Antic Espai Hotel
, BarcelonaRooms: 10
Reviews - Antic Espai Hotel
Read 529 additional reviews of Antic Espai Hotel at TripAdvisor.
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Historical Traveller Reviews of Antic Espai Hotel
Wonderful euro-classic Hotel Experience!!!
from FolkMusicianCharming place
from A TripAdvisor MemberA previous reviewer pointed out that the Hostel can be hard to find. I arrived at night taking a taxi from the airport and I still had a very hard time finding it. You must hit the buzzer on the bottom right to gain admittance.
The location of the Hostel is perfect. It was far enough from La Rambla so it was fairly quiet but close enough for convenience. The area feels very safe.
I would definitely make sure to get a room with its own balcony or access to the community balcony as the chandaliers in the room can make it warm and stuffy at times. Opening the balcony door allowed fresh air to come in. My only critism of the entire place is that I thought the bed was rather firm. Since I am a stomach sleeper I prefer a softer bed. However, after a busy day in Barcelona. I still managed to sleep well. I must comment that the staff was very helpful and pleasant to chat with.
My last recommendation is to take the airport bus on the return trip to the airport. You can pick up the bus at the Placa Cataluyna. It costs 3.9 Euros and drops you off at the terminal. I would recommend taking a taxi to the hotel on the way in unless you are familiar with the area and know you can find it.
Disappointed
from hogrimNext morning, a much less pleasant hotel representative called me to relay that the room had been double booked. I'm unsure of how this would have happened, as most hotels large and small now have computerized reservations, but I am willing to assume it was an honest mistake.
But when the L'antic Espai eployee ventured to claim that a colleague of his had called me the night befor to inform me of the unfortunate situation, but that my phone had been turned off, I must admit to a certain irritation and some degree of suspicion. My phone log proves I was never unavailable between making the reservation and being turned down. Why the hotel would want to present med with this lie, I cannot tell.
When the hotel neither offered apologies nor convincing explanaitions, I had to conclude that the service level several travelers have praised, does not yet apply to all employees.
I was disappointed.
Helge Ogrim, Oslo
Our establishment, as almost all hotels in the world, operates over the Internet, mail, telephone, fax and through intermediaries who manage the sale of our rooms. All this is going wonderfully until the time there’s just one availability and all channels above to make a transaction.
The customer makes the reservation and at the same time, while he was on the phone, we get a confirmation via fax from a company which we work and we must pay them fifteen percent of the booking price. Then we track the calls received, we got the customer number and we called him. The call could not be answer by him despite our repeated attempts to communicate.
The next day around nine in the morning we have tried again and started to explain what happened, but he did not accept our explanation and threatened with a negative comment on Tripadvisor.
For being the spokesman of bad news, probably for him was not so kind who was talking by phone. But in anytime I was rude.
We are a small establishment which has no reservations computerized system.
When we have a problem we also have the right of a cancellation. Customers have the option to cancel seventy-two hours before their arrival. Why we can’t if the the reservation is done with months in advance if we have an important reason? If the guest has a short time to find somewhere else of course we would help him to find another place. But in those cases which the guests have a long time before arrival the best choice is look for another place by themselves cause the guests an find a place exactly like expected.
If we say that we got a call that night was because it was true. What is the difference between having spoken that evening and next morning, we do not need to lie, that is not the way it works here.
We feel that things like this could happen but still we are human and mistakes are inherent in them, but this has not been a mistake but an unfortunate coincidence.
Best regards,
Abel Estévez González.
Antic Espai
from Hey Ho!There is obvious attention to detail everywhere. Abel was clearly pleased to show me photographs of the conversion from a wreck of an apartment, to what it is today. He explained it took them a year to complete the work and they opened in June 06. There has been very creative use of space, which perhaps explains why some of the rooms appear small to some reviewers. However, the refurbishment of the tiled floors, beautiful cornices and ceilings and use of only antique furniture throughout, meant our stay at this Hostal was unique in our experience. This is a cut above far more ordinary hotels at the very competitive rates charged. I agree with Abel when he said you can find rooms cheaper in Barcelona, if all you want to do is sleep, but you won't find an hotel of this quality at this price. Therefore, my recommendation is to stay for the experience.
The situation is very good. The Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes is noisy. However, if you are staying on the front of the building, shut the window, turn on the air-con and you are in an oasis of calm and tranquillity. The service offered by Abel and his staff was polite, attentive but relaxed. Being so centrally located meant that we could get to everywhere we wanted to visit on foot.
Tips .....
Arriving at night, it was difficult to see how you get in. You have to press the intercom button on the bottom right of the keypad and wait for someone to answer. Once through the little door, find the light switch on the right and then up one flight of stairs - you will be welcomed at the door to the Hostal.
There was a dvd player in the room - a selection of DvDs was available on request.
Breakfast on the shared terrace was pleasant. For those British people who like their tea, ask for Liptons. The Americano coffee is very strong!
You do have to hand your key in when you go out. However, our experience was that there was always someone there to let you back in.
Ask Abel to recommend a Tapas bar. We did on the night we arrived and, within five minutes walk, we were queuing for a table (yes, we were warned). Cannot remember what it was called, but it is on the corner of Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes and Rambla de Catalunya. Busy, noisy, buzzing, theatrical and good food. The draught beer is definitely worth a try. Food was very good - we chose 'selection of tapas' and 'selection of salads' and we were not disappointed with the choice and quantity. If you ask for one dessert, the waiter will bring two spoons - so romantic!
and finally, just relax.
Special, charming, and welcoming
from nyc_kidIt is not a hotel
from SveinThere was a large window high up on the wall, with an opaque color, and when i opened it, i looked into some storage tank, and there were iron bars across across, and therefor i only kept the window opened at nigth, not during the day. I could not find any english program on the Tv, almost 30 spanish programs. The bed was fine and comfortable. The bathroom looked as if it had been refurbished recently. The gap between the toilet and the shower wall was very short. The shower cabinet was the smallest I have ever seen.
The hostal is not far from the placa cataluna, and if you arrive at nigth, the lower button in the rigth hand coloumn, is the one to press to get into the hostal. It is on the first floor, and there is always someone there to open the door. There are only 4 of the 10 rooms that can use the terrace pictured on the hostals homepage.
The charge + 2% if you use a creditcard to settle your bill.
The hostal is full of collected items, making the general impression it a home of an old lady. Different, and friendly.
Just make a wish: Abel, Sergio and Edoardo will make it become reality!
from InesLondoncharming hospitality, warm, friendly, helpful, professional bold hosts, in an enchanted antic building, with tasteful decorated rooms.
I can only agree with what everybody says: those guys let us all feel at home, and I’m really looking forward to spend some more days with my new friends in Barcelona.
I almost forgot to mention the great value you get for the really moderate amount of money they ask for their immaculate service, and perfect location.
Just go there, you'll love it!
Antic Espai
from IdlerIt is a lovely place. We had room 107, which had a bedroom, shower room, little sitting area and access to the terrace. The terrace is furnished with wrought iron chairs and a Lloyd loom double chair. There are two patio heaters and lots of plants and candles. It is so romantic, and fine to sit out on in Winter.
Sergio and Abel have obviously furnished the place with care and attention to detail. The furniture, and all ornaments evoke fin de siecle, 1890 to 1910 period Spain, and our bedroom suite had lovely marquetry in the headboard. The tiled floors are wonderful. There is so much attention to detail in this hotel (actually a "hostal", though I don't know the difference).
The two proprietors could not have been kinder. We were made to feel very welcome.
The Hostal's situation was within 10 minutes of the top of the Ramblas, and the prices were keen.
My only minor criticisms were the narrowness of the shower stall, and the Hostal is on the first floor, up some steps, so would not suit someone in a wheelchair. Apart from that, however, I would heartily recommend the place, and would go so far as to say that it is probably unbeatable in it's price range.
Ian and Liz Rispin
Coolest hotel in Barcelona
from LozLondonThat's the wonderful thing about this place, in a certain way it IS their home as it is filled with the most amazing antique treasures they have gathered from across Europe. Everything from the wine glasses to the light switches have been chosen personally by Abel and Sergio, each unique and unusual pieces of artwork!
So I can tell you that YES it definitely ticks all the neccessary boxes for a weekend away, it's in a really great location for seeing all the sites of Barcelona, it's VERY clean and comfortable (they even have fluffy white bath robes!) and YES it's beautiful inside!
But for us, the memory that stands out is the friendship we developed with Abel and Sergio, they treated us like family from the first moment we arrived and were so kind and extremely helpful throughout our 5 days with them. They treated us and all the other guests to an amazing feast on the Terrace on New Year's Eve!
There's so much I can say about this wonderful little gem of a place but you really have to experience it for yourselves! If you're looking for that personal touch in a hotel that seems so hard to find these days then definitely stay at L'Antic Espai, you'll remember it forever!!!!
Love from Lorna in London and Paul in ParisXXXX
Antic Espai
from ValCartAbel took a lot of time to source vegetarian restaurants for our evening meal and also gave us lots of ideas of where best to eat. He also booked the flamenco dancing +meal at Poble Espanyol for us as a treat for my husbands 60th birthday and it was a great night out. Abel and Sergio even gave him a bottle of very nice red wine on his birthday!
We had a delicious continental breakfast on one morning in their lounge area served on exquisite bone china.
We both felt that they did all to make our trip work and the hostel is like a little oasis in the midst of all the hustle and bustle of a busy part of the city.
Do stay here if you like to spend time in a place that is completly different from any other hotel!
We will definetely go back and stay there again
Top Local Tips for Barcelona
Joan Miro Don't miss going to see the Miro exhibition as it was really great!
airport connection Used the Aerobus, € 3,80 got to the center very quickly, but the return to the airport with the same busservice, took a detour and used more time.Do not use airline internet check-in for your flight, the airport security will send you to the airline counter to get a normal boarding card, they do not understand internet check-in, voice check-in or SMS check-in, and they speak Spanish only.
Barcelona Market You must visit La bocceria, the open air market off La Rambla. Along with fresh everything here are also woderful Tapas and seafood bars right inside the market. Also towards the back is a vegetarian carry-out which is worth visiting not only for the food (exquisite!) but the wonderful owner who literally has stars in her eyes and hair.
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Other names for Antic Espai Hotel
- hostal l antic espai barcelona
- hostal l antic espai
- Address: Gran VÃa de los Cortes Catalanes 660. Principal - Barcelona - 08010 - Spain
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