Aparthotel Mariano Cubi

The room was clean and well equipped, but noise came through the walls and floors easily. We could hear people talking and their TV next door, as well as chairs scraping upstairs. The double bed was two singles pushed together, which was uncomfortable when sleeping in the middle. Cactus Bar beside the lobby was a pleasant place to sit inside or outside, though it closed early: the outdoor area shut at 22:30 and the whole bar at 23:00. The barman/waiter didn’t seem happy when people came in, as if he just wanted his shift to end. Still, it was a nice spot for a drink. We skipped the roughly €16-per-person breakfast and ate out, since there were cheaper choices nearby. We had a satisfactory stay at Aparthotel Mariano Cubí and found it good value at €352 for two nights. Reception staff were friendly and helpful from our arrival. The location was very convenient, with good stores around and easy access to La Rambla and the Gothic Quarter. It’s a pleasant 30-minute walk to the Sagrada Família, and a taxi to the port costs under €15. There’s also parking with direct hotel access through a professional third-party company, at €26 a night. Despite the noise and early bar closing, we’d still recommend the stay.

The metro station was a good 10-15 minute walk away, and the location was quite good. Our room was spacious with plenty of room to relax. I’d have given five stars if the in-room locker had worked. It couldn’t be repaired during our stay, so we had to leave our belongings in the reception locker.

The biggest problem was that a serious leak from the ceiling made our room unusable, so we had to switch apartments at around 9 pm. With only one staff member working, we got no help moving. This was especially disruptive with our 5-month-old baby, and management wouldn’t compensate us for the trouble. The fridge in the original room was also broken, and all the food we’d stored in it spoiled. The staff were polite and offered us breakfast for free, but we didn’t use it. The hotel feels old and poorly maintained, and both the rooms and kitchen facilities were disappointing.

The rooms are spacious and clean, with a small terrace, and you can leave your luggage there for free if you have an evening flight and want to keep exploring. For the price, the room is worth it, and some come with a nice kitchen. The hotel smells really good when you walk in, and the staff are friendly. Almost everyone speaks English, and they helped us with everything. There were a few issues, though. My card didn’t work, so I had to go up and down several times. The water drained slowly, it was noisy, and we could hear garbage trucks at night. There was also construction on the sixth floor, which guests hadn’t been told about. If you’re hoping to get a proper rest, that could be a problem. Still, it’s a nice hotel and worth a visit.