Relais Chateaux Hotel La Torre del Visco's wine cellar's deep selection of reasonably priced wines can provide hours of entertainment.

Like many places in Spain, when you leave your luggage unattended at La Torre del Visco, it might disappear on you.

But unlike a street corner in Barcelona, at this Relais Chateaux Hotel in the Spanish countryside, you’ll find your bags later, waiting for you in your posh room.

The vanishing luggage trick–one of my favorite features of luxury travel–was just the first of many opulent touches we enjoyed at our stay here. Located 4.5 hours from Madrid and 2.5 hours from Barcelona by car, La Torre del Visco, makes a peaceful if slightly out-of-the-way respite from visits to Spain’s biggest two cities.

Other luxurious highlights:

• a stocked 15th century wine cellar where if you open a bottle and don’t like it, you can just pick another one and not be charged for the first (the owner only carries wine he likes, so he just drinks the opened bottles himself–the wine selection is so good, however, he doesn’t get to do this often)
• a menu that changes daily based on what’s fresh–or freshly killed (it damn near killed me that right after checking out I saw a plate of just-caught fish on ice in the kitchen)
• while chatting with some other guests on a porch enjoying a panoramic view of the Spanish countryside, we were asked if we wanted  lunch–moments later the white table cloth was brought out, as were plate after plate of meats and cheeses

La Torre del Visco has 17 rooms (four suites, two junior suites, six superior double rooms and five standard rooms). Prices range from 151€ to 303.5€ on weekdays and 275€ to 425€ on weekends and holidays. It is not suitable for people with disabilities. La Torre del Visco also has two acres of formal gardens, terraces and fountains as well as a 220-acre organic farm to explore.

Enjoy a good sit taking in the Spanish countryside.

Photos: Zach Everson

Relais Chateaux Hotel La Torre del Visco
Partida Torre del Visco s/n
44587 Fuentespalda, Spain
( 00 34) 978 76 90 15