Hostal Girona

The Hostal Girona is the type of place that makes our Cheapos hearts swoon. Yes, the 19-room pension tends toward bare-bones, but it’s spic-and-span and its peak season rates top out at €60 for a standard double. What’s more, its Right Eixample location is just a couple blocks from downtown Barcelona and many of the city’s most-sought sights.

Quick read

Pros: Super-clean. Great value. Fantastic location. Charming décor touches. Modern bathrooms.

Cons: No common spaces. Thin walls (noise from other rooms).

Rooms

As far as room décor, well, it’s a mixed bag. Those who love antiques will dig the motif at the Hostal Girona. Old-fashioned wardrobes offer a place to hang your hat and coat, and original mosaic tiles create trippy designs on the floors. Nice high ceilings round out the scene, and all rooms are equipped with free Wi-Fi, air conditioning and a large flat-screen television with international channels.

The Hostal Girona’s “superior” double rooms look out onto the street, and many of them have balconies. Is the view great? Not especially, but there are a few trees lining the road. “Standard” rooms are a little cheaper and are interior facing, which means less (or no) natural light. It also means that they are quieter.

Bathrooms

The bathrooms (and the flat-screen TVs) are by far the nicest and newest features at the Hostal Girona. Tiled, tidy and ample, these newish WCs get a cheapo “two thumbs up.” Don’t count on amenities though—the pension only provides hand soap.

All double rooms at Hostal Girona have private bathrooms with showers, while just four individual rooms share facilities (and these go for about €40 a night, which is not a bad deal).

Hotel

To be clear, the Hostal Girona is not the sort of place where you’ll be tempted to chill all day. There’s no lounge or patio area, but when we visited we saw a minimum of three people cleaning vigorously. This place is spotless! It is also red. The hallways are done up with heavy, wine-colored drapes and period-piece furniture covered in red silk, as well as gold detailing, oil paintings and crimson rugs. It’s nice, in a sort of over-the-top way.

In all, the Hostal Girona represents a good value in a pleasant part of town, removed from the tourist-traps common in the Gothic Quarter.

There’s an elevator to get you up to the first floor where the pension is located. There is also parking around the corner for €22 a night. Rooms do not have safes, but there is a safe at reception. Note that reception is closed from 2 a.m. until 7 a.m., but all guests have keys to come and go as they please.