Rocket Hostels Gracia

The common room is smaller than in other hostels, but it felt cozy, and the kitchen was really well set up for cooking, with lots of clean utensils. The cleaning lady is an angel, she came every morning to clean the bathroom floors and replace the communal towels. As a 22-year-old woman traveling solo, I had a great stay. The bed curtains gave me good privacy, and the place felt clean, safe and welcoming. Everyone was respectful, the staff were friendly and ready to help with anything. I'd definitely stay again.

The location was the best part: a quiet spot, just a short walk from bars, restaurants and tourist attractions. The staff were nice and helpful, the people were friendly, and the shared kitchen and common area were decent. In the rooms, there was plenty of locked storage, but bring your own lock. They got very smelly, and I suspect people weren't washing their clothes because the laundry machine cost too much. The beds were a tight fit for me at 180cm, only just long enough. Curtains gave some privacy but trapped the heat. Each bed had a little table, light and charging port, which was useful but made the space feel claustrophobic. The pillows and blankets were small but good enough. The rooms were very hot and poorly ventilated, and each had just one small AC unit aimed badly, with most of the air going down the hallway instead of reaching the beds. There were only two showers and toilets for all the men, so getting access was difficult with people always waiting. I'd rate it 3.5/5. It wasn't bad, but I'm sure there are much better places at a similar price.

The staff were adorable. One of them even nearly ran over to lend us an umbrella after noticing rain was coming that day. I can't remember his name, but it was the morning of May 9. Service was great, towels and shower gel were provided, and the kitchen was spacious with free tea and coffee. The wifi was good, and the showers and toilets were clean. The room smelled a bit, but that's to be expected with 16 people in a dorm, and not really the hostel's fault. For an affordable place with a 16-person dorm, I thought it was about as good as it could be. The beds are in cubicles with curtains, which give you privacy. A tip: the lower bunks are cooler but noisier, while the upper ones are much warmer, even with the window fully open like it was for us. You hear a bit less movement up there, but climbing down the stairs at night can be a pain. Choose carefully at reception if you have a choice. There was no hair dryer, which is to be expected. I wasn't traveling solo, but I think I would have felt safe as a woman on my own here.

We stayed two nights, and it was cozy and cheap. The beds aren't huge, but they're great, and there's coffee plus a kitchen guests can use for free. The staff were really nice too. It's close to an L3 metro station, about 20 minutes to the center of Barcelona. A great youth hostel.