The Casanova romanced me (Casanova by Rafael Hotels (Barcelona, Spain))

Member Name: OllieCourts

Product:	Casanova by Rafael Hotels (Barcelona, Spain)
Date:	17/07/09 (29 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Modern, stylish, great staff

Disadvantages: Lack of atmosphere in local area

This was the hotel I stayed in on my last visit to Barcelona. Chances are it will be the first one I enquire about when I next go!

The Hotel
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The building itself dates from the 18th century, but has recently been renovated into one of the most elegant and minimalist hotels I've stayed in. It is part of the 'Small Luxury Hotels of the World' chain, which i'd have to agree with! Considering the importance of art and design in Barcelona, with Gaudi's influences everywhere, this hotel fits right in, with shades of brown, green, and yellows well co-ordinated. It is situated on Gran Via de les Corts, a relatively busy road for Barcelona's standards, but I didn't hear any noise indoors. It is equidistant between Urgell and Universitat metro lines, about 2 minute walk to each which was ideal for sightseeing, and a 5 minute walk from the infamous las Ramblas. The front door is an automatic glass door which I thought was a window. Only after 2 minutes of looking for a door did I step close enough to open it... so bear that in mind! Only after did I notice there was disabled access at the side, so it was my own fault! Otherwise, it is decently located for a few good restuarants, bars, and a ATM around the corner, nothing spectacular locally though.

Facilities
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The Casanova is well equipped for any need really. It has 11 nice meeting rooms, which obviously on a holiday I didn't use, but the option is there. Otherwise, it features a bar by the reception which is extremely comfortable if not a little expensive. A day in the Catalan sun will make you a little less concerned though once you get the chance to sit down and have a drink there. The decor is great, with leather armchairs and huge candles giving the main decor, to be honest it seems the sort of place you'd go in to for a drink regardless of whether it's your hotel bar or not.
The hotel offers its own parking spaces, although I strongly recommend not renting a car in Barcelona, the metro stations are close enough not to bother. For a fee the hotel can also pick you up from the airport, but we didn't take this option so i'm not sure how expensive it is.
The Casanova offers wi-fi, room service, and newspapers, all equipped by friendly staff.
You get a buffet breakfast (assuming you stay B&B obviously!) consisting of mainly European style food, and although generally not a big breakfast eater, I found it very filling and healthy. A huge array of fresh food certainly helps before walking around the city. By night the hotel also offers the Mexiterranée restuarant, a blend of Mexican and Catalan food, which was a bit pricey, but once again very nice food, with excellent service.
Within the complex is also the Stone Spa, which I didn't use but aesthetically was relaxing and created some wonderul aroma's.

The Staff
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I've never stayed somewhere in Europe with such friendly staff! Our first contact was with the receptionist Natalya (trust me, if you'd seen her you'd remember her name too!), who was very welcoming and spoke fluent English. She seemed to be having a bit of difficulty but soon explained it was her first day. For the rest of the stay she and her colleague on reception were very helpful and gave us a free map on arrival which shamefully was better than one we'd bought! The rest of the staff remained courteous throughout, offering advice on how to get back to the airport as cheaply as possible, and holding on to our bags til our flight. The maids were also very chatty in the morning, although what they were saying I don't know.

Our Room
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We booked a deluxe room for 3 nights, and after being impressed by the rest of the hotel the room didn't disappoint. Light decor with hardwood floor it looked very modern and stylish, helped by light furniture and contemporary pieces on the walls. The bed was huge and very comfortable, with pillows I was tempted to steal. The room also contained a safe, minibar, and an LCD TV, with mainly Spanish cable. The standard rooms we saw were also modern and looked as comfortable, and I don't think there is too much difference between the two when it comes to booking.
Our room also had a small balcony looking out into the road, surprisingly relaxing when you've got the Catalan architecture to look at.
The bathroom consisted of a stand-up shower and marble worktops which again, very elegant and modern. The room and bathroom were cleaned excellently, always giving it a fresh look when you walked in.
I feel the room is perfect for a romantic weekend, aimed mainly towards younger couples I'd say.
Obviously shop around for prices, but we paid about £110 per night for our room. It isn't the cheapest you'll pay, but for the style and comfort I wouldn't hesitate to pay it again.

I liked this hotel a lot. The staff, decor, and ease of it all made it a great stay, and definitely earns its 4*'s. It ranks higher in my opinion than some of the 5*'s I've stayed at. The only downside was the lack of atmosphere in the local area. A good restuarant called Zian is close, but otherwise it's a 5 minute walk everywhere. Not bad obviously, but for Barcelona it could have been better, especially for when it comes to walking back at night!
I would recommend this hotel mainly for couples.

Website - www.casanovabcnhotel.com

Summary: I would definitely stay again