Barcelona City Hotel (Hotel Universal)

The photos bear little resemblance to what you get. The rooms are tiny and badly laid out, and €10 a night is about the most they're worth. Thin windows and doors let in every little sound from other rooms and the street. Check-in staff were very unhelpful. One of the worst hotels I've seen. Avoid.

The location gets five stars from me, no complaints there. But I wouldn't call this a hotel. It feels more like a hostel, with flimsy wooden partitions and cramped spaces. The photos are edited to look bright and fresh, but my room was a dark cave-like space with no windows like the ones pictured and a damp, moldy smell. You hear conversations from every room around you, so anything you say or do feels public. The air conditioning barely cools, more like a warm breeze. If this is what your budget allows and you've got a non-refundable booking, make the best of it: shower, sleep when you can, and accept you can't control noisy neighbors.

It's cheap and comfortable, and right in the city's tourist center. The place is clean, the beds are fine, and the staff are nice and helpful. You get into the building and your room with your phone. Sure, the walls are thin, but that didn't bother me. If you need an affordable central room for a shower and a good night's sleep before heading out to sightsee all day, I highly recommend it.

I couldn't stay there for even 20 minutes. The room was cramped and tiny, nothing like the listing, and in a completely unacceptable state. There was mold on the bed and what looked like bed bug eggs. A huge gap under the door opened straight onto the restaurant area, so the moment I opened it I was looking into the restaurant. No privacy or peace at all. The front desk staff didn't help and didn't seem to care about the room's condition. They refused a refund even though I told them I couldn't stay, so I had to leave and book another hotel at my own expense. For the price, this was completely unacceptable. Barcelona City Hotel felt misleading, unsanitary and badly managed. I'd avoid it.