Àmfores Boutique Guest House

Located in the bustling city of Barcelona, this guest house was a prime example of hipster ideas and get rich quick schemes gone wrong. At first glance, the quirky decor may seem appealing, but my experience at this hotel was far from satisfactory. The major issue began right at check-in, where I was informed that there were no physical keys and instead, I had to download and register an app. This process was frustrating, as the app was glitchy and could not be registered with my email. Without local data, this proved to be a major inconvenience. Even the staff seemed to be fed up with the app. To make matters worse, the staff would leave at 9PM, leaving no support or anyone on the premises until 8AM the next morning. This is completely unacceptable for any hotel and is clearly a tactic to save on wages at the expense of guests. I witnessed a distressed woman who arrived after hours, only to be left confused about which room she was supposed to access with the app. Communication overall was poor. Moreover, the prices for such a minimalist experience were exorbitant. The lack of coffee maker, limited amenities (one plastic glass, no luggage rack, no towel racks, etc.), and low-quality finishings made me question if the person who designed this place had ever stayed in a hotel before. Though the sheets were clean, the bed was uncomfortable and made noises with movement. The air conditioner only blew weak air and did not cool or dehumidify the room, making it constantly damp and uncomfortable. To top it off, the plywood door on the bathroom had a massive gap, allowing for little privacy. For the high price of over 230 Euros, this was not a pleasant experience. It was evident that this guest house was all about the marketing and lacked substance. It was like the "avocado toast of hotels," but made with mass-produced ingredients and lacking in quality.

At first, when my husband booked this accommodation, I wasn't sure if it was a good decision to stay at a place with such a low rating. Yet, after we arrived, we were pleasantly surprised by how nice, cozy and clean it was. Everything was managed online, so we didn't even have to interact with the staff, who were very nice and friendly. The room was small, but hey, this is Barcelona; all you really need is a clean bathroom and shower and a bed to sleep in, because there's no point staying in a hotel room all day in such a vibrant city. The location of the hotel was great. Five minutes' walk to the main square (where all the pigeons are) and the most popular boulevard. The area is safe, and there are plenty of nice and delicious restaurants around. Highly recommended!

On my recent stay of 7 nights in August, my initial experience was far from satisfactory. Upon returning to the room at 12am, the air conditioner and TV had malfunctioned and couldn't be fixed the same day. I had to move my belongings to another room, and upon returning to my original room after a day out, I found the welcome candy covered in ants after being left unwrapped. On two occasions, I had to notify the reception about the smoker in the patio, and although I showed proof of the cigarette remnants, they didn't take any measures. Later, I had to put up with a party listening to loud music with noise coming from above my balcony from 3:30am to 5am. Disappointed, I chose to check out one day earlier and requested a refund for that night along with some compensation for the previous ones. After multiple emails and phone calls, I received no form of compensation whatsoever, not even customer service from the manager, Gosia Knapczyk.

This hidden gem is the perfect place for a stay in a city like Barcelona. Not only does it keep up with the charm and quirkiness of the area, but it also provides all the necessary amenities to make for a great experience. The staff is incredibly friendly and generous with their help. Right in the center of the Gothic Quarter, the graffiti is full of amazing pieces of art that make the streets come alive. Every twist and turn leads to incredible shops, bars, cathedrals, and architecture, as well as friendly people to meet. Highly recommended.

This is a great place to stay in a good area. The staff was super friendly and accommodating, making it easy to find and only a short distance from the Metro. It offers great value for the money and I would highly recommend it for couples visiting the city.