World's Most Unusual Hotels: Spend the Night at an Artsy Spanish Winery
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Our new series from TPG Contributor Lori Zaino, “World’s Most Unusual Hotels,” features some of the craziest, most unique properties around the globe, perfect for adventurous travelers who are ready for a little something different. Here, she guides us through the Frank Gehry-designed Hotel Marqués de Riscal, Elciego, a Starwood Luxury Collection Hotel located in northern Spain's wine region. (All photos are courtesy of the hotel.)
If you've ever dreamed of sleeping in an avant-garde, glamorous hotel designed by architect Frank Gehry, the good news is you can — and even better, you can use points to do it! The Starwood Luxury Collection's Hotel Marqués de Riscal, Elciego is an incredible property located on a picturesque vineyard in northern Spain.
The hotel, which opened in 2006, is the perfect blend of modern design aesthetic — thanks to impressive pinkish and gold-toned titanium sheets that sweep across the outside of the hotel — with the quaint feel of a small Spanish wine village. The toned colors of the titanium sheets were actually inspired by Marques de Riscal wine bottles and are pink for the wine, gold for the specialty mesh that encases the bottles and silver for the foil that goes around the cork.
If you're heading to this particular part of Spain — and to this hotel — to drink wine, you've definitely come to the right place. Besides offering a wine bar, rooftop lounge and a cozy library complete with a fireplace, the hotel is connected to the Marqués de Riscal Winery, which dates back to 1858.
Take a break to tour the winery and its cellars, pick up a souvenir at the wine shop and learn a little bit about the process at the onsite Museum of Viticulture. The Michelin-starred Restaurant Marqués de Riscal features regional Basque cuisine, while Bistro 1860 offers a less formal dining option great for light bites.
The hotel's location in the middle of Spain's legendary Rioja wine region means there's plenty of wine tourism going on here, so check out the TPG Rioja Wine Guide if you plan on visiting.
All 43 rooms of the hotel are different, with each boasting its own shape, design and view. The two hotel room wings are connected by a glass footbridge and each room features a Bang & Olufsen television, marble bathrooms, maple wood furniture, leather accents and special Gehry-designed works of art like cloud lamps.
There are also sleek design touches from both Alvar Aalto and Christian Werner. The most luxurious room, the Gehry Suite, features a kitchenette with a Nespresso coffee maker and Porsche-designed electric kettle as well as a separate living room area and of course, the best views.
The onsite Spa Vinothérapie Caudalie Marqués de Riscal offers plenty of wine-themed treatments. The Crushed Cabernet Scrub, followed by the Merlot body wrap and the Wine Maker's massage can surely cure any jet lag you're still experiencing. Treat yourself to a nice soak in one of the giant barrel bathtubs for the ultimate in relaxation. The Spa also offers an indoor pool, jacuzzi and steam room. For active travelers, there's a 24-hour fitness center you can visit as well as plenty of jogging and walking paths throughout the property and its surrounding vineyards.
Room rates at this spectacular Category 6 property start at about $384 or 20,000 Starpoints per night in May. You can also earn an additional two points per dollar spent at Starwood properties by paying for your stay with the Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Card from American Express.
Getting There
The town of Elciego is located just a 25-minute drive from Basque city Logroño and about 3.5-hours from Madrid. Your best bet is to fly into Madrid, rent a car and drive up to Elciego. There are Renfe trains and Alsa buses that run between Madrid and Logroño as well and you can always arrange a taxi to get from Logroño to Elciego.
There are a number of options for getting from North America to Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD):
American Airlines offers nonstop flights from Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW), Miami (MIA), New York (JFK) and Philadelphia (PHL). You'll need 60,000 American AAdvantage miles to fly round-trip in economy, 115,000 to fly round-trip in business or 170,000 to fly round-trip in first.
Delta flies nonstop to MAD from New York (JFK) and Atlanta (ATL), with round-trip redemptions typically available starting at 85,000 Delta SkyMiles (economy) or 295,000 (business).
United offers nonstop flights to MAD from Newark (EWR), requiring the following MileagePlus redemptions for a round-trip ticket: 60,000 (economy), 115,000 (business) or 160,000 (first).
A Final Tip
Credit cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card and Citi Prestige don't charge foreign transaction fees, making them ideal to use on trips to foreign countries like Spain. For more fee-free credit card options, check out this post.
Would you stay in this wacky hotel? Have you stayed there before? Sound off below!
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| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
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There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.