The Reality Fell Far Short of Expectations** Don't be fooled by the "hotel" label on Expedia. What we found was a far cry from a comfortable hotel experience and closer to a bare-bones, unstaffed hostel. Finding the location was the first hurdle. Once inside, our hopes plummeted. The room was shockingly small and depressingly basic. Think sterile minimalism, not inviting comfort. Beyond a bed, a lone Ikea desk and a tiny shelf were the only furnishings. Forget convenience – even charging our phones was a battle, requiring us to unplug the TV due to faulty and inaccessible sockets. Attempting to escape the stuffy heat with the air conditioning only resulted in a flooded floor and an unexpected shower, courtesy of a relentlessly dripping and spraying AC unit. Our guest towels became emergency mops. To their credit, the owner responded the next day and repaired the unit. The shared bathroom was the final straw. The prospect of sharing facilities nearly drove us to seek alternative accommodations. We only stayed because our days were packed with exploring the city. While a shared kitchen exists, we didn't use it. The location is both a blessing and a curse. It's lively and centrally located near great local shops, cafes and close to the metro which made it easy to travel to all parts of the city. However, be prepared for a cacophony of late-night noise, from roaring motorbikes to random fireworks. We had an awesome trip to Barcelona despite this hostel.
