Arc La Rambla hotel

Comment

Room 206 (TV remote did not work) Unable to read in bed lighting very poor. No shower curtain water goes everywhere. No plug to use in bath. Windows open into a covered over, airless square. Room 209. Room was smelly, tried to open windows for fresh air - again opened into a airless, ugly square. Air conditioning was so loud it drowned out the TV. We requested another room. Room 104 - nice room, again TV remote did not work. This room requires curtains although it has louvre windows - we could see through the louvres into a laundry working area where trolleys were moved in and out as late as midnight. So if we could see staff they could see us. We hung towels at the windows. Also was noisy re the laundry area being used at night.

Top Tip

We found a nice little restaurant for breakfast turn left leaving the hotel and walk along on the same side footpatch until you come to a small corner restaurant - a bikini (toasted ham & cheese sandwich) and coffee or tea for Euro 3.50 which was very good for the area. Worth doing: City bus tour, going up the lift in the Christopher Columbus statue, wax museum, navel maritime museum, visiting all the Gaudi buildings, Take the metro & train down to Sitges a delightful seaside resort nd exploring all the streets and lanes around La Rambla and enjoying the entertainment. Please beware when watching the entertainers, that pick pockets are around. Three young men in their early 20's were standing beside me while watching a magician and I felt my zip on my bag tug. As I turned I caught one of the mens hand darting back under a grey hoodie he had drapped over his arm. I yelled at him "pickpocket" and they all walked away in the crowd. We followed them in the crowd and they knew we were onto them. They turned back trying to loose us but when they finally took off down a alley we let them go. Had I seen a policeman I would have pointed them out. Another English lady had her purse snatch by a guy on a motorbike up at the Olympic Stadium - she said she was aware of the danger but had let her guard down for a moment and the guy must have been watching and pounced. So bags should be worn diagonal across your body zips into towards the body. Do not let this put you off travelling to Barcelona it is a wonderful city and we found the majority of the people, friendly and helpful and would recommend this place to everyone for a holiday.

Comment

the staff were not very helpful. after cleaning the room they took all the towels and did not replace until I became very insistant at midnight. They would not even supply toilet paper at night when we run out. Yet ment to provide. they forgot to order the cab to the bus stop to catch flight Just as well i reminded and waited the 4th time to make sure they did it. not very helpful. sad but true.

Comment

first room provided was like a cell. Not even enough light to read by. Very spartan.We had to pay more to upgrade to an acceptable room.Breakfast poor. When asking for pepper told NO.etc

Top Tip

Terrific place enjoyed stay after initial disappointment Loads to do

Comment

The hotel is placed in a perfect area for people who like to see Barcelona. Close for a walk at the Rambla

Comment

Well, we arrived late on Sunday and of course got the worst room left (I believe). We had booked twin standard, but must say that ratings are different in Finland. Well, anyway the room we got (209) was very small, the bathroom was almost as big as the actual room. Wardrobe for the clothes was very small with 3 (!) hangers, safety debosit box did not work, air conditioning did not work, bathroom smelled bad and the window was to a trash alley...Jus few things I remember about the room. We complained to the young man at the reseption, but he could not be less interested. Acted as he didn´t understand. By the way he was rude all week - service culture at hotels is different too sometimes. Well, we stayed at the room for one night and went to the reseption again the next morning. Now there was working very a nice young woman, with pretty good language skills. She promised to see, what she could do. So after paying extra 100,-/5 nights we got a very nice room two stores up. Just like the pictures on their webside promised. Not that we did spend too much time at the room, but it is nice to hang your clothes to the hangers, enjoy air conditioning, lock your passport and cash to the safety debosit box and not smell like urine...

Top Tip

Do not pay for the hotel 10 euros for the breakfast. The town is full of bakeries, where yoy can buy bocadillos and juice/soft drinks to eat - we enjoyed most the breakfast at the Ciutadella park at the cost of less than 6 euros for two. Then two cups of coffee,4,50 euros, and got just what we wanted. Many coffeeshops and restaurants serve breakfast too. I think that the best price for lunch on the Ramblas is at Egipte, try their pastry with spinach sauce for starter - very tasty. One hint more, don´t buy bocattas/bocadillos from places where the prizes are not shown. They cheat. I don´t remember the name of the chain, but it was Catalan something.

Comment

Nice quiet room at the back of the hotel away from Ramblas noise. Location is excellent for Bario Gotic and Mare Magnum

Comment

hotel staff were very helpful, but the standard room not worth 108 euros per night. romm was very dark, and very small.lots of young people staying there mainly males out for a stag weekend. could not get to sleep after 3am, couse of the noise and bad language.

Top Tip

Barcelona is a great city for a short break, but try to go midweek rather than weekends to avoid, stag and hen parties.go on the bus tour its really good. theres great food and the people are friendly.

Comment

Tiny rooms, paper thin walls you were woken up with the sound of your neighbours tv, shower, sniffing, talking the whole lot. whilst the location was excellent. the staff were very unhelpful and unfriendly. It was a VERY expensive hotel for what you got.

Comment

Value for money, out of the door straight onto the Ramblas.

Top Tip

Drinks and food more expensive on the Ramblas

Comment

initial accom. excellant.Subsequent accom. dreadful.Bedrooms at back of laundry, smell of staff smoking, early morning deliveries,work-in-progress etc.Single window opening into laundry had sheets stacked against it - no curtains -no privacy - very poor lighting,half the room in darkness.- same number for all security boxes. Staff indifferent and condescending to all guests. attitude of "here today,gone tomorrow" palpable