Casa Vaganto

I expected something different from the hotel's photos and felt misled. It seemed more like a hostel, which wasn't what I wanted. I booked the same day and, when they asked by email for traveler details, said I'd provide them at check-in. They said they needed the information before giving me door access, which confused me. When I asked whether there was a front desk, they said I could provide it on arrival. After our taxi dropped us off, the area seemed quite different from the one near the Cathedral where we'd stayed before. There was no obvious hotel sign, and we wandered around with our bags until a local asked if we were looking for the hostel and pointed out the building. I then spotted “hotel vaganto” on the buzzer panel. It's an apartment building, and we had to carry our bags up a short flight of stairs to a tiny elevator, then go about four floors up to reception. It wasn't what I expected, though I should have guessed from the price of about 85 Euros. Someone showed us to our room, which was inside another room. I assume they converted apartments into hotel rooms. It was noisy, so ear plugs were left on the bedside table. I immediately booked a room at a hotel we'd stayed in before and didn't even ask for a refund.

The location is great, just steps from the metro, with some nice restaurants and relaxed bars nearby. The neighborhood isn't Barcelona's trendiest, but everyone we met was friendly. We stayed at Casa Vaganto for eight nights and found it good value. The rooms felt homey and calm, with comfortable beds, different pillow options, effective AC, and double-glazed windows that kept out noise. Having three doors between us and the outside also made us feel secure. The staff were very friendly and helpful. I was grateful they let us check out late for free on our last day when I came down with the flu, so I could rest a little longer. Housekeeping had a few lapses during our stay: we repeatedly had to get toilet paper from the lobby toilets, and our bin was never emptied, so it was overflowing by the time we left. We also had the complimentary breakfast options each morning. On our last day, the shower overflowed and flooded the bathroom. They apologized, but we couldn't shower before leaving. Those little issues kept it from feeling perfect, but we had a pleasant, restful stay and would recommend it.

The room was small but nicely decorated, with a comfortable bed, a hot shower, and good AC. The streets nearby were loud with horns, music, and a carnival, though the room itself stayed fairly quiet and insulated. Breakfast and snacks were basic, and the coffee was good. Most tourist sights, the beach, and plenty of shops were within walking distance. Good value, with no major problems during our stay.

Casa Vaganto was a great find for Barcelona, where affordable hotels are hard to come by. For the price, it was amazing. The bright, clean rooms and excellent service made a strong impression, and there was coffee and croissants in the lobby plus wine in the room. It's right by a Metro station, and we'd gladly stay again.