Barcino 147

Staying at Barcino is definitely different than staying at a hotel. You're literally staying in a large apartment, and you have one room in that apartment. Personally, I liked it, as it felt like I was living in the city as opposed to staying at some westernized hotel. But be warned that you won't have many of the amenities we're used to at American hotels (a concierge, a dedicated receptionist, an on-site restaurant, etc.). They did leave two bottles of water and some chocolate truffles in the room, which was a nice and appreciated touch. The one thing I would caution you on is to NOT accept the transportation options they provide. The driver from Barcino charged me more than twice what a cab driver charged me for the exact same route later that day (and that was with two people in the car, so he actually made five times the standard cab rate). I found that extremely frustrating and offensive, and it did impact my stay as I kept wondering how else they might be taking advantage of me. The rate he quoted me for the trip to the airport (which I didn't take) was more on par with cab rates, but was still slightly higher. All in all, I would recommend this hotel, and would stay there again if/when I was in Barcelona. But I would definitely consider using public transportation when possible, and having a better idea of what standard cab fares are before I choose which mode of transportation to accept. Finally, just know that when you check in you have to go inside the building (which will likely be locked, so you'll have to ring the bell) and up to the second floor to apartment 2a. I found this process very confusing, as there was no signage -- and I later helped someone else who was clearly confused. So when you book the property, be sure to let them know when you plan to arrive (and make sure you have their phone number in case you arrive and there is nobody there to check you in).

Voordelen: My suite was very spacious (huge compared to most European hotels). The room was quiet, and the staff was friendly. And the best part about the location was that it was close to public transportation and there were usually cabs waiting out front.

Nadelen: The hot water took a while to heat up in the shower each morning, and it was awkward not having a traditional front-desk receptionist. The breakfast was kind of nonexistent, so don't let that factor into your decision too much.