Review:
I recently had the opportunity to stay at the W Hotel Barcelona, and while there were a few positive aspects to my stay, the overall experience left much to be desired. Here is a detailed account of my stay at this hotel:
Positives:
1. Good Location: The hotel is situated in a convenient location, which is definitely a plus for exploring Barcelona and it’s a lively area
2. Decent Breakfast: The breakfast offered at the hotel was satisfactory and provided a decent variety of options to choose from, and the service at breakfast was good
3. Iconic Building: The W Hotel Barcelona boasts an iconic architectural design that is visually impressive.
Negatives:
1. Lengthy Check-In Process: The check-in procedure at the hotel was excessively time-consuming, taking approximately 45 minutes. This was an inconvenience after a long journey.
2. Poor Maintenance: Despite its visually appealing exterior, the hotel's building maintenance was lacking. For example the blinds in the rooms were broken, with visible holes in them, you can see holes in the wall near the lift, the AC broke down in my room these are just some examples. This lack of upkeep was disappointing and gave a sense of neglect for such a brand.
3. Basics are not met: Initially, my room faced the hallway, leading to constant noise from ongoing parties until late at night. After requesting a room change the following day, I was moved to what was said a “quiet” room facing the smaller pool area. However, the very next day, the hotel held a pop up event with a local singer performing until midnight. This disrupted my sleep and was highly frustrating as for me the basic for a 5 stars hotel is been able to sleep when you want/ need (quiet/ dark/ comfortable)
4. The most important one: Unhelpful Front Office Staff and on duty manager When seeking assistance from the front office regarding the event noise (I was ready to cheer room again), I found the staff to be uninformed about their own hotel's activities, I called multiple times but every time I was asked to wait for someone else to call. Even after requesting to speak with the Manager on Duty (MOD), I received no meaningful response or resolution, he just waited the event to be finished to call me back. The lack of accountability and communication was extremely surprising and disappointing
6. Overpriced Amenities: The hotel's additional amenities, such as spa services or dining options, were significantly overpriced compared to similar establishments in the area . This made it difficult to justify spending extra money on these offerings, especially when you have better option nearby (I recommend the restaurant Velissima)
7. The pools are fairly small and always crowded
Overall, my experience at the W Hotel Barcelona was marred by numerous issues, including a lengthy check-in process, poor building maintenance, disruptive noise, unhelpful staff, inconsistent service, and overpriced amenities. While the hotel does have a good location, decent breakfast, and an iconic building, these positives were overshadowed by the negative aspects of my stay. I would recommend exploring other accommodation options in Barcelona before considering this hotel.
