Mas Tapiolas ★★★★

Arriving at the Mas Tapiolas we were greeted by the sight of a charming Catalan country house set in peaceful gardens, surrounded by greenery. There was an elegant wrought-iron pergola and lots of other seating areas where you could relax and contemplate the rolling Spanish hills, fading to craggy peaks in the distance. The atmosphere was so gentle and welcoming we almost didn’t feel the need to go any further. Of course we did though, and a warm welcome greeted us. The hotel reception areas are modern and full of light, with floor-length windows overlooking the gardens, and a spacious bar and seating area with Aztec-inspired geometric decorations and cool tiled floors. The authentic charm of the country house style has been retained in the exposed stone and wooden beams and there is a lovely feature fireplace of stone and iron, with, when we arrived, a slightly unnecessary but cheering and welcoming roaring fire.

I had had my doubts about sharing a family room with a teenager, even a lovely one I had known all her life, but when I saw the room layout I was reassured completely. A section of the room had twin beds for me and my friend, and then an almost completely separate alcove contained the large double bed for the birthday girl. Soft neutral colours, enlivened by splashes of maroon, made for a relaxing décor; the beds were large and very comfortable and, best of all for the older ones among us, there were super-comfortable reclining leather armchairs in which to relax and drink in the splendid view. Glass patio doors led on to our private terrace overlooking the grounds. My friend’s daughter squealed with delight at the marble-inlaid bathroom with its double sinks, walk-in shower and range of complementary toiletries just waiting for her to have fun with.

Our first destination, at the daughter’s insistence, was the spa. We had a lovely time in the indoor pool, hot tub and sauna, during the course of which we gaily agreed that we ought to plan a game or two on the hotel’s lawn tennis court sometime over the next couple of days. The spa is free, which was a lovely touch, and we indulged in a relaxing massage as well. Then to dinner! The restaurant boasts fish and prawns caught directly in Palamos and taken straight to the hotel. The food was certainly delicious, with impeccable friendly service in a beautiful candle-lit out-door terrace.

Beach trips were a must, if only to try out the new bikini, and we spent a couple of happy lazy days on San Pol beach, only a mile away from the hotel. It was quiet, clean and beautiful, with not a single high-rise in sight! Even better was the long sandy stretch of Sa Conca beach, a little further along the coast.

Yet another highlight of our birthday celebrations was a trip to Barcelona for some city life as an antidote to the rural charm of Mas Tapiolas. This meant a hectic day of determined sight-seeing and numerous breaks for café con leche or tapas to sustain us. We were so happy to be able to introduce our teenage companion to the truly awesome spectacle that is Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia and she, in her turn, was equally happy to introduce us to some of the most modern and stylish boutiques I have ever seen. At the end of the day we were all happy to return to our haven of luxury and calm at Mas Tapiolas.