The hotel was nice but the fact that the hotel was ordered and pre-paid for through Expedia seemed to bother the manager. He at first demanded we let him hold our passports and hold a credit card in his safe. We refused and he then allowed us to pre-pay for incidentals with a credit card. We seemed to receive "resentful" check in service. This attitude also seemed to impact our over all service. The hotel also tried to over charge us on items such as "mini bar" that we never used. They also tried to over charge us on airport transportation, they tried to charge us $60 euros for a $35 euro trip. They tried over charging on various other items.

We stayed at this hotel for 3 nights with a couple of friends. It is in a good location for all the sites of Barcelona, just a short walk from la ramblas. The hotel looks grand from the outside, and is fairly grand in the lobby area too. There was a small bar in the lobby for a quick drink before and after your sight seeing! Our room was a good size, tea and coffee making facilites and a nice bathroom. Linen and towels were clean and a view over the roof tops to the cathedral. Breakfast was good (although expensive), lots of different foods on offer plus juice and coffee/tea etc. The concierge was helpful, got us Barcelona tickets for the game on the sunday night - excellent seats! An excellent break in Barca!

First of all I would like to say that my stay in this hotel was a great experience. I booked my stay in Barcelona at the very last minute and took this hotel without doing any research. After I booked it I read some very negative reports from fellow travellers on this site and was fully expecting to change my hotel after one night. I could not have been more wrong. Booking in was easy and efficient. Good reception staff and really helpful. I got an automatic upgrade to a much bigger room with a lovely bathroom. It was noisy outside (as you would expect from a city centre) but the windows were effective at cutting this out. The location was first class, right in the city centre and brilliant for all the tourist and shopping bits. Only 10 mins walk from Placa de Catalunya, the same from La Pedrera and El Corte Ingles. The bed was comfortable and there was a nice big TV to watch. The room was cleaned beatifully every day and there were loads of good toiletries etc to use. Very unusually, there was loads of lighting in the room making reading really easy. Breakfast was a triumph. At only ?17 a day I managed to have a huge meal (breakfast like a king, they say) setting me up for a day's sightseeing without the need for a big lunch. Hot and cold food alike, it was all good quality and plentiful. I fail to understand why anyone should think so poorly of this lovely and good value hotel. I shall make a point of returning to the Gran Havana when I next go to Barcelona.

Certainly not a 4-star hotel. Too few amenities and tired rooms which have not been well maintained. Overpriced dining overall; breakfast buffet - although very nicely done - not a good value unless you eat enough for a horse; and a horrible room service dinner experience incline me to advise you can find alternatives for better food nearby. A nice market down the streat is helpful. This hotel's location is nearby Barcelona central's sites, but after staying here it's not close enough to warrant the prices charged. I'd comment there are far better options available in town.

La estancia en el hotel ha sido estupenda, la situación ideal para todo tipo de turismo. El personal amable y servicial en todo momento, totalmente recomendable.