As Gold, I received an upgrade to the Exec level just this past weekend. Apart from being able to get a Diet Coke, it was nothing special - certainly not worth 40 euros a night.

Personally I much prefer staying in a hotel away from the masses of tourists. Safer (pickpockets, etc.), quieter, better restaurants. The metro line goes straight to Las Ramblas and any number of city buses will get you close to Sagrada Familia. Walking distance to the Camp Nou.

By all means stay on Las Ramblas or the DT Alexandria if that's your thing, but then you have long public transport rides to Park Guell, Sagrada Familia, Camp Nou, etc.

For future reference, this hotel has offers 5 euros (if I recall correctly) off hotel spend for declining housekeeping - there should be a little card in the room. I just grab extra shampoo off the cleaning cart which is inevitably left in the hallway.

Rude staff? Not my experience.