Short Review with scores (out of 5, 5 being the best)
My Overall Score: 3.5/5
Common Areas: 4/5
Rooms: 3.5/5
Service: 3.5/5
Location: 3.5/5
Amenities: 4/5
Cleanliness: 3.5/5
Sleep Quality: 4/5
Background:
Booked The Level at Melia Barcelona Sky for a four night Barcelona adventure.
Check-In:
The Level is just like a “Regency Club/Executive Club” with a private check in/concierge which also serves as the lounge with free food and drinks until 11 pm each day. Check in is on the 25th floor and it was quick.
The Room:
The room I had booked was a “Level Grand Premium Sea View”. It was decently sized and had modern appointments. It reminded me of a style similar to a W hotel but a bit less artistic and funky. The view was decently nice as you could see the Mediterranean Sea. Evident in the room was the wear and tear: broken lamp, scratches on the desk, scuffed sink and missing door on the shower (they just put a cheap ole curtain…not impressed). The cleanliness was also a problem with dust buildup and dirt all over the bathroom.
The room had a broken lamp which made the room too dark. The king bed and the rollaway were comfortable despite the other flaws in the room. I suggest the hotel to renovate as it has good bones. I did like the large bathroom with 2 sinks and separate shower/tub.
Amenities/Service:
The check in/lounge was not huge but adequately sized. With the “Level” you can eat breakfast in the comfort of the lounge or at the main hotel restaurant on the first floor (which I opted to do). The main breakfast was a buffet with a large selection of cooked foods, fruit and pastries. The level lounge provided mini hour d’oeuvres throughout the day and there were complimentary alcoholic drinks (not for me!) as well as sodas in glass bottles (I really liked the Schweppes Naranja (orange) soda). You can’t take anything from the lounge to your room. It has to all be consumed on that floor (sadly).
There was a pool, but I didn’t check it out. I heard it was pretty small and that the chairs were yucky as said by some people I talked to in the elevator.
If you book directly through Melia and are a Melia Rewards Member (free and easy to sign up) you get a 20 euro credit per day to spend! I used the credit on room service, and I remember the deserts being horrible BUT the main course whole chicken being amazing!
Location:
The location is quite interesting. It located in the Poblenou area a bit away from the action. You can take the tram in either direction straight down Avenue Diagonal and also the metro is nearby. Poblenou is totally up and coming, with some areas being nice and modern and some parts a bit sketchy. Les Glories shopping centre is only a 10 minute walk along avenue diagonal which has lots of food and shops. I find the location peaceful and nice.
To get to the center of the action like Passeig de Gràcia, where all the high end shops are located and two of Gaudi’s creations is about 2.5 miles. We just took a cab which was about 10 euros each way.
The Verdict:
The hotel really needs a revamp. The location isn’t bad but it isn’t great either. For about $250 USD a night I would consider to stay elsewhere when I go back to Barcelona. One random fact is that most of Barcelona has a strong sewer smell ugh. But I love Barcelona…one of my favorite cities ever! Love the culture, people and food.
Cheers,
theresorttraveler
5