Alexandre Hotel Fira Congress — Hotel in l'Hospitalet de Llobregat

We picked Fira Congress because of two main things: close to a métro line and free airport shuttle. Let me explain the rundown of our stay here.

We came to Barcelona for a cruise, so this hotel was actually the hotel we stayed at after our cruise. When arrived at the airport, we took the métro line L9. If you're planning to stay in Barcelona for up to 5 days, definitely get the 5 day métro ticket. There are many lines, but we discovered that there are two companies and our "métro" ticket didn't work with the other company--I was trying to get us to the port for our cruise. If you are here for a cruise, buy the simple one-way ticket at the métro station; take L9 going to Zona Universitària and get off there; then take the L3 going to Trinitat Nova; finally exit at the Drassanes métro station. In some instances you might have to take the port bus, T3, to take you to your ship--cost is about 2 to 3 euros. Or you can walk there.

To get to the hotel for the first time, I highly suggest taking the Fira métro station to exit so you can get yourself situated. There's only one entrance to Fira, so when you exit the station, look back when you get to the top of the stairs. You will see the Hotel Fira Congress. If you take the Europa Fira station, you might not see the hotel right away and will have to find it amongst the tall buildings there.

The staff is friendly and speak English, but if you can speak Spanish then you have an advantage. I have mentioned that they have a free airport shuttle that you can book ONE DAY in advance. Not two days in advance. ONE.

The rooms are very clean and stylish. I have a sneaking suspicion that they got their inspiration from the IKEA just down the street. The lights work once you put your card in the slot on the wall. The lights, however, can be a little tricky to work with if you want the light on in the shower or in the water closet. There is small fridge if you want to stock it with your own bottled water--there is a Carrefour Market at the Gran Via 2 shopping center nearby. The grocery section can be found at the bottom floor--the ground level Carrefour Market just has goods like electronics and household items.

The room also has a safe which is easy to use. I kept my passport there. There are plenty of outlets for all your gadgets and battery chargers.

Hotel Fira Congress does offer a breakfast buffet for 10 euros. Is it a good buy? Well that depends on you. The food is good, by the way, so at least you know you are getting quality. There are two espresso machines which are very good. They offer juices and have a good selection of morning pasteries (croissants, muffins, donuts). They also have warm selections like eggs and meats, as well as toast. And, yes, they do have fruit.

If the buffet is not your thing and they typical Barcelona breakfast is not your thing either or yet, there is a McDonald's close by, near the Europa Fira métro station, actually. Be aware, however, that when they get busy, you will have to wait, and it can be stressful with all those people.

Insider tip: all the rooms face Barcelona, but if you want a great view of the back of the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya, Torre de Comunicacions de Montjuic, and Palau Sant Jordi, ask for rooms on the 4th floor or higher. Corner rooms don't necessarily mean more windows--we stayed in a corner room.

Last but not least, yes, there...

Nice facilities, but the staff REALLY needs work. Not only was the shuttle extremely difficult to find, but they provided no directions beyond "G-5." We didn't see a single sign that said parking G-5, and after 30 minutes of wandering, dragging our stuff everywhere, we found one. We called 4 times during this, and they kept saying, "just go to parking G-5." They didn't explain that the parking lot was behind an entire building, another parking complex. And after asking staff at the airport, they didn't even seem to know where, "G-5" was.

We found G-5, finally, which was a row of cars--and we have a picture of G-5--but it's the WRONG G-5.

When we arrived, and checked in, the check-in woman actually said to our comment about it being difficult to find, "It's right there. I've been there." Well DUH. You LIVE here. We don't. Do you know where my clinic is? It's right "there!" Obviously. And they acted as if it was our fault for not finding it.

When we ordered food, we asked for a salad. Asked for the ingredients because, well, there weren't any listed in the menu. It said "salad". Our question was, "Is it only salad? Just the leaves? Nothing else? Or what else is in it?" "Only leaves" was the answer. And we repeated it in Spanish. My traveling partner orders in Spanish all the time. They understand just fine. But instead, the plate came with anchovies, dried beef, cheese, fried onions, and pate. Not just leaves. We aren't vegetarians, so not an issue for us except it wasn't what we'd wanted--but obviously that would've been an issue for some. When approached on the topic, the server didn't seem to care at all. Shrugged like it was our fault, again. The "deal with it" attitude. It wasn't, "Sorry", it was a shrug.

We travel all the time. I swear we aren't bitchy travelers. But just a little good attitude makes a...

DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY!||This is the worst hotel I’ve stayed in my entire life!!!! Horrible Horrible Horrible Service, Staff are soooo rude! It was literally a place to lay my head for the night as I was out in the day, but even with minimal interaction it was appalling! Don’t even go here if you are black! It’s like they are angry I’m here! I’ve never felt so unwanted in my life. The key cards don’t work and every time I had to go to reception they would literally ignore me tell me to stand on the side and attend to natives who are new checkins that would take 20/30mins, I waited for almost an hour just to go back to my room than just validate my key card in 1 min as a paying guest. I was close to tears as Raphael at the desk literally screamed at me ask he asked my why I came back to the hotel late in the first place, my only words were, I’m sorry is there a curfew? This is at 11pm meanwhile he had put me on the side and attended to new walk ins for almost an hour! I was silent Cus in the moment I was afraid if I reacted he knew my room number and I could only imagine the worst! I had maybe 2 hours sleep as every sound gave me a panic.||Breakfast is garbage so after day 1, I decide not to go until day 3 to just get a fruit on my way out, it finishes at 10am I was at the door at 9:47, staff stopped from entering the hall saying it finishes at 10, I explain i understand and just want to get a fruit, she refused entry, on breakfast that I paid for? I turned around without argument.||At that point I figured this was my fault for booking such, I’ve taken my L on this, but please I beg you, don’t...