Hotel Nouvel — Hotel in Barcelona

A friend recommended this hotel as she's stayed here several times. Hotel could be so much more, but we definitely don't recommend it.

First, location is convenient with a short walk to La Rambla & Plaça de Catalunya. Hotel itself has a pretty, old world feel. Some areas are maintained well, other areas need attention. For example, wooden shutters that would provide a bit more noise reduction don't latch close.

Second, a few of the staff are fantastic, Enrique & Asana (not sure of name, the night person-tall woman w/ long blonde hair). Both were attentive and kind, even though they couln't help resolve or get the aircon unit repaired. The evening dark-haired woman, however, was simply rude. When we arrived back on WE night and asked if the aircon was fixed, her response was "normally" which probably was clue #1 that there was an issue. She tried to play it off later as a language barrier, not convinced. She also asked if we had our room keys. We said yes, she smiled & we went to our room to discover the keys no longer worked. Back downstairs we went & told her they didn't work. No kidding, she looked straight at us & said "that's why I asked if you had your keys". Never a comment that she needed to update them. Added to a not great experience & on it continued.

Two very uncomfortable nights w/out air & just a small fan (which we had to ask for). After the first night we were told it was fixed, but then it went out again the second night & the hotel was full so they had no room to move us to. As we had been told the air con had been fixed when it went out again the second night we asked to speak to the hotel manager and were told he couldn't be disturbed at home & supposedly when they finally did reach him at our insistence, he refused to call us. We were told he would be in the office by 9 am. When we asked for him, (we were told his name is Gabriel) at the front desk Th morning about 9:15 am, we were informed he was not in. Our frustration at this point was high. Enrique, being as helpful as possible, apologized for the lack of customer service on his boss' part (which he should NOT have been placed in that situation, the boss should be professional!), & said he had already blocked a new room for us...that wouldn't be available until 3 or 4 pm in the afternoon.

Third, when we arrived back, the room was ready, not chilled but the aircon worked. It was a much smaller room, less well maintained. In addition to the balcony doors that had a huge gap, the desk leg was severely water-damaged stained (probably because the balcony doors don't seal properly), the toilet rocked every time upon being sat on (never a good feeling!), and the tub had multiple shower curtains that allowed water to splash all over the floor no matter how careful we were. Thankfully only one night in this room!

Due to our issues with the air con and the overall handling of the situation we strongly urge caution if you choose to book this hotel.

Fourth, noise carries from INSIDE the hotel. Mainly people talking as they walk to and from their rooms, but it filters into the rooms quite loudly. Signs in the halls and a comment to be courteous when people check in would probably help some, but expect to hear conversations clearly when you're in your room.

Outside of the hotel's direct control, we also want to note the number of homeless that sleep on the street just outside the hotel's front door. They are quiet and non-aggressive, but coming back late at night is a bit uncomfortable. Also, the noise from the street does filter up to the street-front rooms. Shops opening and closing, service vehicles (the street in front of the hotel is a restricted access-so be aware, if you arrive by taxi they may have to drop you off at the corner and you'll have to walk 2-5 minutes to find the property on your own), and some of the people...

I don’t like leaving bad reviews but felt a warning was necessary.||I stayed here 10 years ago with a Rick Steve’s tour. It was great, so I booked again without reading other reviews.||Hotel has gone downhill. So bad. All staff were grumpy, unfriendly and rude. ||One employee yelled at us for asking for a cab for 4 pm instead of saying 1600. Told us to learn the European way for time if we wanted to stay with them. Only one nice gentleman out of 5 employees at the front desk was kind and helpful.||Our 2 rooms for 2 couples were BASIC. No in room coffee or hot water. Have to go down multiple stairs to lobby for cold water and hot water dispenser, but no cups. Multiple employees said they had no cups for hot water, but the nice employee handed me a clean cup each morning. Coffee machine in lobby costs 1 euro, but again, NO cups. NO in room tissue, lotion, hair products or plastic cup in bathroom for tooth brush. Soap is the thin, tiny sliver, towels are thin, old and disheveled, our double bed was 2 twins which kept splitting apart during the night, the TV was broken and couldn’t be fixed until the night before check out. They kept saying the maintenance man was gone. We were there for 4 nights. We thought there was a methadone clinic across the alley because many marginal people hovered near the front door of the hotel at dusk daily. Turns out it was a small church for homeless people who offered food. The street or alley wreaked of urine.||Breakfasts aren’t included anymore. Breakfast is offered at a steep charge Much better off eating elsewhere.||Only plus is that it is 1/4 block from Las Ramblas.||Nothing good about this place otherwise. Lobby nice, but rooms, amenities, staff made us sad and unwelcomed.||Ended our trip here after over a week on the Amalfi Coast, Italy where we were treated like family,...

I’ve had the pleasure of staying at Hotel Nouvel in Barcelona on two previous occasions, which had led me to develop a certain expectation of quality and comfort that the hotel provides. Unfortunately, during my most recent visit, the room assigned to me did not meet these expectations, and I feel it’s important to share my experience for the hotel to take constructive feedback and for future guests to be aware.

Firstly, the condition of the bathroom was far from satisfactory. The bathtub exhibited significant signs of wear and tear, with visible rust and even holes present. Such conditions not only detract from the aesthetic appeal but also raise concerns about hygiene and safety.

Additionally, the room size was surprisingly restrictive. I understand that hotel room dimensions can vary greatly, but the space provided was so limited that it significantly impacted the comfort and ease of my stay. It was challenging to move around or use the room effectively, even for just one person.

Another concerning issue was the structural integrity of the bathroom ceiling. Whenever the main door was opened, it seemed to compromise the ceiling, causing dust to fall onto the toilet, bathtub, and surrounding areas. This not only posed a cleanliness issue but also a potential safety hazard.

I bring these issues to light not out of dissatisfaction but in hopes that they can be addressed for the betterment of future guests’ experiences. The Hotel Nouvel has always been a place I looked forward to staying at due to its charm and location. I hope that my feedback will contribute to improvements and that this experience will be an exception rather than a norm.

I remain hopeful about the hotel addressing these concerns and look forward to seeing improvements that align with the high standards I know the Hotel Nouvel...