Hostal Porta de Ferro

I could hear everything around us because there’s no soundproofing. The first night the neighbors were laughing and having sex until 1 a.m.; the next day their TV was completely audible, and on the third night someone was yelling and singing under our windows until 3 a.m. We couldn’t get liquid soap or hand sanitizer in either the room or bathroom. This was the worst hotel stay I’ve had, and it felt totally unsanitary. The rooms seem suited only to people wanting a night away from home with someone, or tourists who haven’t read the reviews. Plaza de España is a 40-minute train ride away, plus another 15 minutes to get to the train, so it isn’t close. Avoid it if you want to rest or feel safe. There were a few useful basics: a sink in the room, a small fridge, and a private bathroom with its own key. There’s no shower, but the bathroom was only ours and we could go there at any time. Sheets and towels were replaced every two days. The room we got smelled strongly of cigarettes, despite all rooms being marked non-smoking. I had a headache within half an hour and asked the owner to move us. He responded quickly, but the room next door was exactly the same. We couldn’t sleep the first night because the smell filled the place like an ashtray, with nowhere to escape it. We bought air freshener the next day and sprayed the walls and bedding, which was the only way to mask it. The cleaning seemed limited to fresh bedding and, I hope, mopped floors. There was dust and dirt above the bed, and the nightstand drawers were full of trash. The dining area had just a table for cold food from the fridge, with no stove, microwave, or kettle, and it smelled of cigarettes too. I asked the owner for the safe key listed in the booking conditions, since I’d seen the safe in the closet. He spent 10 minutes looking, couldn’t find it, said nobody usually asks him for it, and apologized without offering another option.

The man who welcomed us was friendly and quickly moved us to another room when we asked, but it still smelled badly of smoke despite the strict no-smoking rule. The odor was so strong it gave us headaches and kept us from sleeping. In the morning we sprayed nearly a whole can of air freshener, then left the window open overnight. Our belongings smelled of cigarettes after we got home, even clothes we hadn’t worn but had left in the closet. The bedding was clean and fresh, and was changed after two days, though it wasn’t new. The room had two beds, a sink, fridge, nightstand, closet, and private bathroom across the hall that could be locked. Hot water and pressure were excellent. There were dispensers but no shampoo or liquid soap. A safe was provided, but we couldn’t find its key. The closet and nightstand shelves were clearly long uncleaned, so we had to clean them ourselves. The hostel wasn’t bad for the prices in Barcelona and nearby towns, and some things were tolerable. Still, the smoke smell made a good night’s rest impossible, so think carefully before booking. We’ve stayed in plenty of hostels with kitchens stocked for cooking, but here there was only a table and chairs. There was no soundproofing, as in many places, so earplugs might help.

The building itself is lovely and the location is convenient, with bars nearby, but the rooms need much more attention to cleaning and upkeep. We only stayed two days because the Spanish Grand Prix meant we couldn’t find anywhere else; otherwise, we’d have lost our money. The sheets were dirty, dust was everywhere, and the cleaning was basically nonexistent. It was filthy and smelled terrible. I’ve never been somewhere worse, and it felt uninhabitable. I won’t set foot in this hostel again.

The sink had another guest’s snot stuck to it, the sheets were yellowed, and I came away with bedbug bites. The furniture looked like it belonged in the trash, and the place was dirty, poorly kept, and had an indescribable smell. Worst hostel ever. Public health authorities should close it.