From the moment we arrived at this beautiful hotel in fantastic central location we were treated wonderfully. We were allocated a gorgeous, clean and well equipped room overlooking La Rambla and all facilities at this hotel are superb. We went on a discount package which was fantastic but we were treated no less favourably than full price customers. The breakfast buffet was the best ever and the staff brilliant, we will go back again!!

We wanted a place within walking distance of the central sights and Hotel 1898 was perfect. The pool and sauna in the basement were lovely, the view from the roof was great, the bed was comfortable - I slept like a log. We didn't eat in the hotel, so I can't comment on the food, but the staff were friendly and efficient in the little interaction we had with them - the keycards didn't work initially, but a passing staff member let us into our room and called reception to send up some more. I'd certainly recommend it.

Stayed at this hotel twice on the same trip - arrived in Barcelona on Christmas Eve and stayed one night in a small room, then off on to Girona to visit family for 3 days. Returned to Barcelona, knowing we had choices for many of the fine hotels, but decided to stay here again, spend the extra euros on a larger room overlooking Las Ramblas. Unfortunately for us, the room we were assisgned on the 4th floor literally shared an exterior wall with the church and BELL TOWER next door. Worse yet, the headboard of the bed was on this wall, and every 15 minutes and on the hour, LOUD BELL CLANGING went on, literally blasting and shaking us in the bed. It was awful. We decided early on it might just be a holiday thing and would end soon, but right through New Year's - BANG, BANG, BANG ALL NIGHT LONG! Since we had travelled from Denver, CO to Barcelona for a long stay, we had many suitcases and bags, most of which we were not interested in re-packing and going to the front desk to get into an argument about why they "could not move us, the hotel was full, etc". Upon check out, we mentioned this terrible inconvenience to the deskclerk in hopes he might swing a small amount of compensation our way for the awful noise. He said he would mention it to the manager, he was not empowered to do anything, but he made it VERY CLEAR TO US THAT HE HAS HAD MANY, MANY GUESTSCOMPLAIN ABOUT THIS VERY SAME ISSUE. It was obvious at this point that the hotel knew of the problem, gladly took our euros, then politely tried to downplay the very well-know problem. I decided to respond to the manager when the customary "how was your stay" email arrived about a week after our return to the US. I made it clear to the manager that I did not want a free night if we came back to Barcelona, that we should have been warned of the bell beforehand, and given the option of another room. I also made sure that the manager knew that we have travelled throughout the world, and when this sort of thing happens, and it has happened before, that advising us that" if you had just mentioned this to us, we would have moved you to an equivalent room" is the patented answer, it is easy to say after the traveller is long gone, and I didn't want to hear it. I simply asked for a small credit to my credit card, especially since we stayed twice during the same trip, and spent many euros with this nice place. The response I got from the manager ignored everything in my email request. He offered a free night if we return, he blamed the bell on the church in that he suggested it was malfunctioning (excuses), says he has NEVER heard about this issue before (odd that his entire staff knew explicitly that the clanging bell is and has been a major problem for those unfortunate enough to stay anywhere near that corner of the hotel), and advised he would have gladly switched us to another room had we said something while there (exactly what I asked him not to insult me with, as we all know this is code for covering mistakes and screwups), which I believe would have been impossible since the hotel for our room rate was booked (plus we didn't want to go to the immense trouble of packing everything up and schlepping off to another end of the hotel, which may not have fronted Las Ramblas). While the hotel was very nice, the breakfasts were high quality, I would not recommend this hotel just because of the poor, poor management response to my email. He didn't listen, didn't understand our issues, made excuses, blamed others, followed the universal code for poor service at a hotel and then basically insulted me with his email response to my complaint. We will not be back to this hotel, will not recommend it, will advise family and friends in the area to stay elsewhere and hope that by reading this review, hotel management learns and reacts more appropriately next time....and you know there will be a next time.

About €30 from the airport, Hotel 1898 is in the heart of Barcelona. Walking distance to everything. We booked a room with the spacious balcony... long table w/chairs and two lounging benches. Plush robes and Etro toiletries X2 everyday.... no one but the best gives you doubles of anything! European linens on comfy beds, very clean rooms. Two pools, one in the spa and one rooftop. Grocery store with wines just around the corner and Starbucks next door. Believe it or not... The best Lobster Paella made with couscous was at ShoKo. Book a 10:00p beach view table then stroll into the club and dance the night away.