Getting to Hotel Cala del Pi, Platja d'Aro
Cala del Pi is a small cove with pines growing out of the rocks, tucked between Platja d'Aro and S'Agaro. Pine is pi in Catalan, which is where the cove got its name, and after it the hotel that stands right above the water.
From Girona airport to the hotel is 32 km, from Barcelona airport 118 km. The difference on the road is about an hour.
What kind of place it is
Hotel Cala del Pi stands on the seafront, at Avinguda Cavall Bernat 160. The path down to the water starts at the door, which is a real plus.
The hotel takes adults only, and that is worth knowing before you book rather than at the reception desk on arrival day: they will not check you in with children.
Which airport to fly into
| Airport | Distance | Travel time | Transfer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Girona (GRO) | 32 km | ~34 min | from €87 |
| Barcelona (BCN) | 118 km | ~1 hr 27 min | from €224 |
From Girona the road runs along the C-65 through the hills of La Selva, past Cassa and Santa Cristina d'Aro, and the last kilometres take you along the coast.
From Barcelona you first take the AP-7 to Girona, then the same C-65. That adds up to an hour and a half instead of half an hour - a difference you will feel both on arrival day and on the day you fly home, when you have to leave considerably earlier (and Barcelona traffic is its own story).
Girona airport is much closer and looks like the obvious choice, but far fewer flights land there: it is a low-cost base, and from many cities there is simply no direct flight. Look at both options carefully before you buy your tickets.
How to get there from each
| Airport | Transfer | Bus | Train | Taxi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Girona (GRO) | from €87, ~34 min | Sarfa, 3-4 a day, ~1 hr, 8 € | None | On the meter |
| Barcelona (BCN) | from €224, ~1 hr 27 min | Via Barcelona, with a change | No direct one | On the meter |
Bus. From Girona there is the Sarfa line, an hour on the road, 8 € a ticket. In practice that means three or four departures a day, and the timetable is drawn up with no regard whatsoever for when planes land: touch down at midday and the next bus may be at half past four.
From Barcelona there is no direct bus at all: first into the city, then the same Sarfa from the Nord coach station. Counting the wait for your luggage, that change adds up to over three hours. Longer than the flight itself from half the cities in Europe.
Train. There is no railway to Platja d'Aro. The nearest station is in Girona, and from there you still have to take a bus.
Taxi. The rank is outside the terminal at both airports, payment on the meter. From Barcelona a distance like that runs up a tidy sum, and you will learn it at the end of the ride, when haggling is rather late.
The bus, incidentally, drops you at the edge of town. From there it is another couple of kilometres along the shore to the hotel - in the heat, with a suitcase, not a pleasant walk at all.
What is around
Platja d'Aro is the main resort town on this stretch of coast: two kilometres of beach and a promenade lined with shops. In summer it gets rather crowded.
S'Agaro, fifteen minutes away on foot, works quite differently: it is a quarter of villas that Rafael Maso laid out to a single plan in the twenties, white houses and not a single random building. The Cami de Ronda starts there - a cliff path to Sant Feliu de Guixols, an hour and a half of walking past the Sa Conca and Cala Pei coves.
Tossa de Mar with its fortress above the sea is about forty minutes away. Girona, where Game of Thrones was filmed, is roughly half an hour.
What to know about the transfer
The driver follows your flight number, and if the plane is delayed the pickup shifts accordingly, at no extra charge. At the airport you get an hour of free waiting from the moment you land - enough for passport control and baggage reclaim.
After you land the driver writes to you and names the exact meeting point. A meet and greet with a sign is a separate option for 10 €; in the Premium class it is included.
Payment is by card in the app. The amount is fixed at booking and does not change. A booking can be cancelled without a penalty up to 24 hours in advance. Toll roads are not included in the route price.
You book in the Let's GO app: enter the address and the price appears at once, before you confirm. We work across Catalonia and at eleven other airports in Spain.
Frequently asked questions
Which airport is closer to Platja d'Aro? Girona: 32 km and ~34 min on the road. From Barcelona it is 118 km and ~1 hr 27 min, but more airlines fly there.
How much does a transfer from Girona airport to Platja d'Aro cost? from €87 for the whole car, not per person. The price is fixed at booking.
How much does a transfer from Barcelona airport to Platja d'Aro cost? from €224 for the whole car. The drive takes ~1 hr 27 min.
Is there a bus from Girona airport to Platja d'Aro? Yes, the Sarfa line, about an hour on the road, 8 € a ticket. There are three or four departures a day and the timetable is not matched to arrivals - check it in advance.
Does Cala del Pi take children? No, the hotel is adults only.
What happens if my flight is delayed? The driver follows the flight number and moves the pickup himself; there is no surcharge for it.
Will the driver wait if baggage takes a long time? Yes, an hour of free waiting from the moment the plane lands.
Hotel website: hotelcaladelpi.com