Outstanding Stay... skip everything else and just come here Just spent a week in Barcelona staying at the Casagrand Luxury Suites with my family celebrating a milestone birthday.
First: Our group. 3 couples and a single woman. Birthday boy turned 40, and included parents who are in their 70's. Others were somewhere in the middle,... +Just spent a week in Barcelona staying at the Casagrand Luxury Suites with my family celebrating a milestone birthday.
First: Our group. 3 couples and a single woman. Birthday boy turned 40, and included parents who are in their 70's. Others were somewhere in the middle, but all experienced travelers who have generally high standards for lodging.
Second: Our room: Principal Floor, Room 1 (only room on the floor). 5 beds, 4 baths.
Location: I sorta did zero research into Barcelona before booking or arriving on site, so I didn't know what I was walking in to. After a week, I can tell you that this place is right smack in the middle of everything - open google maps and type in what you want to go to - seems like everything is a kilometer in any given direction, so it couldn't be more centralized if it wanted to. There is a lovely walking district across the street for breakfast (Bo Pan was great!), Starbucks if needed. Fantastic restaurants such as Catalona Cerveza as recommended by Sasha at the front desk - fantastic tapas. There is a pharmacy next door, and several small grocery stores on the next block if you decide you need some supplies, or want to make dinner in the unit as we chose to do one night. One block over is the high rent district if you feel the need to buy a Prada bag or Channel scarf or whatever people buy in those places.
The Unit: It seems that all the units are close in spec, but not identical like a hotel would be - ours didn't match the pictures in terms of exact layout, but style and general layout was close enough. Bright white walls, minimalistic and stylish appointments such as artwork and decor that are calming and make you feel like you're staying someplace special. Floors throughout are wide planked wood (guessing an engineered floor, but not a cheap laminate). The building was built like a tank - very solid construction and therefore sound doesn't travel through walls, etc. Appliances are all modern and top notch, as are cabinets, plumbing fixtures, etc. The unit is laid out as a long hall, with the bedrooms in a row. I never heard anything from any of the rooms, despite my parents blaring CNBC in the next room. Someone did say they heard someone snoring one night, but I find that hard to believe. The windows are well sealed - we heard street noise for the first two nights, and then I realized that my husband neglected to properly latch the window - once that was done, it was virtually silent except for the occasional siren.
Bathrooms came with daily refresh of Molton Brown products, luxurious towels, and a basic cleaning. The beds are very comfortable with fantastic sheets and pillows.
The Staff: This is what makes this place so awesome. There is a 24/7 front desk that is manned by one staff member across 3 shifts. You could call down at any time and request things like refreshed bottled water (as we frequently did), taxis (though they could always be hailed right from the street, but with a larger group it was easier at times to have them just come on request), or recommendations for dinner or things to do. We especially enjoyed working with Sasha and Minerva who were always willing to answer our questions or help us out. Sasha insisted that we always call her on the phone rather then coming to the lobby, but we enjoyed her company so much we would often just go down stairs and surround the desk and throw questions at her. The cleaning crew were often like ninjas - we didn't see them, but we'd come back and the place would be all picked-up and reset. Each night, another gentlemen would come back to get us more water. Since there are only a handful of units in the building, the service is very personal - after a day, the staff knows who everyone is, and you build a true rapport with them. They learn your preferences and what you like, and they're able to provide better service as a result.
In my professional life, I visit a lot of 5-star properties, mostly in the US, and I can say that this place stacks up. It's all the benefits of a hotel, but with the freedom and space of an airbnb - couldn't have chosen a better place to go with my family and friends. If I return to Barcelona, no doubt this is where I'll stay. –
