Y’all know how much I love travel! Because I get to meet new people, see new things, and review places I’ve been.
But I also enjoy researching and strategizing where to use my miles & points next, so I can get the Biggest Travel from them.
Thanks to Jenny for her suggestion to cover which hotels to stay in Barcelona using Marriott and Starwood points!Here are my top 5 Marriott and Starwood hotels for folks visiting Barcelona. And a budget hotel for folks who want to spend fewer points!
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Barcelona Marriott and Starwood Hotels With Points
Link: Marriott Hotels in Barcelona
Link: Starwood Hotels in Barcelona
You can redeem Marriott, Ritz-Carlton, or Starwood points for award nights at all 3 hotel chains.
If you collect Marriott points, you can transfer points instantly to your Starwood account at a 3:1 ratio. And vice versa!
Before you book your stay, be sure to link your loyalty accounts to get an instant status match. This way you’ll enjoy all your perks regardless of which hotel chain you choose!
1. Cotton House Hotel Barcelona
The Cotton House Hotel is only a few years old, and ranks highly with all kinds of travelers, from families to solo travelers to couples. TripAdvisor gave this hotel a 2016 Travelers’ Choice award.
It’s most liked for its location in the heart of Barcelona. It’s a 5-minute walk to Passeig de Gràcia, a primary shopping area, with some of the most iconic architecture in the city!
Also be sure to take the 10-minute walk to La Rambla, a famous pedestrian strip with great shops, restaurants, and performers. It’s a bit touristy, but definitely worth the visit, if only for the people-watching!
You’ll pay 40,000 Marriott points for a free night. Or you can convert 14,000 Starwood points.
You’ll generally save between ~$230 and ~$660 per night, depending on the season. So using points for this hotel can be an incredible deal!
2. Le Méridien Barcelona
Le Méridien Barcelona gets high marks for its convenient location on the famous La Rambla strip. And it’s less than a 10-minute walk to the Gothic Quarter, and the famous Barcelona Cathedral!Because La Rambla is a popular hangout area for both tourists and locals, there will likely be a lot of bustle outside the hotel. You must visit the huge food market 300 feet away!
Folks say this hotel has exceptional staff who take Starwood elite status seriously. So if you have elite status, this hotel will treat you right!
Note: If you have elite status with Marriott, you can instantly match to Starwood status!You’ll need 20,000 Starwood points for a free night. Or if you collect Marriott points, you can transfer 60,000 Marriott points to your Starwood account.
This hotel frequently sells rooms for $400+ per night.
3. Ritz-Carlton Hotel Arts Barcelona
The Hotel Arts Barcelona is the tallest hotel on this list, and stands away from the city, so nothing will disrupt your metropolis or sea view. Folks on the west side of the hotel even get a view of the Sagrada Familia basilica!
The hotel has 6 eateries, including a 2 Michelin star restaurant, Enoteca Paco Perez. And because the hotel is close to the beach, you can also find lots of highly-rated seafood restaurants nearby, like Bodega La Peninsular and La Cova Fumada.
Folks on TripAdvisor speak highly of this hotel. You’ll need 60,000 Marriott points for a free night. Or if you collect Starwood points, you can convert 20,000 Starwood points.The rates for this hotel are between ~$344 and ~$570, depending on the season.
4. W Barcelona
You won’t get closer to the sea than the W Barcelona. And because of its shape and orientation, every room has a view of the water!
That said, it’s not in the middle of hot tourist destinations. So you’ll likely have to take a car to where you want to go.
Folks on TripAdvisor highly rate the feather beds, spacious rooms, and gigantic windows!If you’re interested in modern touches like remote curtains and mood light buttons (or just fantastic views), this could be the hotel for you!
You can use 20,000 Starwood points for a free night. Or if you collect Marriott points, you can convert 60,000 Marriott points.
Using points will save you ~$350+, which is the regular cost of a room night.
5. AC Hotel Diagonal L’Illa
The AC Hotel Diagonal L’Illa is a smaller, minimalist hotel located on the main road, Avinguda Diagonal. It is the longest road in Barcelona, with plenty to offer!
There are plenty of stores and attractions to visit. And, it’s a 10-minute walk to the subway station, which is an easy way to get around most parts of the city.
The AC Hotel isn’t a flashy 5-star hotel, but receives excellent ratings on TripAdvisor for service and location. It received both a 2016 Travelers’ Choice award and a 2016 Certificate of Excellence award. And it’s a great value for your points!
You’ll spend 30,000 Marriott points for a free night. Or you can convert 10,000 Starwood points to Marriott!
Using points will save you ~$180 per night.
Bonus – Four Points by Sheraton Barcelona Diagonal
The Four Points by Sheraton Barcelona Diagonal is less than a mile away from both the Sagrada Familia basilica and the beach.
Plus, the hotel is located at the beginning of one of Barcelona’s vehicle-free roads with lots of restaurants. So you can sample cuisine along the relatively peaceful street! 😉
You’ll pay 7,000 Starwood points per night at this hotel. Or transfer 21,000 Marriott points!
You’ll save ~$155 here, depending on the season.
Need More Marriott or Starwood Points?
1. Chase Marriott and Ritz-Carlton Credit Cards
Link: Marriott Rewards® Premier Credit Card
Link: Marriott Rewards Premier Business Card
Link: Ritz-Carlton Rewards® Credit Card
With the Marriott Rewards Premier personal and small business cards, you’ll earn 80,000 Marriott points after completing minimum spending requirements.
If you get the personal version of the card, you can earn another 7,500 bonus Marriott points when you add an authorized user and make a purchase within the first 3 months of opening your account. The $85 annual fee is NOT waived for the first year.
The $99 annual fee on the small business version of the card is also NOT waived for the first year.
Check out my review of the offer!
2. AMEX Starwood Credit Cards
Link: Starwood Preferred Guest® Credit Card from American Express
Link: Starwood Preferred Guest® Business Credit Card from American Express
You can earn 25,000 Starwood points after completing the minimum spending requirements on the Starwood Preferred Guest personal or small business card.
When you pay for hotel stays using your Chase Marriott or Ritz-Carlton card, or AMEX Starwood card, you’ll earn bonus points at all 3 hotel chains.
For everyday non-bonus spending, I recommend the AMEX Starwood cards. Because you’ll earn 1 Starwood point per $1 you spend, which you can converted to 3 Marriott or Ritz-Carlton points. That’s much better than the 1 Marriott or Ritz-Carlton point per $1 you spend you’ll get with the Marriott and Ritz-Carlton cards!
And, AMEX cards are easier to get than Chase cards. That’s because Chase made it more difficult for folks to be approved for cards (excluding the Chase Ritz-Carlton card and a few others) if you’ve opened 5 or more credit cards (from any bank) in the past 24 months (except for certain business cards).
But keep in mind you can only earn the bonus on any AMEX card once per lifetime.
Bottom Line
You can use Marriott and Starwood points to stay at terrific hotels in Barcelona!
You can stay at 5-star hotels like the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Arts Barcelona on the Mediterranean coast. Or Le Méridien Barcelona, located right on La Rambla.
Redeeming points can save you hundreds of dollars compared to the cash cost of a room night!
Before you book, link your Marriott, Ritz-Carlton, and Starwood loyalty accounts. This way you’ll enjoy the benefits of your elite status across all 3 hotel chains!
Which of these hotels would you pick for a trip to Barcelona?