Hated the Colon

I requested a king size bed but was given a tiny dobule in a room that smelt of a sewer, the concierge tried to disguise the smell by opening the balcony doors . In the morning there was no hot water as presumably too many people were having showers. The room service was very slow and the quality of the food poor. The only thing it had going for it was the location.

Beware of prepayments

We reserved this hotel under a prepaid reservation that the staff acknowledged when we checked in but refused to honor when we checked out. Although we showed them our receipt and our internet travel agency has confirmed that the room was prepaid, the staff threatened to call the police when we refused to pay for the room twice. It is a nice hotel, but even the fabulous location could not justify the treatment we received there.

Strictly Location

I was in Barcelona in Oct 03 for several days and surprised to find all the reccomended hotels booked up! So I stayed at the Hotel Colon, and the best thing I can say is that the location is FANTASTIC! You are directly across form the most popular cathedral in the city, but it is a quiet pedestrian street. You are 2 blocks from all of the sites in the old town. The hotel facade is lovely and atmospheric. My room was clean but a bit thread-bare, and while the bathroom fixtures looked recently renovated, the furnishings and comforter in the bedroom looked very Laura Ashley Cheapo Knock Off, circa 1987. I really had no problems with my stay, but found the staff to bit a bit rude (they had a lot of tour groups to deal with each time I had a question). Overall, you can not beat the location, and everything was indeed clean and modern (just in need of re-decoration). Bottom line, I thought I paid WAY too much for what I got. Would have paid half the price to stay at the Banys Oriental (BRAND-NEW AND GORGEOUS!) if only they had availability!

Not the Ritz, but not bad!!

The Hotel Colon is blessed with a great location right across from the Barcelona cathedral in the Barrie Gothic and a short walk from the Las Ramblas and Plaza Catalunya. The rooms are clean, adequate in size. The staff is very friendly and very accommodating. The hotel itself is old world class and charm. I would stay here again.

140E/night.

Lovely hotel

Spent last weekend there with 5 friends. The hotel is really nice and the staff helpful. There is an excellent choice for breakfast and it is surpurbly located. It is across the square from the cathedral which if you are a light sleeper can make for a disrupted nights sleep as the bells ring on the quarter, half, three quarters and hour.

We loved it!!

Of the hotels we used while in Barcelona, we enjoyed the Hotel Colon the most. It is perfectly located, where most of the places we wanted to see were within close walking distance. We splurged a bit and requested an upper floor room facing the Cathedral WOW! The room was modest and clean with a terrace that was bigger than both the room & bath combined, and it was directly across from the Cathedral. What a magnificent view, especially at night when it is all lit up. The staff was extremely friendly and allowed us to check in early. They also stored our luggage all day as we were flying out late at night. They even sent up complimentary water and a small bottle of Spanish wine. While we may not choose to get the same room on our next visit, we will definitely stay at the Hotel Colon.

Think about what you want

The Hotel Colon is a rather romantic, old-fashioned almost English-type hotel with marvelous public parlors and flowery, comfortable rooms. For those wishing to stay in the Barri Gotic, the oldest part of the city, it's a solid choice in a marvelous, safe location, with a spectacular view of Barcelona's lovely Cathedral. There are rooms with views of the Cathedral but bear in mind that the plaza in front of the Cathedral is a magnet for street performers and noise. The breakfast is so-so and in general, some people might prefer to stay in the more modern, sophisticated parts of Barcelona (I would). But if the old quarter is what you're after, The Colon staff is very helpful and the hotel is as comfortable as old shoe.

In the heart of the city.

We visited Barcelona on a weekend break recently and used the Colon because of your reviewers' reports. We were not disappointed. The hotel's situation in the heart of the Barri Gotic is its strong point. The public areas are intimate and friendly but the carpets and the decor in the bedrooms did have a worn look. The cellar dining room was fine for breakfast but unappealing for anything more. The old adage about real estate applies here....the three main advantages of the Colon are "position, position and position."

Location, location, location

Several friends recommended this hotel to me because of the location -- right across from the Cathedral in Barrio Gotic and a 2 minute walk from the La Rambla. I was most impressed with the room (get a room with a veranda and Cathedral view). The room was nice, the service attentive, but this place is all about location, location, location. Colon's location is much better than Hotel Arts', in my opinion.