Sant Joan les Fonts Holidays from £194

Loved our little apartment. It was cute, comfortable and the location was great. Easy walks to the metro, the bus, and a variety of dining options. Staff was helpful when I had questions about the microwave buttons, and they also stored our bags after check out until we needed them.

This hotel is so-so. It is dated and in need of renovation. The "spa" pool is really dated complete with mirrors from the late 70's/early 80's and a mural. The bathrooms in the pool area are unsightly. Our room had a great view and terrace, but the bed was uncomfortable, the linens were okay, but the decor was very dated. The massage staff, however, were excellent. Unfortunately, navigating the rest of the staff was very difficult unless you speak Catalan - which we do not (English, French, and a tiny bit of Spanish). Although the property advertises parking and valet, it was nonexistent. Same is true for "room service" which was a dicey proposition. The location was terrific and right in the heart of the shopping district and dining. The walk is about 2 blocks to Caldea.

The property is a lovely converted convent blending old and new; the location is midway between old town (uphill) and the beach (downhill), so plan on getting a good number of steps in, since parking is challenging in both locations. The gym is less than I would like by US hotel standards, but adequate. The breakfast offerings are modest but again adequate. Power options in the room are European standard; there are no USB or USB-C ports in the walls, so bring your converters.

Decent property overall, in the heart of Barcelona but rooms were rather small.