Gran Hotel Rey Don Jaime

The sea view was incredible at any hour, and the hotel’s decor was beautiful throughout. We had a great time at our conference. Staff were amazing, friendly, and well trained, and the rooms were cleaned and tidied every day. All the meals, including breakfast, were delicious. The one thing that could be improved is the air conditioning: it varied from room to room, and in some rooms the temperature couldn’t be controlled. It didn’t spoil the experience, though.

This was my second week-long conference stay here. The neighborhood felt safe even when I walked alone after dark, and in May an early beach run is lovely when it’s cool. Later in the afternoon the wind can kick sand around. For the beach, head downhill toward the highway, turn right at the pedestrian bridge, and keep going a few minutes. You’ll find two convenience stores that way, and the train station for downtown Barcelona is just across the road by the bridge. The nearest convenience store is about 900m on foot, and the nearest restaurant takes 25-30 minutes to reach at an easy pace. The way back includes a 5-10 minute uphill climb, so it’s difficult for anyone with mobility problems. A taxi there is about 8 euros each way. Airport taxi or Uber costs 35-40 euros. I was here four years ago and had a very noisy room in the old wing near reception, with cigarette smell right outside. This time I asked for a better room and got one on the second floor of the new wing, with a great sunrise view toward Barcelona. It was still noisy from echoes near reception. The room was clean, had a safe, and the conference facilities were very good. The shower is tiny even for a medium-sized adult and can suddenly get very hot at peak times. There’s no hot water available elsewhere, no in-room coffee machine, and no bottled water on site. The vending machines have small bottles for 1.75 euros, so bring a travel kettle and a converter. Breakfast is much like other European four-star hotels. The pool is lovely, with a medieval ruin or watchtower nearby where you can catch a perfect sunrise on a clear day. The bar does nice cocktails and snacks, though cocktails cost 13-15 euros each. Conference lunch and dinner were buffet-style Mediterranean food.

The room was clean and comfortable, with a nice view over the pool and an old fortress. The building also makes a lovely first impression: it’s older, but well cared for. What made it hard to sleep was the bar downstairs. People were shouting and laughing most evenings, usually starting after 10 PM. We called reception several times; they were polite and said they’d take care of it, but the noise often continued until around 1 AM. Breakfast was okay, but at €18 per person it wasn’t worth the price. I booked through Booking and hadn’t noticed breakfast wasn’t included. At check-in they told us where and when it was served, but didn’t say it cost extra.

The room was spotless, and I really liked the old-fashioned keys, locks, and vintage taps. They gave everything a timeworn feel. We were only here one night in transit, but the balcony view across the hills to the sea was beautiful, especially watching the beach in the morning. The historic tower beside the pool added a lot of charm, and we grabbed a light snack there. The beach is a short walk downhill. Coming back up to the hotel was tiring, but it made the outing more fun. I’d happily choose this same hotel again.