Hostal Rambla

This is a budget accommodation that truly finds the sweet spot that the a more mature but sensible traveler seeks when it comes to a balance between comfort, cleanliness, convenience, amenities, and value. With an unassuming and easy-to-miss front door, I would not call this a “hostel” in the typical sense of the word. I see Hostal Rambla using this term to dissuade your typical 4/5 star hotel traveler from expecting waitstaff to bend over backwards for you at all hours of the day. The small size and relative simplicity of the room could certainly support the use of the term. However, the intimate check-in process and certain nods to the self-sufficient traveler (printed guidelines in the room that you are asked to respect, some house rules to maintain a peaceful and safe environment such as no checkin after 22:00, WiFi password printed on a slip) steer this place away from the sterile/seedy/rowdy label of a motel. The things that strike me about this place is that it is has 100% of the cleanliness and utility of a much more upscale hotel. The private ensuite bathroom is sparkling clean and newly renovated (walk in shower, expensive looking faucets/fixtures, comfortable toilet, bidet, basic toiletries, white towels). There are extra warm comforters, extra pillow, comfortable mattress, safe, individual air conditioner unit/climate control, TV, desk, well thought out and ample electrical outlets, fine tuned light controls. The place is not classically beautiful, but it is beautiful in its simplicity, and that everything works, is in excellent repair, smells fresh, and gives you a truly comfortable place to rest your head and feel at home. Photos on the review websites don’t do it justice. What it doesn’t have is lustrous curtains, fancy paint or molding, slippers/Turkish robe, notepad/pen, room service menu, all that stuffy extra crap that who needs anyway?! I certainly don’t find those useless amenities to be worth double the price, and often at the expensive of cleanliness and friendliness. The host, Marcelo, welcomed us with genuine warmth - not with any of that fake or indifferent attitude that many of the more jaded in the tourism industry have. He went out of his way to explain things to us and cross the slight language barrier, and made it a point to be approachable. Yes, as others have warned, no check in after 22:00, with no exceptions!! Once you have your keycard you may come and go as you please. While unattainable for very late travelers, this house rule truly creates a private, homey, and safe-feeling environment for those of us lucky enough to be staying here. Speaking of which, the neighborhood is amazing. It is lively with local hustle and bustle, but quiet in that this particular street does not support thru-traffic (only cars from locals who live on the street). It is convenient in that there are several cafes, restaurants, bars, and convenience stores in close walking distance (zero to five minutes and beyond), but not obnoxious in that the patrons seem largely local and respectful. The close eateries and location in a social hub also convey the property of safety, which you wouldn’t get from a back-alley location. We had no problem being dropped off by a taxi here. We took a wonderful tapas dinner at Moments, only a 5 minute walk away (see my other review), but there are literally restaurants when you step foot outside this hotel. I couldn’t be more glad to have stayed here the final night before my flight out of Barcelona, rather than a big box hotel or other multi-level hotel catering to tourists. Truly, it feels like an oasis after 2 week tourism trip in Europe.