Four Points Barcelona Diagonal, Spain [Master Thread]
#61
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Dallas, TX
Programs: SPG Plat 100, Marriott Plat
Posts: 267
One thing I haven't seen mentioned a lot is how amazing the in-house restaurant is. Three-course meal for less than 20€ is definitely something I didn't expect from a 4* hotel, let alone one in a touristy place such as Barcelona. Rather than overcharge you for convenience, the restaurant has come up with several balanced, budget options depending on how big of a meal you want. The range of food is also amazing, from standard-fare pizzas and burgers to seafood paella and chicken in orange sauce. Loved it.
#62
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: STL
Programs: Bonvoy Titanium, UA Silver, AA Gold
Posts: 144
Stayed here October 2nd-5th this year. Had a great stay, and was impressed by how good a Four Points can be. I'd never stayed at a Four Points outside of the US before, so didn't know what to expect beyond some older (and possibly out-of-date) posts in this thread.
Took a taxi from the airport and it dropped us off right on the Diagonal in front of the hotel. Check-in was fine, and found out that we had been given a large "Comfort" room on the top floor with a view of La Sagrada Familia, the street and city nearby, and the mountains beyond. Not a bad view for a Four Points! Room was clean, modern, and very, very quiet. Although the workout area was directly above our room, we didn't hear anything at all. Jet-lag hit us, and we were up early - well before breakfast at 7am. When breakfast started, however, we were again pleasantly surprised. Full hot breakfast spread, with a good assortment of cold cuts and cheeses as well. Definitely better than what even my local Westin offers Plats...
The area is surrounded by food options. Almost too many for my wife and I who are both indecisive when it comes to food... There's a mall with some chains (mcdonalds, burger king, starbucks, and I believe a subway as well) and sit down chains, but the good food is on La Rambla Poblenou. Lots of local restaurants of all price-ranges (although mostly cheap and moderately priced) and it seems that the area is full of young families and students.
The hotel is right in front of the Tram (although it wasn't really useful for us), and only a few blocks from 2 Metro stations (different Metro lines). It's even walking distance to the Clot train station if you want to head out of town for a day-trip. Early on, I was debating between the Le Meridien which is on La Rambla, and this Four Points. Since we'd prefer to save our money on the hotel where reasonable, I believe we made a great choice. The Le Meridien looks great, but if you're on a budget, the Four Points (and the nearby area) is a great, inexpensive option that I hope more Four Points could emulate.
Took a taxi from the airport and it dropped us off right on the Diagonal in front of the hotel. Check-in was fine, and found out that we had been given a large "Comfort" room on the top floor with a view of La Sagrada Familia, the street and city nearby, and the mountains beyond. Not a bad view for a Four Points! Room was clean, modern, and very, very quiet. Although the workout area was directly above our room, we didn't hear anything at all. Jet-lag hit us, and we were up early - well before breakfast at 7am. When breakfast started, however, we were again pleasantly surprised. Full hot breakfast spread, with a good assortment of cold cuts and cheeses as well. Definitely better than what even my local Westin offers Plats...
The area is surrounded by food options. Almost too many for my wife and I who are both indecisive when it comes to food... There's a mall with some chains (mcdonalds, burger king, starbucks, and I believe a subway as well) and sit down chains, but the good food is on La Rambla Poblenou. Lots of local restaurants of all price-ranges (although mostly cheap and moderately priced) and it seems that the area is full of young families and students.
The hotel is right in front of the Tram (although it wasn't really useful for us), and only a few blocks from 2 Metro stations (different Metro lines). It's even walking distance to the Clot train station if you want to head out of town for a day-trip. Early on, I was debating between the Le Meridien which is on La Rambla, and this Four Points. Since we'd prefer to save our money on the hotel where reasonable, I believe we made a great choice. The Le Meridien looks great, but if you're on a budget, the Four Points (and the nearby area) is a great, inexpensive option that I hope more Four Points could emulate.
#66
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: ORD
Programs: SPG/MR Plat, HH Gold, UA Silver
Posts: 159
You get what you pay for here. I have had a miserable experience. Checked in after a long journey to get here. Told I could wait 15 minutes for my corner room to be cleaned or be put on a lower floor. 15 minutes isn't bad, so I decided to wait. 1 hour later was given a normal room without an explanation.
Trying to catch an hour of rest before exploring, loud noises from the room above. Call reception, they claim no construction or work is being done. Great. Maintenance comes to fix the broken fuse and hears the noises from above and tells me they are fixing that room. Great, reception lied.
Add the hair in the bed and shower. Add the fact that the shower leaks and turns the bathroom into a small ocean.
This place blows.
Trying to catch an hour of rest before exploring, loud noises from the room above. Call reception, they claim no construction or work is being done. Great. Maintenance comes to fix the broken fuse and hears the noises from above and tells me they are fixing that room. Great, reception lied.
Add the hair in the bed and shower. Add the fact that the shower leaks and turns the bathroom into a small ocean.
This place blows.
#67
Company Representative - Starwood
Join Date: Aug 2011
Programs: SPG
Posts: 713
You get what you pay for here. I have had a miserable experience. Checked in after a long journey to get here. Told I could wait 15 minutes for my corner room to be cleaned or be put on a lower floor. 15 minutes isn't bad, so I decided to wait. 1 hour later was given a normal room without an explanation.
Trying to catch an hour of rest before exploring, loud noises from the room above. Call reception, they claim no construction or work is being done. Great. Maintenance comes to fix the broken fuse and hears the noises from above and tells me they are fixing that room. Great, reception lied.
Add the hair in the bed and shower. Add the fact that the shower leaks and turns the bathroom into a small ocean.
This place blows.
Trying to catch an hour of rest before exploring, loud noises from the room above. Call reception, they claim no construction or work is being done. Great. Maintenance comes to fix the broken fuse and hears the noises from above and tells me they are fixing that room. Great, reception lied.
Add the hair in the bed and shower. Add the fact that the shower leaks and turns the bathroom into a small ocean.
This place blows.
Hi forkknifespoon,
Sad to hear about your stay. If we can be of any help, feel free to share your reservation details via Private Message.
Best regards,
Alice Kons
Social Media Specialist
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide
[email protected]
#68
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: ORD
Programs: BA, AA, SQ, UA, AC, WS, MR TIT
Posts: 8,573
You get what you pay for here. I have had a miserable experience. Checked in after a long journey to get here. Told I could wait 15 minutes for my corner room to be cleaned or be put on a lower floor. 15 minutes isn't bad, so I decided to wait. 1 hour later was given a normal room without an explanation.
Trying to catch an hour of rest before exploring, loud noises from the room above. Call reception, they claim no construction or work is being done. Great. Maintenance comes to fix the broken fuse and hears the noises from above and tells me they are fixing that room. Great, reception lied.
Add the hair in the bed and shower. Add the fact that the shower leaks and turns the bathroom into a small ocean.
This place blows.
Trying to catch an hour of rest before exploring, loud noises from the room above. Call reception, they claim no construction or work is being done. Great. Maintenance comes to fix the broken fuse and hears the noises from above and tells me they are fixing that room. Great, reception lied.
Add the hair in the bed and shower. Add the fact that the shower leaks and turns the bathroom into a small ocean.
This place blows.
#69
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Barcelona, London, on a plane
Programs: BA Silver, TK E+, AA PP, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott LT Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 12,587
Front desk staff are, without exception, marvelous, although I admit that I am a regular and Spanish-speaking might lead them to treat me differently from others.
#70
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Atlanta but Washington DC will always be home.
Programs: Marriott Ambassador & LTP, Hilton Diamond, Accor Gold, Airlines with non-stops to where I'm going
Posts: 2,039
My wife and I have never eaten in the restaurant because there are so many amazing restaurants in Barcelona in general but right on the Rambla Poblenou right outside the hotel. Leave the front entrance, turn left and just look for places crowded with locals. From pastries and coffee, to paella, to seafood, to ice cream/gelato, it's all in the neighborhood. (Add to that few tourists compared to other neighborhoods and reasonable prices at the restaurants.)
#71
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: CDG
Programs: SK *G, AF Silver, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 3,610

#72
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: ORD
Programs: SPG/MR Plat, HH Gold, UA Silver
Posts: 159
As an update, I called down to the front desk. Was told I would receive a call back with an explanation for the noise and a solution. Never got a call back.
The noise from construction in the room above came back the next day.
The breakfast was quite pathetic as well. Cold (not room temperature) eggs with 45 minutes until the buffet closed. Explanation given was that they have to turn off the warming counter an hour before close because they need to clean and wipe it down after breakfast. Seriously?
Ended up paying for the upgraded eggs made fresh, which for $3.50 was fine. Really a ridiculous practice though.
I will email the GM today and let you know if he replies. I'm sure some of you have had fine stays here, but on the whole this was my worst SPG experience to date.
The noise from construction in the room above came back the next day.
The breakfast was quite pathetic as well. Cold (not room temperature) eggs with 45 minutes until the buffet closed. Explanation given was that they have to turn off the warming counter an hour before close because they need to clean and wipe it down after breakfast. Seriously?
Ended up paying for the upgraded eggs made fresh, which for $3.50 was fine. Really a ridiculous practice though.
I will email the GM today and let you know if he replies. I'm sure some of you have had fine stays here, but on the whole this was my worst SPG experience to date.
#73
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Barcelona, London, on a plane
Programs: BA Silver, TK E+, AA PP, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott LT Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 12,587
I'm with craigthemif. I love this hotel. I've always gotten a clean, quiet room at a reasonable price. The Staff has always been friendly. There's a Carrefour in the shopping center right off the Diagonal where we can get a case of water.
My wife and I have never eaten in the restaurant because there are so many amazing restaurants in Barcelona in general but right on the Rambla Poblenou right outside the hotel. Leave the front entrance, turn left and just look for places crowded with locals. From pastries and coffee, to paella, to seafood, to ice cream/gelato, it's all in the neighborhood. (Add to that few tourists compared to other neighborhoods and reasonable prices at the restaurants.)
My wife and I have never eaten in the restaurant because there are so many amazing restaurants in Barcelona in general but right on the Rambla Poblenou right outside the hotel. Leave the front entrance, turn left and just look for places crowded with locals. From pastries and coffee, to paella, to seafood, to ice cream/gelato, it's all in the neighborhood. (Add to that few tourists compared to other neighborhoods and reasonable prices at the restaurants.)
#74
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Atlanta but Washington DC will always be home.
Programs: Marriott Ambassador & LTP, Hilton Diamond, Accor Gold, Airlines with non-stops to where I'm going
Posts: 2,039
Hmm...looks like my wife and I will have to try the hotel restaurant next time. Thanks for the advice!
#75
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 356
You get what you pay for here. I have had a miserable experience. Checked in after a long journey to get here. Told I could wait 15 minutes for my corner room to be cleaned or be put on a lower floor. 15 minutes isn't bad, so I decided to wait. 1 hour later was given a normal room without an explanation.
Trying to catch an hour of rest before exploring, loud noises from the room above. Call reception, they claim no construction or work is being done. Great. Maintenance comes to fix the broken fuse and hears the noises from above and tells me they are fixing that room. Great, reception lied.
Add the hair in the bed and shower. Add the fact that the shower leaks and turns the bathroom into a small ocean.
This place blows.
Trying to catch an hour of rest before exploring, loud noises from the room above. Call reception, they claim no construction or work is being done. Great. Maintenance comes to fix the broken fuse and hears the noises from above and tells me they are fixing that room. Great, reception lied.
Add the hair in the bed and shower. Add the fact that the shower leaks and turns the bathroom into a small ocean.
This place blows.
As an update, I called down to the front desk. Was told I would receive a call back with an explanation for the noise and a solution. Never got a call back.
The noise from construction in the room above came back the next day.
The breakfast was quite pathetic as well. Cold (not room temperature) eggs with 45 minutes until the buffet closed. Explanation given was that they have to turn off the warming counter an hour before close because they need to clean and wipe it down after breakfast. Seriously?
Ended up paying for the upgraded eggs made fresh, which for $3.50 was fine. Really a ridiculous practice though.
I will email the GM today and let you know if he replies. I'm sure some of you have had fine stays here, but on the whole this was my worst SPG experience to date.
The noise from construction in the room above came back the next day.
The breakfast was quite pathetic as well. Cold (not room temperature) eggs with 45 minutes until the buffet closed. Explanation given was that they have to turn off the warming counter an hour before close because they need to clean and wipe it down after breakfast. Seriously?
Ended up paying for the upgraded eggs made fresh, which for $3.50 was fine. Really a ridiculous practice though.
I will email the GM today and let you know if he replies. I'm sure some of you have had fine stays here, but on the whole this was my worst SPG experience to date.
I've stayed here dozens of times (including right now) and never experienced any of the above-mentioned problems. Of course this isn't 5-star paradise, but IMO is great value for the usually low rates (and easy Best Rate Guarantee claims)
Front desk staff are, without exception, marvelous, although I admit that I am a regular and Spanish-speaking might lead them to treat me differently from others.
Front desk staff are, without exception, marvelous, although I admit that I am a regular and Spanish-speaking might lead them to treat me differently from others.