Tryp Barcelona Aeropuerto Hotel

This hotel makes sleek and modern first impression, with a white brick-and-glass exterior and a huge lobby that feels like a sprawling atrium (though there aren’t any live plants in sight). Stone-tiled floors, rust-orange contemporary sofas and ottomans, and black glass tables contrast the oak-paneled balconies that line the floors overhead. Skylights let in plenty of light, keeping the space bright, and a small lobby bar provides drinks for guests who want to relax. The hotel primarily attracts business travelers, flight crews, and tourists with early-morning flights.

The Tryp is located just off a charmless office park traffic circle near a busy highway, but it's less than 10 minutes from the airport on the hotel's free shuttle. The small city of El Prat de Llobregat, which has a quaint old town with narrow lanes also takes about 10 minutes by taxi. Barcelona’s Plaza Catalunya is a 45-minute bus ride (or 20-minute taxi drive); from here, many of the city's major sites are a short walk or metro-ride away. Barcelona's beaches, as well as the Delta de Llobregat nature reserve, take around 15 to 30 minutes by car.

The Tryp's simple guest rooms are modern and appealing, but some of the furniture looks worn. Spacious Standard Rooms have brightly painted accent walls that stand out against light-wood laminate floors, built-in nightstands and desks, and abstract wall art. These rooms also have small flat-screen TVs, safes, closet space, and contemporary gray plush chairs. All rooms have large, tiled bathrooms with granite vanities and shower/tub combos.

Premium Rooms, Fitness Rooms, Family Rooms, and Junior Suites have a similar design scheme as the Standard Rooms, but they are larger and come with minibars. Family Rooms have kids' rooms with bunk beds and free gifts for young guests along with separate twin-bedded rooms for adults. The unusual Fitness Rooms include separate workout areas with an elliptical machines for guests who like to exercise in private, though there isn’t much space for any non-elliptical routine. Windows open to allow air to circulate, but this can let in unpleasant outdoor odors and lots of noise from the neighboring highway. Note that the air-conditioning is only turned on during the summer, and rooms can be stuffy and hot. 

The Tryp runs a free airport shuttle, with departures every 20 to 30 minutes. The hotel’s bright fitness center feels less claustrophobic than most, with plenty of windows and free towel service as well as several cardio options and a Life Fitness cable machine. The spacious Restaurant Mediterraneo serves a decent breakfast buffet with hot and cold options, but the meal is not included in most rate packages and is an expensive add-on.The restaurant also has 24-hour room service and serves tapas throughout the day. A la a carte meals are available at lunch and dinner. The lobby bar serves smoothies, coffee drinks, and cocktails throughout the day. 

Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel, though service can be spotty. There are seven on-site meeting spaces that can accommodate up to 300 people, though there is no business center, odd for a hotel that gets a large number of corporate travelers.