax. (34-93) 2010-004


Guitart Grand Passage is a centrally located, modern hotel, but with a secluded quiet air of the residential area in which it is situated. The hotel’s architectural style is an excellent example of modernity with class that includes black marble exteriors and modern art in the interiors. Guitart Grand Passage offers 24 hour reception, laundry service, dry cleaning and parking. Enjoy the delicious regional and international dishes served in the restaurant. Rooms are tastefully decorated and equipped with air conditioning, heating, satellite TV, safety deposit box, mini-bar and hair dryer. This hotel is ideal for your trips, either business or pleasure, and the attention of a dedicated staff allows ensures you will enjoy your stay.

NEAREST AIRPORT
Barcelona International Airport, 13 kms.

TRANSPORTATION
The public transportation network is very practical for getting around Barcelona. Buses run throughout the day and the night and the metro network net reaches every corner of the city. You can also rent a bicycle and use the many cycle lanes that exist in the city. There are also 4 tram lines that unite the city with peripheral municipalities.

[fnewman Member Find all posts View Profile Close fnewman]

Yes, I was thinking primarily of DRI, because I can book there for "free" and have plenty of 2010 points available. However, I would also consider other locations/systems (Marriott, for example) that trade through II. If I stay a long way from Barcelona, I would probably fly. If from Mallorca, the ferry sounds good if schedule and cost is ok - air fare is only $84, however. Thanks for the suggestions.

[fnewman Member Find all posts View Profile Close fnewman]

I would be interested in hearing opinions as to which Diamond resports in Spain are the best - perhaps in 1,2,3, order, if anyone has staying a several. Many Thanks

[Bulldog Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Bulldog]

I would be interested in hearing opinions as to which Diamond resports in Spain are the best - perhaps in 1,2,3, order, if anyone has staying a several. Many Thanks

I suggest you send a pm to hercules24 he has stayed at most of the dri resorts on mainland spain , I have only been to the Canary Islands and Menorca. They do vary hugely in quality as they were allowed to run down under sunterra, although it is fair to say improvements are now being made.

[Carlos Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Carlos]

We all would like to know

I suggest you send a pm to hercules24 he has stayed at most of the dri resorts on mainland spain , I have only been to the Canary Islands and Menorca. They do vary hugely in quality as they were allowed to run down under sunterra, although it is fair to say improvements are now being made.

Please tell Hercules24 that we all would like to know about the DRI resorts in Europe. We know so little about their quality. I read on the DRI forum and there seems to be a discrepancy. Some resorts get fantastic reviews and others get very disappointing ones. There is no one place that gives you current updates on the DRI properties. I think we should start doing that both here and on the DRI forum and TUG.

[Bulldog Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Bulldog]

Please tell Hercules24 that we all would like to know about the DRI resorts in Europe. We know so little about their quality. I read on the DRI forum and there seems to be a discrepancy. Some resorts get fantastic reviews and others get very disappointing ones. There is no one place that gives you current updates on the DRI properties. I think we should start doing that both here and on the DRI forum and TUG.

O.K. I'm sure between hercules and myself we could do reports on the majority of the european resorts,although a dedicated review section would be the best place for that...is there one , or perhaps one could be started?

My own personal favourite is the Royal Tenerife Country Club which is on Tenerife one of the Canary Islands which are Spanish and lie off the coast of West Africa.
Perhaps the moderators could direct me to the appropriate place for reviews then hercules and I could make a start.

[Carlos Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Carlos]

I suggested

O.K. I'm sure between hercules and myself we could do reports on the majority of the european resorts,although a dedicated review section would be the best place for that...is there one , or perhaps one could be started?

My own personal favourite is the Royal Tenerife Country Club which is on Tenerife one of the Canary Islands which are Spanish and lie off the coast of West Africa.
Perhaps the moderators could direct me to the appropriate place for reviews then hercules and I could make a start.

I did suggest this to Spence this morning. Let's see what he says. I placed a review earlier today from my visit to Grand Beach on this forum yesterday. There is a section to do that. Look up top and click onto website navigation. Then scroll down and click the link that says Resort Reviews. I think it would be great if more DRI people did it on the DRI site. However, I am concerned that if there are too many poor reviews they may not be published on the site because DRI monitors everything before it gets posted. I know I have asked questions that never got posted there. I believe we want honest feedback and they should too.

[Bulldog Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Bulldog]

I did suggest this to Spence this morning. Let's see what he says. I placed a review earlier today from my visit to Grand Beach on this forum yesterday. There is a section to do that. Look up top and click onto website navigation. Then scroll down and click the link that says Resort Reviews. I think it would be great if more DRI people did it on the DRI site. However, I am concerned that if there are too many poor reviews they may not be published on the site because DRI monitors everything before it gets posted. I know I have asked questions that never got posted there. I believe we want honest feedback and they should too.

Personally,carlos, I too would rather post a review under DRI section than it get lost in the main review section which caters for just about everywhere, if it is true that dri monitors everything then they should be big enough to take criticism as well as praise so that they can act to correct anything which is wrong.

[hercules24 Member Find all posts View Profile Close hercules24]

New resort coming on line Jan 2010

A new resort is coming on line in Jan 2010 (Affiliated resort) sorry cannot remember the precise resort (Mas Nous I think) but this is not too far from Barcelona, failing this look for an exchange with II at a resort at either Cambrills or Salou on Costa Dorada - Cambrills is a little more up market with some lovely fish restaurants. A bus service runs from both resorts to Barcelona daily and this will allow you around 8 hours in Barcelona long enough to explore the main sites (Gaudi church and buildings, Parc Guell and Ramblas). Another resort near Barcelona is Sitges - This is more traditional Spanish and very popular with Spanish Gay Community - very pretty. Hope this helps.

All current Spanish resorts are either on Balieric Isles or Costa Del Sol, which is close to Malaga and within visiting distance of Seville and Granada - Trains run regularly from Malaga.