Hi all.
My husband and I will be traveling to Barcelona (five nights, first time) this spring with our two teen daughters. I wanted a suite or connecting rooms, preferably in the Eixample, and with Mariblel's help, I now have FOUR reservations!
Would love your feedback on these:
1. Two bedroom suite at the Hispanos Siete Suiza, near the Sagrada Familia. 240 euro wtih breakfast. Pros: breakfast, two bedrooms, two baths, Best deal for money.
Cons: Out of the way--need to take metro everywhere.
2. Suite at the Apsis Atrium Palace on Gran via de Corts, 300 euro.
Pros: Great location, terrace facing street with hot tub (I am NOT a hot tub person!) Brand new.
Cons: It's a Best Western property--in the States this would leave me cold. One bathroom (I've got teen girls, remember!) No breakfast.
3. Two adjoining rooms at the Condes de Barcelona,
city view 187 euro per room
Pros-hotel gets good feedback on this site and tripadvisor.com,, good location, two bedrooms, two baths
Cons: Pricey! Ouch! No breakfast.
4.Two connecting rooms at the Balmes, garden view
118 per room
Pros: Good location, two bedrooms, two baths, hip boutique hotel, good price
Cons: While it gets good feedback on this site, some negative postings (small rooms) on tripadvisor.
Three star--all others are four star hotels.
Any advice from you experts would be appreciated!
Thanks!
My husband and I will be traveling to Barcelona (five nights, first time) this spring with our two teen daughters. I wanted a suite or connecting rooms, preferably in the Eixample, and with Mariblel's help, I now have FOUR reservations!
Would love your feedback on these:
1. Two bedroom suite at the Hispanos Siete Suiza, near the Sagrada Familia. 240 euro wtih breakfast. Pros: breakfast, two bedrooms, two baths, Best deal for money.
Cons: Out of the way--need to take metro everywhere.
2. Suite at the Apsis Atrium Palace on Gran via de Corts, 300 euro.
Pros: Great location, terrace facing street with hot tub (I am NOT a hot tub person!) Brand new.
Cons: It's a Best Western property--in the States this would leave me cold. One bathroom (I've got teen girls, remember!) No breakfast.
3. Two adjoining rooms at the Condes de Barcelona,
city view 187 euro per room
Pros-hotel gets good feedback on this site and tripadvisor.com,, good location, two bedrooms, two baths
Cons: Pricey! Ouch! No breakfast.
4.Two connecting rooms at the Balmes, garden view
118 per room
Pros: Good location, two bedrooms, two baths, hip boutique hotel, good price
Cons: While it gets good feedback on this site, some negative postings (small rooms) on tripadvisor.
Three star--all others are four star hotels.
Any advice from you experts would be appreciated!
Thanks!
Hi Hax,
I'm considering booking another Apsis Hotel (the 3 Star Araneas).I'm not 100% sure about this but I get the impression that the Atrium Palace is no longer run by Best Western. Apsis Hotels have their own website & it seems to me that they have taken over ownership from BW. In addition to the Atrium Palace, a couple of other former BW hotels are mentioned on the website - maybe you'll find an improvement under the new owners.
I'm considering booking another Apsis Hotel (the 3 Star Araneas).I'm not 100% sure about this but I get the impression that the Atrium Palace is no longer run by Best Western. Apsis Hotels have their own website & it seems to me that they have taken over ownership from BW. In addition to the Atrium Palace, a couple of other former BW hotels are mentioned on the website - maybe you'll find an improvement under the new owners.
Hi,
we recently stayed 6 nights at the Condes (room facing the back/"garden" and totally quiet, a must for us!!)in the Monument bldg. We "negotiated" and received a bit of a discounted rate for several of the nights given our perceived length of stay, which helped out. The breakfast/room is totally noninviting and we never ate there. There are 3 delightful "bars" within 2 blocks of the hotel on Mallorca, easy walk/reasonable/nice local people going to work afterwards. We found these to be an excellent and more economical alternative to the hotel restaurant.
Otherwise, the location is wonderful!!
Our last evening, we walked into a lovely new space, Hotel Onix Rambla, listed as 3 stars but brandspanking new and with a rooftop pool, on Rambla de Catalunya, a beautiful, treelined street parallel to the Paseo de Gracia. I would check it out:
www.hotelsonix.com. The desk clerk wrote a price of 125E plus taxes; 12 E for breakfast. Sounds pretty darn good to me.
Good luck.
I'll check in here again in case you post a reply or other questions.
It's a great, great city.
we recently stayed 6 nights at the Condes (room facing the back/"garden" and totally quiet, a must for us!!)in the Monument bldg. We "negotiated" and received a bit of a discounted rate for several of the nights given our perceived length of stay, which helped out. The breakfast/room is totally noninviting and we never ate there. There are 3 delightful "bars" within 2 blocks of the hotel on Mallorca, easy walk/reasonable/nice local people going to work afterwards. We found these to be an excellent and more economical alternative to the hotel restaurant.
Otherwise, the location is wonderful!!
Our last evening, we walked into a lovely new space, Hotel Onix Rambla, listed as 3 stars but brandspanking new and with a rooftop pool, on Rambla de Catalunya, a beautiful, treelined street parallel to the Paseo de Gracia. I would check it out:
www.hotelsonix.com. The desk clerk wrote a price of 125E plus taxes; 12 E for breakfast. Sounds pretty darn good to me.
Good luck.
I'll check in here again in case you post a reply or other questions.
It's a great, great city.
hax,
The Atrium Palace, as JJBhoy states, is no longer affiliated with Best Western. It's now part of the Apsis group.
But I'd seriously consider mfk59's find in the Eixample. I wasn't aware of the Onix at all. I'd certainly add it to my list, and maybe even put it at the top.
For a brand, spanking new hotel that has doubles for only 125 on the sophisticated Rambla de Catalunya (the parallel street to the boutique and Moderniste architecture filled Passeig de Gracia), right in the heart of the Eixample, it just sounds like a great deal, so long as they have 2 doubles that connect. There are plenty of cafes on the Rambla de Catalunya where you can have breakfast.
And a cafe and croissant won't set you back much money.
If you do a text search on the Balmes, I think you'll find positive comments from satisfied Fodorites. I don't pay that much attention to the tripadvisor reviews as they are often anonymous. and tend to vary widely. I prefer to put more stake in the reviews here on the Forum. The Derby Hotel group is a first rate one.
But ...the advantage to the Onix is that it's even closer to the Placa de Catalunya than the Balmes and only 4 months old, so everything, particularly the furnishings, will be very fresh. Plus you can walk virtually everywhere. Your daughters will like the boutique shopping at places like the inexpensive Zara and Mango and Camper shoes in the Eixample, Plus they'll be within easy walking distance of the giant El Triangle shopping complex with its FNAC.
The Atrium Palace, as JJBhoy states, is no longer affiliated with Best Western. It's now part of the Apsis group.
But I'd seriously consider mfk59's find in the Eixample. I wasn't aware of the Onix at all. I'd certainly add it to my list, and maybe even put it at the top.
For a brand, spanking new hotel that has doubles for only 125 on the sophisticated Rambla de Catalunya (the parallel street to the boutique and Moderniste architecture filled Passeig de Gracia), right in the heart of the Eixample, it just sounds like a great deal, so long as they have 2 doubles that connect. There are plenty of cafes on the Rambla de Catalunya where you can have breakfast.
And a cafe and croissant won't set you back much money.
If you do a text search on the Balmes, I think you'll find positive comments from satisfied Fodorites. I don't pay that much attention to the tripadvisor reviews as they are often anonymous. and tend to vary widely. I prefer to put more stake in the reviews here on the Forum. The Derby Hotel group is a first rate one.
But ...the advantage to the Onix is that it's even closer to the Placa de Catalunya than the Balmes and only 4 months old, so everything, particularly the furnishings, will be very fresh. Plus you can walk virtually everywhere. Your daughters will like the boutique shopping at places like the inexpensive Zara and Mango and Camper shoes in the Eixample, Plus they'll be within easy walking distance of the giant El Triangle shopping complex with its FNAC.
Thanks to all for your replies. I rechecked the Apsis website, and under "Who is Apsis" they say they are a hotel management group, based in Barcelona, that is part of Best Western. I wonder if they are trying to be Best Western's version of W? Has anyone stayed at the Atrium Palace?
JJBhoy, when you say it may be improved, do you mean from my impression of Best Western, or had you heard something about this hotel?
Maribel, didn't you say the Apsis Atrium Palace was new also? Or is it just under "new" management?
mfk59--Aside from the breakfast, did you like the Condes? Thanks for the tip on the Onix. I'll check it out.
JJBhoy, when you say it may be improved, do you mean from my impression of Best Western, or had you heard something about this hotel?
Maribel, didn't you say the Apsis Atrium Palace was new also? Or is it just under "new" management?
mfk59--Aside from the breakfast, did you like the Condes? Thanks for the tip on the Onix. I'll check it out.
Hax,
Sorry for the confusion - I just meant that a change in management might mean an improvement based on your own experiences of Best Western in the past. I don't know anything about the Hotel & to be honest I hadn't noticed the statement on the website about Apsis still being part of Best Western. I haven't stayed in a Best Western before (I'm from Scotland where they're not all that common - although there are some), but I guess you weren't impressed.
My wife & I are going in January & like you I have a couple of reservations (just in case!) My intention is to keep checking websites etc. right up to a couple of days before departure in the hope that an even better off-season deal comes up.
JJB
Sorry for the confusion - I just meant that a change in management might mean an improvement based on your own experiences of Best Western in the past. I don't know anything about the Hotel & to be honest I hadn't noticed the statement on the website about Apsis still being part of Best Western. I haven't stayed in a Best Western before (I'm from Scotland where they're not all that common - although there are some), but I guess you weren't impressed.
My wife & I are going in January & like you I have a couple of reservations (just in case!) My intention is to keep checking websites etc. right up to a couple of days before departure in the hope that an even better off-season deal comes up.
JJB
Hello Hax,
sorry I didn't check in for awhile.
Yes, we liked the Condes very much. We had a standard room and it was rather small, but worked for us; as we are not large people and we each traveled w/ a 22" carryon and a tote apiece. but for 6 nights there, we did need to be organized in putting stuff away. the quiet of the inside room was worth so much.
good luck; i'll try to check in here in a few days to see how you make out. have you checked that new Onix hotel as yet? curious that I am....
sorry I didn't check in for awhile.
Yes, we liked the Condes very much. We had a standard room and it was rather small, but worked for us; as we are not large people and we each traveled w/ a 22" carryon and a tote apiece. but for 6 nights there, we did need to be organized in putting stuff away. the quiet of the inside room was worth so much.
good luck; i'll try to check in here in a few days to see how you make out. have you checked that new Onix hotel as yet? curious that I am....
Just FYI BestWestern hotels in Europe tend to be different than BW in the U.S. The ones I've seen in Europe tend to be "unique" in that they are usually in renovated buildings with some charm - not the standard chain box-like rooms that you find here. Also I would say (IMO) they are more upscale than the chain here in the U.S. It used to be that if I saw a hotel in Europe was a BW I would immediately rule it out but now I look at the location, price etc and realize it may well be a desirable option.
Thanks--I will keep it as one of my options for now. Still can't decide. Anyone else have any experience with these four hotels or their locations? Any other family travelers with the need for two rooms or a suite?
Thanks!
Thanks!
suec1:
I, too, thought that BW's in Europe were fine--until I stayed at the BW Aeroport in Barcelona. This was one of the worst hotels (location, cleanliness, food) that I have ever stayed in, even though it seemed o.k. from the descriptions I read when booking. I chose it because we had an early a.m. flight and they provided a shuttle to the airport. The locataion was next to the entrance of an autopista (lots of trucks entering) and the rooms were shabby. It was not cheap, either.
I, too, thought that BW's in Europe were fine--until I stayed at the BW Aeroport in Barcelona. This was one of the worst hotels (location, cleanliness, food) that I have ever stayed in, even though it seemed o.k. from the descriptions I read when booking. I chose it because we had an early a.m. flight and they provided a shuttle to the airport. The locataion was next to the entrance of an autopista (lots of trucks entering) and the rooms were shabby. It was not cheap, either.
I just tried Best Western's website to see if they list the Apsis hotels as their own--they don't.
All the hotels they list in Barcelona are true Best Western properties. I still can't decide.
Anyone stayed at the Balmes recently?
All the hotels they list in Barcelona are true Best Western properties. I still can't decide.
Anyone stayed at the Balmes recently?
I don't have experience with any of the others on your list, but my husband and I stayed at the Condes on our honeymoon last spring (based on recommendations from this site), and we had a great experience there.
The location was perfect for everything we wanted to do - surrounded by several wonderful Gaudi buildings (including Las Pedreras just across the street), perfect strolling distance from the Ramblas and great shopping, eating, etc. The room we had was lovely and large (not sure if that was because we were honeymooners) and very comfortable and modern. We had windows opening onto the street, which we loved and didn't find too loud, but I'm sure you could request quieter rooms if you wished.
We never ate in the hotel, but there are many, many good eating options within walking distance, including a great bakery/cafe across the street where we had breakfast each day.
If I recall correctly, there's also a lovely little rooftop patio at the Condes, with a hot tub and some tables and chairs, and a wonderful view of the city.
The location was perfect for everything we wanted to do - surrounded by several wonderful Gaudi buildings (including Las Pedreras just across the street), perfect strolling distance from the Ramblas and great shopping, eating, etc. The room we had was lovely and large (not sure if that was because we were honeymooners) and very comfortable and modern. We had windows opening onto the street, which we loved and didn't find too loud, but I'm sure you could request quieter rooms if you wished.
We never ate in the hotel, but there are many, many good eating options within walking distance, including a great bakery/cafe across the street where we had breakfast each day.
If I recall correctly, there's also a lovely little rooftop patio at the Condes, with a hot tub and some tables and chairs, and a wonderful view of the city.
