Bird House Sagrada Familia

After a long day exploring, it was nice to come back to a clean, comfortable room with air conditioning and a good bed. The room was competitively priced, and while there’s noise in this residential area, I could sleep. People reviewing it as if it should be a five-star hotel are missing the point; you’re mostly there to sleep. The bathroom was clean, towels were changed every third day, and the generic minibar was restocked daily at 1 euro per item. The metro at verdgauer and Sagrada familia is convenient. Jay, the manager, is a fantasist guy and very transparent. I’ll definitely stay here again.

The room had a strange smell, and at times you could hear noise from the elementary school next door. If you’re a light sleeper, bring earplugs. I had a private room and bathroom, which were decent, though the facilities felt like a heavily used, low-budget hostel. The location is the main draw. The cleaners and front desk service were great, especially Paco. They communicated well and managed to check me in even though I arrived at 1 AM.

The mattress was so soft I could hardly get up without a sore back, and the terrace door didn’t shut properly, letting street noise in as if we were sleeping outside. They cleaned every day, but somehow the place seemed even dirtier afterward. There was dirt everywhere. I wouldn’t recommend this to anyone who’s even a little particular about their surroundings.

The location is what makes the place, and probably lets them charge so much since tourists don’t spend much time in their rooms. But sleeping was really hard: the cheap, thin windows let in every car and the noise from the kebab shop downstairs. Give it better windows and pillows, and this place could be top.