Occidental Atenea Mar- Adults Only

The peaceful atmosphere, lovely sea views, and caring, attentive staff were definite positives. But the pool water was freezing, so I couldn’t use it, and the sauna is awkwardly placed in the hotel parking lot instead of by the pool. My room was very cramped and had mosquitoes throughout my stay. Getting around was difficult too. The hotel is far from the city center, with no bus or tram stations nearby. Late checkout costs 10 Euros per hour, and the late-night room service menu was all pork dishes, which didn’t cater to guests with dietary restrictions.

The location made it easy to enjoy the area, and I’d come back. I had a fantastic four-day stay, with one person in particular making my mornings: Nadia at the breakfast egg station. She’s so warm and bubbly, always smiling, and a really good cook. She made my eggs and omelettes just the way I like them every time. Thanks, Nadia, for making breakfast such a pleasant part of the day!

The bed and pillows suited me, and the room was spacious. The hotel sits in a nice spot right across from the beach. You can see some signs of age, but the location is good. It’s about a 10-minute walk to the nearest metro and roughly the same to a large shopping mall.

We had breakfast on our last morning before going to the airport. It was decent, nothing memorable, but being able to take coffee or tea to go was a nice touch. The hotel photos are a bit misleading: the pool is very small, on a small deck on the second floor, and it wasn’t open 24/7. Our room had two single beds as requested, though at check-in they offered us a different room a few floors down, which we accepted. The receptionist didn’t say it was adapted for disabled guests. That wasn’t a problem by itself, but the shower often overflowed, and moving the showerhead could leave the whole bathroom floor wet. We kept asking for extra towels to mop up, but nobody seemed to understand why. The staff were friendly and helpful, but kept their distance. Nobody came over when we were struggling to rent bikes or find the luggage storage. The neighborhood is very clean and safe, close to the beach and with good restaurants and coffee spots nearby. It has its own charm, though it’s a little away from Barcelona’s lively center, and public transport isn’t the easiest to reach. For a business trip or a solo stay away from the city bustle, it could be ideal.