Could not ask for better location metro right ouitside hotel. The roof top view is breathtaking, ample deck chairs though pool is very cold. I wouldn't reccommend breakfast at 15 euros per person quality and quanity not worth the price. Several cafes outside hotel all serve great breakfasts. Hotel staff very helpful and friendly. Rooms clean and plently of space but very noisy could hear people in next room going to the toilet etc.

As the title suggests, it was OK, but just that. The hotel is rated 4-star, but as with all star-ratings, you never quite know what you're going to end up with.

As locations go it is pretty good. Right next to a metro station, and only 30 mins from the airport (costing 70 cents if you get the 10-journey ticket, amazing value!) Most places are easily accessible by the metro but, as we discovered only 2 days before we left, it's better to get the bus to the beach, a number of which go from directly opposite the hotel and take about 15 mins.

As hotels go it is clean and fairly smart looking, but clearly business orientated, indicated not only by the "corporate" feel to it, but the steep price of breakfast (17 Euro) and the lack of drinks facilities in the room, which was a shame.

Our first room was a twin, at the front of the hotel. When I called down to be asked to move to a double (which was booked) there were no other rooms left, so the receptionist told us that we would be moved while we were out the following day, a minor inconvenience but acceptable. When we returned to the hotel the following day I was "reprimanded" by the receptionist for not clarifying my request that morning. Sadly, a case of one person saying one thing, and another doing another, an unfortuantely memorable event which could have easily been avoided.

Our "double" room, was 2 twins pushed together. The beds were hard and uncomfortable, but thankfully our new room was at the back of the hotel, which was quieter and had better views.

Housekeeping at the property is acceptable, but inconsistent. New towels one day, sometimes not the next day, bed made up one day, turned down the next. Although the bathrooms were spotless!

Food & Beverage at the hotel should be avoided. The breakfast buffet and other menus are uninspiring, and the bar is so lacking in atmosphere that we only dared have one drink there, and we were the only people we saw all week in there. Much more could be made of both of these outlets as there are few other "nice" places in the area. And a word to the wise: if any restaurant has pictures of the food outside, keep well away. It is definitely the "tourist food"!

I suppose overall while the hotel is modern and clean, I left with a feeling that no-one was really prepared to go "the extra mile" for guests, there was a distinct lack of passion.

We wouldn't go back there or recommend it because it simply was just average, and we found better places to stay whilst we were there.

I

We stayed 3 nights at Barcelona Universal Hotel August 15-18 and had a great stay. The fee was 121 EUR including breakfast. This was a reasonable price considering the modern and clean room, the wonderful roof terrace with pool and sundeck, the friendly staff and the good location of the hotel. When booking the hotel we asked for a room with a view. This was already taken care of when we checked in and we got a room with a great view of Barcelona. The hotel has a good location considering distance to the very city center and the to to the metro. The nearest metro station is just outside of the hotel. Parts of the nearby neighbourhood is somewhat "rough" though and there is not many good restaurants close to the hotel. The Japanese restaurant next to the hotel is well worth a visit though. The staff of the hotel was very serviceminded. We asked if there was an ice machine on the hotel. Unfortunately there was not but a staff member asked if he could get us some ice to the room. A couple of minuts later he arrived with a bucket of ice without charge.The breakfast was plentiful and fresh.

We stayed for 3 nights early august with a one year old, so we requested a suitable room and were allocated a great sized room with a sliding door between the sofa bed/dressing area and the main bedroom. unfortunately we had no view but looked at the adjacent room on the corner of the building which therefore had 3 windows with views over the street and beyond but a) it wasn't available and b) it was smaller so we stayed put.

my family tried to arrange for flowers to be delivered as it was my birthday but unfortunatley there was some confusion and the hotel did not accept the flowers as our room was booked in my partner's surname not mine. the member of staff i spoke to about it was rather abrupt and unhelpful not even apologising. Where in contrast other staff members were very helpful and when one day we told them our room hadn't been cleaned all day (on my birthday!) they offered us complimentary champagne as apology.

the rooftop pool was small and crowded but nice for a quick dip or lounge if you could find a spare lounger.

the location was OK anout 10-15 mins from the Ramblas but along a rather grubby street with homeless and drunks. there are definatley better locations and next time we'll be staying in port olympic area.

this hotel wasn't great for children - although on request they did very quickly provide a cot and a non-slip mat for the bath, but the breakfast room had no highchairs and staff there weren't friendly or helpful.

We expected a better choice and varity of breakfast foods for a 4 star.