Roma Reial Hotel

The Roma Reial Hotel suits tourists planning on spending most of their time out and about. The building itself is part of the square of buildings that surround the Placa Reial, a popular plaza in the heart of the city full of nightclubs and restaurants. The bottom floor features arched entryways, while upper floors offer ornate details and wrought-iron Juliet balconies. Inside, the hotel is spare and a little dated, but clean. The reception area looks like an '80s-era waiting room with beige tile floors, brown doors, and a perimeter of black armchairs. The breakfast room offers a bit more ambiance -- it's located in an exposed brick-and-stone cellar room with nice wood floors (but no windows). The wallet-friendly prices tend to attract a younger crowd, as well as groups and families traveling on a budget.

Roma Reial Hotel's best feature is its location right on the Placa Reial (Royal Plaza), a famous square full of restaurants and nightlife in the heart of Barcelona's Gothic Quarter. Las Ramblas, the city's popular pedestrian street, is just a two-minute walk away. Other sights in walking distance include the Liceu opera house (three minutes), Boquería market (six minutes), the Picasso Museum (10 minutes), and the Plaza Catalunya (12 minutes). For sights farther out, the nearest metro station (Liceu, serving line L3) is a three-minute walk from the hotel. Like other tourist-heavy spots, this one is also known for pickpockets, so guests should be careful with their belongings. The airport is about a 25-minute drive from here, or around an hour by public transportation.

Rooms are spare, generic, and dated, but clean and have en-suite bathrooms. White-tile floors and cream-colored stucco walls are paired with dark wood headboards. The blue drapes and blue-and-white patterned bedspreads look borrowed from an earlier era, but overall guests find rooms decent for a budget property. Rooms have a table that serves as a desk, as well as a small wardrobe and a TV. En-suite bathrooms are simple, with shower/tub combos. Towels are provided, but there are no toiletries. Hairdryers and iron and ironing boards are available on request. Rooms do not have mini-fridges or coffee/tea service. Some are air-conditioned, while others just have a fan. Wi-Fi is free, though some guests find the connection poor. The hotel offers Twin, Triple, Quad, and Quintuple Rooms. Housekeeping comes daily. Rooms overlooking the plaza have the best views, but can be noisy at night.

The Roma Reial has few extra property features, but it does offer a daily breakfast in an exposed brick and stone cellar room with a wood floor and wood cafe tables. Breakfast is simple and a little carb-heavy -- bread, muffins, cereal, etc. -- but it's free. There's no full restaurant, but there are plenty of eating options right on the square, including the Roma Reial, a restaurant and bar that neighbors the hotel. The hotel provides free Wi-Fi as well.