Abba Rambla Barcelona

My friend and I had a lovely three-night stay last week. The room was spacious and the beds were comfortable. Everyone on staff was really friendly, especially Sergio, who was welcoming and helped us whenever we needed anything.

I wish I’d checked more carefully before booking. At first I was pleased to find a central hotel for a more affordable price, but the area left me uneasy. Within what I think was about a 10-minute walk, or 10-15 minutes in any direction, I felt I had to stay alert. It didn’t feel like Europe to me, though perhaps someone might see that as a positive cultural difference. The streets were dirty and smelled of urine and other things, and I felt I could be verbally or even physically attacked at any moment. The rooms were small, which I could understand as an effort to use the space, but they were very dirty, with dust, grimy walls, and old doors. I paid more than 800 euros, which had seemed like a good price compared with other centrally located hotels, but given those conditions it didn’t feel decent. I honestly don’t understand the city’s appeal beyond curiosity like my own, Gaudi’s works, which are very expensive, and the cathedral, which really is a masterpiece. But that’s another topic. The one bright spot was reception. Even though we arrived very late, the gentleman welcomed us warmly, gave us lots of information about the city, and was very friendly. Thank you for that.

The reception team was the highlight for me. Aimee and Sol were so welcoming, always smiling, and took time to suggest great places around Barcelona. Their help made our trip unforgettable. The rooms were quiet and very clean, the location was great, and breakfast was really good too. Fabulous! 🥰😊

The hotel is a real gem, with lovely staff, very clean spaces, and nice renovated rooms, though they are small. Breakfast has lots of options, but the hot dishes aren’t always hot, luckily there’s a microwave. The bigger drawback is the setting on Rambla del Raval, which didn’t feel like a good area for tourists. Spanish businesses have shut and residents have moved away, so the local feel of Barcelona and Spain seems to have disappeared. The tourist stretch of Rambla is under a 10-minute walk and the marina takes about 10-15 minutes, but I wouldn’t walk there after dark. Staff pointed out the safer streets. Without the neighborhood concern, I’d have rated the hotel four or five stars.