Le Meridien Barcelona

If you are reading these reviews wondering whether to stay at Le Meridien Barcelona, you likely will see quite a mix and may not know what to believe. I hope this review provides some balance. First and foremost, I'll point out that we stayed during a time when the entire country lost power and EVERY hotel in Spain was scrambling to adjust. Some of the negative reviews on here were written during that time, and those should probably be met with skepticism. During the blackout as well as the rest of our stay, the entire staff went out of their way to make guests happy. The staff is friendly, well-trained, and eager to please. If they occasionally miss the mark by not leaving enough towels or some other minor oversight, they are quick to respond and make things right. The GM runs a very tight ship. They also have two concierges who are incredibly helpful-- their recommendations and help in securing all sorts of recommendations added significant value to our stay. So did every staff member we encountered. As typical tourists from the USA who were unfamiliar with Barcelona, we really appreciated being greeted and helped by such a warm, friendly staff each day. The rooms are well-appointed and well-maintained. If you are expecting a Four Seasons or an Aman resort, you should probably downgrade your hopes. The standards are comparable to a typical urban Marriott our Hilton. That's not a bad thing. Marriott Bonvoy elites get complimentary access to a very large plentiful breakfast buffet as well as late checkout. At the time of our stay, the number of guests with Marriott Titanium status was quite high: Some expected upgrades to presidential suites and other recognitions of their grandeur. They were moderately disappointed. If you have Marriott Platinum or Titanium status, this hotel will provide everything your status promises. In the interest of balance, here are a few negatives to keep in mind. None are a reflection of the hotel or the staff. The biggest negative for many is the location. The Ramblas is jam packed with tourists. Noise and crime come with the territory. Le Meridien is not a quiet, peaceful getaway, You will hear street noise at all hours, although some rooms on high floors are better than others. The hotel staff will do their best to put you in a less noisy room if you ask and if it's possible. But it may not be possible due to the other negative: This hotel has a lot of very large tour groups passing through. You may have a difficult time checking in or out when the front desk is jammed with dozens of aging boomers on a tour or a rowdy group of teens on a field trip. You may have to wait a long time, since only two or three people work the front desk even a peak hours. If you are coming off an all-night flight from the USA and are hoping for a smooth immediate morning check-in, you may not get your way. Patience helps. The staff does their best to make each guest feel valued. Overall, Le Meridien is a solid choice. The excellence, friendliness, and professionalism of the staff more than make up for any minor shortcomings. Our stay was a joy. Odds are, yours will be a joy as well.

From the moment we made our reservation, we felt that a wonderful stay was ahead of us. And indeed, from the very first step inside, it turned into an unforgettable memory: Valentijn’s warm welcome at check-in, Chef Miguel’s delightful smile and delicious omelet at breakfast, Edgar’s sincere and friendly service that made us feel like we were catching up with an old friend, and Jana’s fast and warm check-out—all made our experience truly special. The hotel is perfectly located in the heart of the city, making it incredibly easy for us to reach all the main attractions. When we entered our room, we were pleasantly surprised to find a lovely baby crib and a sweet little toy waiting for our baby. Everything was spotlessly clean and well-maintained, the staff were exceptionally friendly, and the restaurant was simply outstanding. I would absolutely recommend this hotel.

Absolutely the worst experience I have had. We needed to find a place where there was electricity and this Marriott hotel was it. We booked for two nights because we could not be sure when the magnificent Hotel Bagues would have power. The power was restored at 1am. In an emergency like the power blackout (28 April) we were mindful that others would possibly need a room, so we decided to check out a day earlier because our original hotel was reconnected. Of course we didn't expect a full refund, but they charged us for the two nights, and also for breakfast. As for the hotel, the room was terrible, but nothing could compete with the awfulness of the restaurant. The food was disgusting, an offence against civilisation, and an affront to the genius of Catalan culture. A despicable management team, terrible accommodation and food, I suggest that you consider staying in this foul place only in an emergency. A golden rule of travel, avoid Marriott hotels unless you simply have nowhere else to stay.

BEWARE OF THIS AREA! Unfortunately I had to give this rating not based on the hotel or the staff but because of the location. I was ROBBED right out in front of the hotel and they don’t have cameras or security outside of the hotel. The police informed me that this is a common occurrence in this area. The police said they get as many as 10 reports a day for pickpockets and thieves in that neighborhood. One block away the owner of the barbershop(who is a great guy and a great barber) was robbed at gun point by four guys at the atm one week before. I was very surprised that this happened right in front of the hotel. I was more surprised when I spent $1800 on a new iPhone the next day and tracked my phone down through find my iPhone that the police would not even go the house which was only 6 blocks from the hotel. Prior to the theft the staff at the hotel was great, the breakfast was good and the room upgrade with my status was nice.

Not a 5 star hotel. 3+ at best. Very dirty, shabby and mismanaged. All surfaces - floors, tables, sofas, silverware, corner - all stained, chipped or dirty. Rooms have low quality cheap looking furniture and fittings. Noise from the underground at night. Nice location on Rambla, but poor taxi access - cab drivers refuse to drive up to the hotel entrance and drop off passengers and luggage 50m away on Rambla. FreeNow don’t come to the entrance either. Hotel staff doesn’t know how to order a cab and suggest hailing it from the street old fashioned way. A Glovo courier station right at the door step of the hotel. Lots of suspiciously looking beggars and addicts passing by. Not coming back to this hotel again