Hotel Alimara Reviews

I'd recommend the Alimara, a well-kept, eco-friendly hotel for a city break holiday. Non-smoking in all public areas, although you could go out to the garden and patio area to smoke if you wanted - also option of a smoking or non-smoking room.

Rooms provide everything you could want: satellite TV - with limited English channels, but including pay TV and option to check your bill at any time and use express checkout - radio and mini-bar: the only thing missing was tea/coffee making facilities, but we took our travel kettle and bought milk from the large, well-stocked supermarket opposite the hotel.

We had breakfast included in our package (cereals, toast, rolls, hot and cold food, tea/coffee and a good fruit salad bar), but believe it cost 11 Euros if not. Rooms are kept spotlessly clean, as are all the public areas.

I'd agree with other reviewers that the motorway traffic noise could be heard when the windows were open, but were well sound-proofed when shut so not a major problem (and with heating or air-conditioning in the room, there really was no need for windows to be open).

Most of the reception staff were friendly and helpful, especially with tourist information and gave you loads of literature on what to do and see in Barcelona.

No more than 10-15 minutes on the clean, safe and cheap Metro system to all the main tourist attractions (6.65 Euros for a 10-journey ticket). Trains run up to midnight and all night on New Year's Eve! The Metro system is easy to navigate and trains are punctual.

I'd stay at the Alimara again if we revisited Barcelona as it was nice to get out of the main town and relax after a day of sightseeing.

We chose this hotel because of its location out of central Barcelona.

We thought this would be quieter, however the website doesn't mention that its next to a main road and the traffic sound is quite loud with the windows open. This wasn't too much of a problem for us as it was 15 degrees or so, but in summer earplugs or aircon would be essential.

The room was pleasant, altho the booking agent hadn't passed on our request for a a twin non smoking room, the reception changed our room after we pointed this out. The hotel is new and modern, four stars and it was built for the Olympics, the breakfasts which are only included in the tariff of Saturdays(11 eoros) were excellent and the tariff we paid was only £58 per day per room, not per person!

The location of the hotel in relation to the Metro is ideal, a new station has opened on the same block(MUNDET) and the green line seemed to be the one we used most of the time. As others have reported the transport system works efficiently and is cheap. We were 12 minutes from the centre of town and never had to wait more than 6 mins for a train.

We were there for 3 nights and managed to cram a lot in. We did the open top Bus Touriste on the first day, to get an overview of the city, you can hop on and off at sights that interest you. We went to Port Vell, the marina and the Tapas Bar is highly recommended. The Aquarium was also good fun. The following day we did Park Guell amd Tibadabo, a lot of walking but pleasant. Evening strolls in Las Ramblas were pleasant we were never victims of pickpockets or beggars as warned about in various guides.

The last day was spent at Montserrat, an impressive monastery build on a mountain accessed by cable car or vernicular, we could have spent a lot more time there but had a plane to catch and the transport links were only hourly so time was not in our favour.
A brilliant city and highly recommended.