I stayed in Derby with my wife for a week in lovely Barcelona and just returned couple of days ago. The hotel was great generally, I'll share below my experience:
The arrival to the hotel wasn't very easy because all the types of transportation that I knew before travelling was either go to Sants station by train from Terminal 2 in the airport and walk for not less than 20 minutes to the hotel, or from Sants take the metro to Hospital Clinic station which is also 15 - 20 minutes walk, or last option would be taking Aerobus to Plaza Espanya or Plaza Catalunya and take anything to the hotel (which I didn't know). I chose taking the metro to Hospital Clinic, but still it was a bit tiring to walk for 20 minutes with your luggage, yet the location of the hotel is easy to find, you'll find it on the map clearly. After spending the week in Barcelona I figured out that there were easier ways to reach the hotel than the above ways:
1- Take the Aerobus from the airport (ticket 5.30 EUR) to Plaza Espanya and either take a taxi (around 10 EUR with your luggage) or take a bus from Plaza Espanya that goes to Josep Taradellas street, and ask the driver about the nearest station (I can't remember the name)
2- Take the train from Terminal 2 at the airport to Sants Station and from there take a taxi or a bus that goes to Josep Taradellas street
Checking in was seamless, it took us only 15 minutes and the guy at the reception assigned us a smoking room in the only smoking floor (second floor)
First impression on the room was that it was too small and very clean, but actually we didn't face a problem with the size of the room after putting our luggage away from the passage in the room. Bed was too small, I guess it was smaller than a queen size bed. Bathroom was very good and spacious. The room had a small TV with very bad location in the room not viewable easily from the bed, but who will need a TV while staying in Barcelona? View was very bad from the room, so actually we didn't pull the curtains across our entire stay. Room had a safety box, and free WiFi which worked fine. Sometimes I could hear other people talking in the rooms next to me, but that was very occasionally.
Rooms were cleaned daily, and toileteers were provided and towels were changed. So room service was very good.
Staff in the reception were more than helpful, they were not bored from tourist's too many question, always helped in directions and recommended attractions, city map was always available with them to explain to you all what you need.
Breakfast was ok, for me it wasn't superb as I don't eat pork so my options were few, yet all food tasted really good.
Location of the hotel is in a quite area, very close to several bus stops that can take you anywhere in the city, journey to Plaza Espanya is 10 minutes, to Plaza Catalunya and Las Ramblas 15 - 20 minutes, but as I said it's not very near to a metro station so you better rely on buses for your transportations. There are many bars, cafe's and supermarkets around the hotel. On your way back with the bus it's a 5 minutes walk to the hotel, and even if you'll catch the night buses they stop in a very close bus stop around 5 mintes walk as well.
So generally I liked the hotel a lot, but for me I would prefer if I stayed in a closer hotel to a metro station to avoid the busy streets during the buses journey.
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC
29 July 2011
We are glad to hear that another guest was overall happy with there stay at the Derby.
The location of the hotel on a quiet residential area near Francesc Macia permits a calm stay but at the same time you are really close to the city centre, and to the main attractions of Barcelona.
We were pleased to be your choice during your stay in Barcelona....and we hope to welcome you in a future.
Best regards,
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