Hotel 1898

just not what was expected.

Quick check in and large room with a comfortable bed and plenty of storage and hangers. I had to request an iron with ironing board, which was delivered promptly. Mini bar, kettle and China cup and saucer provided. Bathroom was nice and plenty of towels replaced daily. Sadly there was no mirror in the bedroom, which would have been nice to have. When we booked, it was advertised as half board and the El Niño Restaurant and lounge bar were closed during the summer months. This meant the dinner had to be taken at the rooftop pool bar. Unfortunately the sun beds were kept for hours by selfish guests, but the staff did not monitor this. When we got there, the staff did not understand the half board option. Every night we had to explain and were charged for the meal, though it was a part of the offer. The menu had no changes, so every night we ate the same. The staff also seemed to get tired of us being there every night. After the first week, we decided to eat out in the Gothic area for dinner. The breakfast buffet had a good selection but there were no kitchen staff to make omelettes or poached/fried eggs, so those were well done and crispy. There was a spa with a small pool, steam room and sauna. The only thing that bothered me was someone recording his girlfriend with his mobile phone while she was standing next to him. I would return to this hotel, but only on a bed and breakfast basis. The half board option was not what I expected and the menu never changed.

We will never forget our time in Spain and the special memories that we shared while celebrating our 40th wedding anniversary. From the moment we walked through the doors, it was like stepping back in time and being surrounded by gorgeous ambience and shared history of the area. We highly recommend their book, it's beautiful and the art is scattered throughout the building. Our room was simply beautiful and the care and service provided was impeccable. Breakfast was outstanding and the spa was magical - couples sessions were the highlight! The roof top lounge was a great spot to relax and unwind, and we look forward to returning to Spain and making this place our home away from home.

The service wasn't anything special, and the room's furniture was a bit outdated. The worst part was that it took 4-5 minutes to get hot water, and the towels weren't in the best condition. Overall, don't pay top dollar as this isn't a full-fledged 4-star hotel.

Choosing this hotel was a fantastic decision. The main entrance used is tucked in the side, away from the hustle of La Rambla. The front desk staff were friendly and Caroleena was especially welcoming. Anna made sure to brighten up our mornings with her enthusiasm at breakfast. The spa also had great amenities and Alexandra was very personable. The rooftop bar was top notch with beautiful views, a pool, and seating options. Though some staff could be more enthusiastic in their service.

When we arrived before the check in time of 3pm, we were informed our room was available. However, it was not the room we had paid for with an interior patio. We were also given twin beds instead of the double bed we had requested. We eventually got the room we had booked after I pushed harder and we were moved that day. We were not the first to face unhappiness with their room allocation and to be moved. We also experienced a lack of hot water in the bathroom, but the maintenance team was able to fix it after running the shower and sinks for several minutes. The hotel is mostly wheelchair accessible, but there are a few steps that make it a bit difficult to manage with luggage. There is also no access to the upper level of the breakfast room, which has the breads and pastries. The rooftop bar is accessible by lift, but due to a private party I had to wheel around the perimeter. Despite this, there were still positives. The hotel is beautiful, the lobby is grand, the breakfast is plentiful, and the staff is very helpful. We also had a comfortable sleep in the right room both nights, apart from the loud music coming from the rooftop bar. I would give this hotel three stars, as there should have been more consideration from the front desk when we first raised the issue of room allocation.