Balmes Residence

Great location for where I needed to do business. Close to Psg de Gracia, Las Ramblas, Gotic quarter. Short walk to many cafes and shops. Very close to bus/metro for good public transportation. Room was nice. Recommend getting an exterior room so you can see out. Staff was incredibly nice and accommodating. Breakfast was expensive compared to local cafes but convenient and good.

We stayed at the Balmes Residence with our daughter and her partner in two executive rooms. The rooms were small but very well laid out with everything we needed for our stay including hair dryer and iron. There was also a separate area in the room which had a sofa and TV which was a nice touch. The door to the space opened out onto a small terrace and was close to the pool and poolside bar. The room was impeccably clean and the friendly cleaning staff would freshen and tidy each day. The reception and bar staff were also really friendly and helpful making check in and check out efficient and hassle free. The location of the hotel in Eixample is perfect for exploring the city either on foot or public transport and there are lots of great little places to eat and and drink in the local area.

This Hotel has really divided my opinion. It’s a great hotel, in a great location. Looks clean, contemporary, modern and has some wonderful features. The staff - all of them, but especially Richard, were some of the friendliest and warmest hotel staff I've come across. Always polite and trying to help in whatever way, they can - what more could one ask for? The Positives: The Hotel is clean, the rooms were large, beds were comfortable, location was great, as it’s near the Provenca/Diagonal metro station and the buses from outside the hotel went to Pl. Catalunya in a few minutes. You can also walk to Pl. Catalunya and Rambles in approximately 15 minutes. Plenty of restaurants were nearby and some shops were only a stone’s throw away. Staff were friendly, we weren't due to go to the airport till 5pm and so they kept our bags secure for us. The Negatives: Depending on where your room is located (the hotel doesn't look large from the outside, but it’s quite big on the inside), we felt the vibrations of the metro train passing under the hotel (even though it was underground, it could be felt on our 1st floor hotel room). The executive room we had was beautiful and clean, very large, and the complimentary coffee was a great touch, but the noise from the outside main street could get quite loud in the morning, especially if a large vehicle passed by. Also to add to the noise, unfortunately we were awoken by construction going on next to our room at 8:30am, with the full sound effects of drilling and hammering. It’s probably not a big deal for some people who get up early and go out for breakfast and a day in the city, but unfortunately with a baby who wakes up several times in a night, every moment of sleep counted, so at 8:30am, the construction noise was far from ideal. Some small and basic details were overlooked and could be easily corrected by the hotel e.g. making sure the room has all facilities working e.g. the safe, prior to the guests arriving, the tv in the room was unplugged at the back and so wasn't switching on (my experience), these are small details, but details that should be checked by someone before guests arrived. Conclusion: So overhaul, I'd rate the hotel very good, as the positives for me, well outweigh the negatives. The location and staff at the hotel were great, it’s just a case of some small details that were overlooked on this instance and also some noise proofing being required. I'd also point out that this was the experience we had in our room, it could be the case that someone staying in a room in another part of the hotel, would have a completely different experience.