Be Mar Barcelona

The location worked perfectly for my five-night stay, just a block or two from Parallel station, safe to walk around at night, and close to Blai for pintxos, which are a must. I paid 15 euro in the off season, so it felt like a steal, and I’d stay again when I return to Barcelona. Alice from Belgium at the front desk was especially great. Everyone was friendly, including the other travelers, and staff were flexible about laundry and kitchen hours, handy after a full day out. The place was clean, with fresh sheets and a cleaner who did a proper job. WiFi in the room was great, showers had strong hot water, and the washer and dryer both worked well without ruining my clothes. The lower bunk had plenty of headroom. The key card lockers and doors also made it feel very secure. There’s a hairdryer, though it isn’t very powerful. A couple of things could be better: my room was cold and had no heating, though there was a blanket. The bathroom sinks had no hot water. The kitchen has a stovetop but is short on basics like bowls, cups, pots, and glasses. They should restock those.

The friendly, helpful staff were a bright spot, but I found this hostel seriously unclean. There was a cockroach on my bed and another in the bathroom. The bathrooms smelled bad and weren’t well maintained, and the rooms were cramped and didn’t seem to get cleaned. In the morning the cleaner only took out the rubbish, without doing the floors or beds. The showers have hot water, but they weren’t especially clean, so I’d definitely wear sandals. The air conditioning in my room was set to 30 degrees celsius. I complained, but the receptionist couldn’t find the remote. The corridors and bathrooms smelled of smoke, which isn’t surprising since guests are allowed to eat and drink inside. There were very few guests while I was there, so the hostel felt lacking in atmosphere. Reception said there’d be a pub crawl at 10.30pm on Friday and Saturday, but on Friday at 10.30pm there was no sign of one. The hostel is near the Las Ramblas nightlife, though that area isn’t the cleanest. This place isn’t fit for humans. I wouldn’t let my dog stay here.

There’s plenty going on around this place, and the rooms are spacious, with helpful staff. It’s a good location if you want to get around on foot. The bus and underground are both at least 500 mtrs away, though, which can feel far if you plan to use them a couple of times a day. WiFi is a deal breaker for some people like me. The private rooms upstairs barely get a signal, which is a big downside.

Right next to Rambla d'El Raval aka The Best Rambla, and the space is really nice. The beds are good and the lighting is great, which I haven’t always found in hostels. One of the best in Barcelona IMHO, with good staff too.