Hostal Sant Carlo

This particular hotel came recommended to me on booking.com. The pictures looked alright and it was much cheaper than other options around, so we decided to take a chance. We arrived late in the evening, with my exhausted two year old in tow, and couldn't find the right buzzer outside the building. I called the reception and asked which one to press, but he didn't understand a word and just kept repeating the address. I then said 'I'm here, I'm outside.' This resulted in him screaming in Spanish and then hanging up on me. This happened three times before I decided to press every button and eventually got in. We made it up to the fourth floor in the lift, but were greated by a dishevilled receptionist reeking of alcohol and more interested in getting paid than showing us our room.

The room was tiny and the two beds were just pushed together for the three of us. It was well past midnight by this time so we had no choice but to stay put. A few pointers for anyone considering a stay here: the walls are so thin you can hear someone using the shared bathroom, the rooms and bathrooms themselves are unclean and there's no room for your cases. The owner has some kind of alcohol issue and potential split personality disorder. There's no air con and the fan doesn't do much, and you have the pleasure of a wall out the window. On the plus side, there was a good supply of toiletries which were presumably left by previous stayers.

Overall, the location was really great, but don't stay here with kids. It's bearable for a night or two, but that's about it.

Located just a stones throw from Placa da Catalunya, Hostal Sant Carlo is a hotel with a lot of potential, but unfortunately a lot of room for improvement. We booked a double room with a private bathroom, but were quickly taken back to the 1970's with decor that harkened back to the era of Rising Damp. To add to this, the TV didn't work, the bathroom was grimy and barely functional, leaving only the cleanliness of the sheets as a redeeming factor. At €90 a night, this simply isn't worth it, and so unless Hostal Sant Carlo reduces the prices to match the condition, we suggest you keep looking.

The location is awesome - you can get everywhere within walking distance. The airport is just a hop away via Aerobus to Plaza Catalunya, and you'll see the sign at the side of the door. ? The shared bathroom and shower ? are clean, the rooms are small but cosy ? and there's a window for lighting. The elevator ? might be a bit old and funny, but it works, and you'll find it on the 3rd floor. ? There are lots of bakeries, restaurants and markets nearby, and one at the corner is open 24 hrs - highly recommend this place if you need an economical option that's still great. ???

I booked a room at this hotel two weeks in advance, but when I got there, the staff said I'd have to wait until 2 p.m. since they hadn't cleaned my room yet. I wasn't happy, and they angrily told me they were canceling my booking because of my reaction. I had a small child with me and they started shouting and using bad language – I was completely stunned! Having come from Ukraine, we're no strangers to hardship, but this was just too much. It was the most awful experience I've had and I cannot believe people like this are allowed to work in hospitality. To save your sanity, avoid this hotel at all costs – Yelling at a woman with a child is totally out of the question.

The reason I chose this accommodation was its location and price - it's perfectly situated right opposite Placa d'urquinaona metro station and not too far from Plaza Catalunya. The price was not cheap, but I couldn't find a better option during the summertime. The living conditions were quite basic but passable. It was a large flat divided into several rooms, or maybe multiple flats. The manager wasn't always around, so it was vital to keep up with the terms of residence. Wi-Fi was available and functioning.