Barceló León Conde Luna

Everything I wanted to see in Leon was only 10-15 minutes away. Parts of the hotel look a little faded, but I found the stay pleasant. My room was very large and clean, with a modern bathroom. Breakfast was good, and the staff were pleasant and helpful. I’d be glad to stay again.

The location is excellent, and that’s the only reason I’m giving the hotel 3 stars. The suite had plenty of space, but the room was in disappointing shape and wasn’t very clean. The photos give a fair idea of how dated it is: the walls were dirty, the doors were scratched and had peeling paint, and the TV was smaller than a standard computer monitor. The old wooden closets were so dusty that we didn’t use them. It’s hard to understand how a hotel with good reviews lets the rooms get this poorly maintained. If they’re going for a vintage look, it could still be clean and welcoming. The bathroom seemed to be the only part that had been updated, but the lighting was poor and left it dim. Getting in was difficult, too. There are about ten steps at the entrance and no ramp, which was inconvenient with limited mobility or heavy bags. I had heavy luggage, and the lift that’s supposedly for disabled access seemed to need a special key that wasn’t readily available. Parking was another hassle. There’s very little space in the unloading area out front, and if three cars are there, you’re out of luck. We had to be ready to circle the block or use the nearest public lot, about two blocks away, which isn’t ideal with family and several suitcases. Without the location, my rating would’ve been lower.

The location is very central, with everything within walking distance, and the staff were very helpful. Breakfast is reasonable if you want it, and the price seems fair for what you get. The hotel feels dated, especially the room, which might suit people who like antique furniture. It isn’t particularly modern or high-tech. My room was large and had a balcony, but street renovation noise meant I preferred to keep the window closed.

This was my least favorite hotel on our two-week tour of Spain, though it had a couple of strong points: it’s an easy walk to places of interest, and the bilingual staff were very friendly. The rooms feel old and dated, with too few outlets. We had to unplug two lamps to charge our devices. WiFi didn’t work in our room, though it was fine in the hallway. The front desk clerk restarted the router but that didn’t help, so I ended up working in the lobby.