Hotel Jaume I

The room was functional, but I wouldn’t stay here if sleep matters to you. There’s almost nothing to block the very loud street noise, and the balcony door doesn’t shut all the way. If you can hear, don’t expect to sleep, especially on Fridays and Saturdays. The noise seems even louder inside, maybe because it bounces between the buildings. I wish they’d install shutters. The location puts you within walking distance of a lot and steps from the metro. Housekeeping was great, but cleanliness still fell short: the shower and window curtains were stained, including marks that looked like blood. If your standards aren’t especially high, it may work for you, aside from the sleepless nights.

The staff were very friendly, and the location is the best thing about the hotel. If you’re mainly looking for somewhere well located, it could be a good fit. Room sizes vary, though, and some are very small. There’s no AC, but that wasn’t too bad for me. Noise from the neighbors can be a real issue.

It’s basically a one-bedroom studio presented as a hotel. You enter from a different side of the building than reception, so you don’t see staff much. For one person it’s fairly spacious, and the price wasn’t bad for booking at short notice. There are two metro stops nearby, Jaume and Liceu, plus a busy street and plaza with cafes, bars, convenience stores, and more. Housekeeping seems to happen weekly rather than daily, if requested, I think. The bed was comfortable, but it was very noisy whenever I turned over in my sleep. There was air conditioning, but it didn’t look very wholesome, so I slept with the windows open. That means people in nearby buildings can see into the room, and outside sounds come in. There’s always activity outside, so if you need quiet with the windows open, this isn’t the place for you.

The location is hard to beat, and the staff were helpful. Still, after three days I was exhausted because I couldn't sleep properly. The hotel is very basic: crates used as bedside tables, tiny bathrooms, no free breakfast or coffee, and the inner single rooms look straight onto pipes. The lifts are really noisy, with sound echoing everywhere, and there's a lot of street noise. I also found a cigarette burn on my sheet.