Hotel Can Liret

Palafrugell is about a 10-minute drive from the coastal spots of Calella, Tamariu, and Llafranc, so we needed a rental car to visit them. Public transport is an option, but we didn’t use it. The hotel has paid parking nearby, though we chose street parking, which can be free or paid depending on how long you stay. As a base for exploring this scenic, unspoilt stretch of the Costa Brava, I’d definitely recommend it. The hotel itself is a real gem, calm and peaceful despite being close to the town centre. It combines modern amenities with restored older features. We stayed in Suite Torre de l’Aigua, room 8. It had a double bed, a single bed/sofa, and a baby crib, plus a large separate bathroom with a beautiful freestanding bath. There wasn’t tea or coffee in the room, but both were available in the ground-floor breakfast room throughout the day. Our spacious balcony looked over the little garden and pool, with city views. Breakfast was very good, with quality cheese, hams, dried sausages, fresh fruit, homemade yogurt, bread, and sweet pastries. The hosts also made omelettes for our kids, even though those weren’t included. The small garden is well kept and has a little pool for cooling off.

The owner went out of their way to be helpful and informative, and the continental breakfast buffet was excellent. There’s a small but attractive pool too. This is the most attractive hotel we’ve stayed in, and we’d definitely return.

The one thing I’d change is the parking. It costs 15€ per night, which I think should be included in the room price, and finding spaces for two cars every day in August was a real pain. Even so, the hotel was worth it and I highly recommend it. It’s an easy 10-minute walk to the centre, and the staff are lovely and helpful. Julia is especially smiley and nice, we loved her. Our room was comfortable, with a big bed and air A/C that was easy to manage. Breakfast was amazing, with sweet and savoury choices changing day to day: lots of fruit, homemade yogurt, five kinds of milk, four kinds of very good cheese, and Catalan ‘sausages’ including fuet, llonganissa, and black and white butifarra. The bread and olive oil were very good, the coffee machine was great, and there were lovely sweet pastries with chocolate, custard cream, or sugar.

With a toddler, the stay wasn’t always relaxed, even though the hotel itself is child-friendly. As a single person or a couple, I think we might have found it more enjoyable. Still, it was a good place to explore the area from. Callela, Llafranc, and Tamariu are nearby, and Begur, Peratellada, and Pals offer plenty to do on rainy days. Marina and her team put a lot of care into making guests feel comfortable. The hotel is nicely furnished, and the little details make it special. Breakfast was extraordinary and never got boring: a good range of cheeses and sausages, delicious bread, pastries, and beautifully presented fresh fruit. They sometimes had fresh O-juice, and kindly made eggs for us even when they weren’t part of breakfast. The rooms were cleaned daily. Marina also has great recommendations, so ask her.