Hotel Actual

Press Reviews

The Telegraph, July 2008
"The Actual has a prime location. It is 30 yards from a metro stop, across the street from the trendy Hotel Omm, which has one of the city's best restaurants, and round the corner from La Pedrera, Gaudí's cave-like apartment block... Ask for an upper-floor bedroom at the rear: not only will it be quieter, but you will also be able to spy on the tourists nosing around La Pedrera's quirky rooftop... Owned by a Spanish interior-design company, the hotel has a trim, minimalist look."

Time Out Guide to Barcelona
"A chic lobby in shades of white and chocolate brown sets the stage for this magazine-pretty newcomer, owned by the Gimeno sisters (of the design and household store, Gimeno, just around the corner on Passeig de Gràcia). The 29 rooms have a minimalist design, with black headboards, velvet curtains and grey slate bathrooms. Modest perks for business travellers include a shoe shining machine in the lobby, a reading room and internet access."

Frommer's Review
"Situated opposite the ultra-hip Omm Hotel, it's no surprise that the Actual is somewhat overshadowed. You can, however, save yourself a few euros by staying at this stylish three-star place rather than across the road, and of course you can still make use of the Omm's wonderful bar and restaurant. Small but perfectly formed wood paneling and large windows give the hotel a light, airy feel with a designer edge. Bedrooms are simply but elegantly decorated with chocolate brown soft furnishings and plain white walls and bed linen, and all have compact bathrooms with tub/shower combos."

Guest Reviews

Reviews are only from people who have stayed there and booked through i-escape.

• “The Hotel Actual was sort of perfect for my Barcelona stay.
  Very well-designed with great attention to important detail such as lighting and a good bed. And in a great area that's quiet, just far enough from the tourist-clogged Ramblas, but central to many of the great sights of Barcelona.
  All-in-all very good.”
  Theo, South Africa (19.03.13)

• “Location excellent; very good value. i-escape site, information and process excellent.”
  Deborah, Australia (09.01.13)

• “Excellent central location and modern decor. The hotel only offered breakfast. It would have been helpful if they offered room service in the evening.”
  miranda, United Kingdom (22.10.12)

• “Excellent new hotel, good location, efficient check in and out. I noticed that the air conditioning wasn't very powerful but it was ok for us.”
  melissa, Australia (05.07.12)

• “The location was great and the rooms were perfectly functional and interconnecting - and it was great having stayed with my son the previous week in el born to experience another part of town.
  The hotel however really lacked the personality I have always experienced in the last ten years of using i-escape. I found it to be rather big, grey, faceless and impersonal.
  A great bar/restaurant just at the back Bar Mut. (but no menu so a 40 euro tuna tapas dish came as a bit of shock - beware)
  The kids loved swimming in the Olympic pool on montjuic.”
  susannah, United Kingdom (10.06.12)

• “A nice hotel, but 13€ per person for additional breakfast without fresh eggs is too high. Never the less the location of the hotel is ideal to explore the city and staff were very welocming and helpful!”
  Sebastian, France (17.05.12)

• “I loved this little gem of a hotel! It's sleek yet comfortable, in a prime location for walking, Gaudi admiring, shopping and eating, and was a bargain even with the Grand Prix in town that weekend! The front desk staff could not have been more helpful with suggestions and making arrangements for me. They even indulged me with my Spanish! I would highly recommend this hotel, and can't wait to go back!”
  Christina, Canada (12.05.12)

• “Rooms were well kept and clean. Staff were friendly but did not go out of their way to provide excellent service. English Language TV channels were unwatchable due to bad reception. Could not connect to WiFi on 4th floor for first 2 days.”
  Stefan, Ireland (21.04.12)

• “Hotel is lovely but my only low grade is because the standard rooms are too tiny for two adults. i-escape should recommend one grade up. We could have changed but didn't bother, but with hindsight we should have. Area is fab shoppers heaven, beautiful traditional tapas go over one street to Rambla de la Catalunya. Book Moo at Hotel Omm across street. Food and service amazing.”
  clare, United Kingdom (06.11.11)

• “Staff was very accommodating when a change needed to be made. However, the thing that stands out the most was not the great room or good service, but the atrocious laundry bill (115€) for one batch of clothing.”
  CM, United States (01.10.11)

• “Great location, polite and helpful staff- really loved our stay”
  Christiana, United Kingdom (25.09.11)

• “Room was quite small for what was described as a ‘family room’ ie it felt like a standard double into which they’d squeezed another bed”
  Marian, Australia (18.09.11)

• “Great location overall, close to great restaurants and easy to walk to loads of interesting sights. We loved it!”
  Ingrid, Sweden (11.07.11)