Barceló Sants

The sound carries between rooms and from outside, so the insulation could be better. Still, the bed was very comfortable, and the clean, functional room made for a good night’s sleep. Barceló Sants has a modern, spacious look with an almost futuristic feel. Its direct connection to Sants station is especially handy when travelling by train. A solid and comfortable choice for convenience, even if it isn’t perfect.

We booked a stratosphere room with breakfast and a late 4pm check-out, mainly because we wanted to be near the train station. The price was very high, and only after arriving did we realise how many other hotels were closer than we’d thought. Next time, we’ll look around more. The power outage notice in the room was the last straw: it said there’d be a three-hour outage at 1am on 4 December, with no explanation beyond maintenance. I challenged it because it should have said 5 December, and the staff seemed unsure which day they meant. What about the lifts and safety, or being able to stay up, watch TV, or make a cup of tea? That’s the hotel’s problem, not the guests’. As we say in Australia, they couldn’t run a chook raffle. Finding the entrance was confusing, with major works all around the station. After arriving tired from travel, we faced reception queues and a complicated check-in with multiple ID requests and close scrutiny of what we’d already paid for. The processes and invoices need streamlining. It was tedious and frustrating, and tested our patience. We also disliked the space theme. To us the place looked childish and silly, while the clinical white decor felt more like a hospital than beautiful Catalonia. The lobby felt like a huge Starbucks, full of people on laptops and devices, even gaming. Where was the feel of Spain? The high-floor room had excellent city views, a kettle and coffee maker, English TV channels, a comfortable bed, air conditioning, lovely toiletries, and good hot water. But the all-white room felt cold and budget-like, with no effort to make it luxurious, like a bad IBIS hotel. The shower was a strange prefab plastic unit, like something on a cruise ship. Breakfast looked in the photos like a large, well-laid-out restaurant. In reality it was a huge white room with rows of plastic tables and chairs, more like a cafeteria, conference room, or mess hall. There was no atmosphere or comfort, and diners were elbow to elbow. We’d looked forward to the buffet, but many items were repeated in different spots, such as pastries in three places and bread and cheese in two, so there wasn’t as much choice as it seemed. The quality wasn’t great for a Spanish breakfast at such an expensive hotel. The egg station staffer was swamped, so expect a queue, and don’t let the locals, young or old, push you around. It wasn’t a nice start to the day.

The staff were a real highlight at Barceló Sants. They were welcoming, friendly, and helpful, which made the stay feel comfortable. As a vegetarian, I was glad to find a decent range of choices at the breakfast buffet too. The design is memorable, with a spaceship or futuristic NASA station feel. There’s also a PlayStation by the lobby seating, a fun place to relax or pass some time.

Leo at the front desk made check-in easy with his patience, professionalism, and attention. He also spoke German, which made communicating much easier and gave the welcome a personal feel. The room he assigned us was excellent and helped make our first day in Barcelona especially memorable. We had a wonderful stay at Hotel Barceló Sants.