The arrival at reception was poor.
The arrival at reception was poor. We had hit a low point on staff levels as only one person was dealing with checkins and answering the phone. Genereally when there were staff we got our questions answered but smiling faces were not very obvious. At breakfast time one of the staff was very welcoming and always smiling and helpful but her colleague was almost the opposite. Generally the breakfast area was a noisy location with plates and cutlery being crashed about on trolleys. The hot food buffet was very variable in quality I personally found the hot breakfast choices totally unappealing. However, the cold buffet for breakfast, juices and coffee were very good. The coffee machine broke down twice and only one member of staff yes that smiling, helpful young lady was the only person competent to remedy the situation. One of the three lifts failed to work. Instructions on how to use the lift were inadequate. You must your room card in the appropriate slot and then remove it before you your floor otherwise the Spanish automaton will continue to say the same incomprehensible thing in Spanish to you. Staff were willing to show you how to use the lift, but they could save themselves a lot of messing about if they changed the poorly worded instructions your room card in the slot and then press the button.The spa was wonderful, but I couldnt figure out how the thermal room was supposed to work. There were no general advice or safety notices that I could see anywhere and the spa was not manned, so if you became ill, or slipped and hit your head you may have had a long wait before being discovered.The room on the other hand was very good. We stayed in a family room, which was in fact two connecting rooms. One containing the bathroom well supplied but lacking privacy and the large bed inadequate pillows and the other containing a sofa bed and table. Both rooms contained a plasma screen t.v. tuned to different satellite channels a complete mystery why and no in house menu to allow you to choose to view any films. Both rooms were air conditioned but the rooms required card keys to enable independent operation, we were supplied with one and had to ask for another once we discovered how everything worked no introduction to the room. The main door to our room failed to lock properly on three occasions requiring a maintenance engineer to deal with it a hammer was the solution and some wd40 and this also happened to the room next to us, so people trying to get a good rest would be wise to bring ear plugs.On the whole I would use this hotel again, but if I was paying the top rate I would want a more responsive reception desk staff. The hotel is next door to a large shopping mall, so everything you want is at your doorstep. Barcelona is 15 minute bus ride away 1euro 35 cents one way. The bus stop is immediately behind the hotel L72. There is a navette to the airport free I think but had no need to use it.
Estancia no hotel: 24/07/2009
