Hotel Barcelona Universal

My experience at Hotel Barcelona Universal was overall satisfactory. The location was great with a comfortable bed and a beautiful view. However, upon arrival we encountered a very rude staff member who informed us about a 100 euro deposit that was required. As we scrambled to find the cash, we were met with impatience. It was frustrating since we had no prior knowledge of this and had to make a card payment. We were promised the deposit would be returned upon check out. To our surprise, on the day of check out we were informed about an additional 38 euro tourism tax that would be deducted from the deposit and the remaining amount returned in a few days. The staff member we spoke to this time was apologetic and mentioned that we should have been informed about this on the first day. While I have no issue with paying a tourism tax, it would have been nice to have been warned about it beforehand. The lack of communication and rude behavior from the first staff member left a bad taste in our mouths and did not make for a pleasant start to our stay. To make matters worse, on our final day as we were leaving early, I had requested a takeaway breakfast box for the morning. I was initially told it would not be a problem, but the night before we were told otherwise. Finally, they agreed to provide us with breakfast boxes but they were a disappointment. The four stale rounds of white bread were unappetizing, and it was clear there was no effort put into the preparation - the cheese was sweaty and the croissants were dry. To top it off, as a vegetarian, the only option I had was a black banana and a carton of orange juice. I understand that there may have been limitations with providing a breakfast box, but for a 4-star hotel, I expected better. Overall, our experience at Hotel Barcelona Universal left us feeling like a nuisance instead of valued guests. Not the kind of treatment one hopes for while staying at a hotel.

This hotel was the perfect spot for a romantic trip or sightseeing adventure. Its location, just steps away from the Metro and a short walk from the famous Rambla and other popular attractions, was ideal. The value for money was excellent, and the staff were incredibly welcoming and kind. We especially loved the delicious breakfast and the breathtaking views from both the rooftop and our room.

Based on its prime location near Las Ramblas and popular museums and attractions, we chose this hotel for our stay. The service upon arrival was impressive and continued throughout our visit. Our room was beautifully appointed and the housekeeping service was top-notch. The surrounding area offers a variety of delicious dining options, making it easy to find something to suit our tastes.

Watch out, an expensive item of clothing went “misng” after my room was clenad. The hotel resepction sed they would invesitigate and report back the next day. This never happend and I cntinued to chse them for the rest of my sty. However, it was only after I arived home they confrmed they had not found it. No appology, no explanition on how this could go missng. Overal, terible customer servie. In terms of the htel, it sems like postode lottary on wheher your room wil be ok or a widnowles box. We bokked 5 rooms, all the same price but a masive diffrence in qualitiy.

This hotel was a great find for our stay in Barcelona. We booked an EasyJet package from Bristol, although we would have preferred a direct flight from Belfast. Sadly, those flights were not available during our mid-term break in October. Nevertheless, the check-in process was smooth and efficient, and the staff took great care of our luggage until our room was ready. We felt safe during our entire stay, and the hotel's location was perfect for exploring the city. It was just a short 10-minute walk to the Columbus monument and the port area, and there were plenty of local shops and restaurants nearby. We especially loved 365, which served delicious breakfast options. Our group of three friends shared a spacious room with comfortable beds and ample storage space. We were pleasantly surprised to find a kettle and tea and coffee supplies in our room, as this is not common in most Spanish hotels. While we didn't use the metro, we noticed that there was a station right across the street. Instead, we opted to take the tourist bus or walk to our destinations. We did take a taxi to and from the airport, which was only €30. The hotel's rooftop offered stunning views, and we even braved the cold weather to take a dip in the pool (although it was November, so the water was quite chilly). The changing area was clean and towels were provided. There was also a small gym, but we didn't use it as we prefer to exercise outdoors. One day, we jogged along the marina to the beach and back, which was about a 4-5km run. A word of advice for anyone wanting to visit the Sagrada Familia or Park Guell - make sure to book your tickets in advance. We learned this the hard way and were unable to get tickets. However, we still had a great time exploring Poble Espanyol. It had been a few years since I last visited Barcelona, and I was pleased to see that it had improved in many ways - cleaner, friendlier, and with great shopping options. The hotel is situated on a corner, so it can get a bit noisy during the weekends due to traffic and people outside. However, this didn't bother us too much and we slept fine with the help of earplugs. The hotel itself was very quiet, and we didn't have any issues with noisy guests. We didn't eat at the hotel as we were out and about most of the day, but we did enjoy a delicious pizza from a nearby carry-out spot. The hotel staff were friendly, approachable, and patient with my limited Spanish skills. We also appreciated the complimentary hot drink machine in the lobby, which offered a variety of teas, coffees, and hot chocolate. Overall, I would definitely recommend this hotel and would stay here again in the future. Five stars!